Inspired by my great Friday morning cup of coffee and my general addiction to that magic substance (high five to all of those who can relate!), I thought I’d dig up some interesting types of coffee from different spots around the world. See here you go:

#1 Yuanyang – Hong Kong: For those torn between a cup of coffee or a cup of tea, this drink is the ultimate answer. Tea with milk and coffee are simmered together giving you this high caffeine infused  mix.

Photo by Calvin.

#2 Buna- Ethiopia: Buna (which is coffee in Ethiopian) is so highly regarded in Ethiopian culture that they have a special ceremony to prepare it themselves in homes. On every coffee drinking occasion, raw coffee beans are cleaned, roasted, grinded and then brewed in clay pots over coal. The “just ground coffee” is served with sugar in small cups in rounds of three for good luck.

In-home roasting of Buna. Photo by Rod Waddington.

#3 Cafe Bombon – Spain: As the name suggests, this is a highly sweetened cup of coffee made of equal parts of sweet condensed milk and espresso. It is usually served in small shot like glasses with layers of milk and coffee noticeably separated , so you get a piece of art before taking it down!

Photo by LWYang.

#4 Qahwa – Saudi Arabia: Serving Qahwa or Arabic coffee is a symbol of hospitality in the Arab world and especially in Saudi Arabia. To make Qahwa,  lightly roasted ground beans are brewed with cardamom and served in small porcelain cups (without handles). To mellow down the sharp taste of the coffee dates or sweet assortments are served with it.

Photo by AamerJaved.

#5 Kopi Luwak – Indonesia: Probably the type of coffee that gets the most raised eyebrows when mentioned. To make Kopi Luwak, civets (cat like animals) are fed with coffee berries and later they excrete the undigested inner beans and which are then collected (and yes washed in case you are wondering) to be roasted and brewed. It is believed that it is this digestion process that makes the coffee smooth and rich (and evidently making it the most expensive coffee). If you ask me, it’s good to know but not exactly my cup of coffee!

A Kopi Lowak infograph by J.J.Darboven.

#6 Kaffeost – Finland: Coffee and cheese anyone? Yes together. To make Kaffeost, a special type of “caramelized” cheese called leipäjuusto is cut up into chunks and black coffee is poured over it. After drinking the “cheesy” coffee, the cheese is spooned as an after coffee treat.

Photo by Mia.

#7 Cafe de Olla -Mexico: For a traditional cup of Cafe de Olla, the coffee is brewed in a clay pot with cinnamon sticks and sweetened with brown sugar called piloncillo. So yummy and can be easily made in your kitchen !

Photo by Erika Hall.