Thomas Jefferson once called coffee "the favorite drink of the
civilized world." And this founding father wasn't far off the mark.
This caffeinated beverage imparts energy, promotes productivity,
and delights taste buds across the globe.
But to be a true coffee hot spot, a city has to do more than just
house java drinkers. The places listed below are passionate about
the brew; they've created a unique culture around it; and some of
them have even invented their own distinct coffee blends. Because
coffee is
not just a jolt of caffeine, it's an experience. So, with these
qualifications in mind, here are the best places to stop and savor
the perfect cup of joe.
Istanbul, Turkey
Tea (çay)
is the beverage of choice in Istanbul's cafés. But
because Turkey's
rich, black coffee has lent such inspiration to other coffee-loving
cities, we'd be remiss if we didn't include the country's cultural
capital on our list.
To make a rich, flavorful Turkish coffee, baristas roast and grind
beans into a fine meal. The beans are boiled with water and
sometimes sugar in a cezve (pot),
and afterwards it will be poured into a small cup. There's no
sieve, so the grounds are allowed to settle before being served.
Bottoms up!
Seattle, Washington
It's probably no surprise that Seattle features one of the best
coffee cultures in the world: The java titan, Starbucks, got its
start here. Back in 1971, the flagship coffeehouse opened its doors
in Pike Place Market.
But the green mermaid isn't the only reason the Emerald City's
coffee scene is unique. The city is peppered with a host of indie
coffeehouses, many of which are locally owned. According to the
Daily Beast, there are a wowing 35 coffee shops per 100,000
Seattleites—the highest ratio of coffee shops to residents in the
entire country.
Tel Aviv, Israel
Israel's coastal
city brims with cafés that pour ice-café (iced
coffee) in the summer and botz (hot
coffee) in the winter. But bear in mind that an Israeli hot coffee
is more like a Turkish coffee than an American one, meaning that
it's dark, intense, and very rich. (To order a milkier brew, you'll
need to ask for an espresso hafukh.)
Whatever you choose to sip, you'll no doubt fall in love with the
Tel Avivian café culture. Just like the city's laid-back beaches,
the cafés in Tel Aviv impart a mellow, hip vibe. Plus, many of
these small shops spill out onto sidewalk patios, so there will
also be ample opportunity for people-watching.
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne serves as Australia's
coffee capital, and as such, the city boasts a host of coffee shops
that serve up world-renowned cups of java. The Aussies love their
brew so much that there's even a publication, the Melbourne Coffee
Review, dedicated to the thoughtful comparison of the city's many
coffee shops.
You'll find that Melbourne's coffee spots are as varied and
eclectic as their clientele. For instance, the Proud Mary shop sits
inside a converted warehouse and provides cold-dripped coffee to a
cool, quirky crowd, while the Lygon Street Café serves an
Italian-style cup paired with tiramisu to Melbourne University
patrons.
Havana, Cuba
Havana, Cuba is the place to enjoy a café
cubano,
an espresso shot infused with demerara sugar. (And with travel
restrictions waning, experiencing authentic Cuban coffee isn't as
difficult as it used to be.) The result is a small, sweet coffee
packed with a punch of caffeine. If the flavor is too intense for
you, try a gentler cortadito,
an espresso topped with milk.
You can savor these aromatic brews in a number of cafés, some with
open-air seating like the famous Café de las Infusiones. Because
"origin" is very important to all coffee lovers, you'll be happy to
know that many of these coffeehouses grind beans that are sourced
directly from the country's Escambray and Sierra Maestra
mountains.
