Coffee Around the World: More Than Caffeine to Me

A cappuccino at a coffee shop at an African Art Museum in Kenya

I've always loved a good adventure or road trip. A more recent love in my life is coffee. Sure it's an essential start to the morning for some or great midday pick-me-up, but a visit to a local shop can serve up more than a cup of Joe. My coffee-related experiences around the world have provided outlets for community (even if only for 10 minutes), an appreciation for art beyond a gallery, and a deeper connection to the process of plants becoming products.

A coffee farm in Indonesia

Following my seasonal work in Yellowstone National in 2019, I embarked on a cross-country road trip to go from Montana to Pennsylvania. From the start of the trip, the coffee shops I encountered made a difference in my journey. There were a couple of my coffee shop staples outside of West entrance to America's first national park that had a sense of comfort and familiarity to me. One was a small drive up coffee stand where the women would strike up conversation and we could bond over our shared love of the area and experiencing the changing seasons from being in the park for so long. As I stopped for my quintessential iced dirty chai, the woman at the stand offered up a wipe to clean some fresh bird poop off of the side of my car so that it wouldn't chip or rust the paint.

The only reason I was smiling when I had to leave this park was because I was on my way to get a dirty chai

Another stop on my way was at the Ugly Mug Coffee Cafe in Nashville. There was a lot of ground to cover on that particular day of the road trip so there wasn't built in time to dilly dally, but let me tell you, it was hard not to gaze at all of the mugs. The shop was designed to pick your own mug for dine in service which would be filled with your coffee beverage of choice. It was probably for the best that I had a takeout cappuccino because it would've been a difficult decision to choose from their wide array of animal, icon, and funky designed mugs. It was clear that this establishment wasn't operating in a simply transactional manner. Mugs and coffee alike were to be celebrated. The coffee and the decorated vessels displayed the art and passion involved in the small business.

One area of the Ugly Mug Coffee Cafe

Along some other stretches of my road trip, there weren't cute, funky, and localized coffee shops available. Listening to a podcast about interstates while on the interstate, I learned that the area directly around those heavily trafficked roads have increased substantially in value due to the condensed population utilizing the same path. This caused mom-and-pop restaurants, hotels, and stores in the vicinity to largely go out of business. Now they're replaced by popular chains like McDonald's, Starbucks, and Subway. Driving 8 hours a day and hitting a wall on the road, I needed to stop for coffee. But going to a commercial establishment for coffee didn't leave me feeling fulfilled the same way as the local spots. The cashiers would complete the order rapidly to have the assembly line process commence faster and offer the quickest service. There were clearly valued aspects missing like the barista telling me their favorite drink, having a brief conversation with someone after driving for hours and getting that spark of human connection, or the small touches that could bring a smile to my face because it felt more like I was in someone's space and not in a food court.

During some of my other travels, I have been fortunate enough to find and visit coffee farms. In Indonesia, I was completing consulting work and had an opportunity to visit a farm that didn't typically offer tours, that created coffee from the seed of the plant to the finished roast. I was shown the entire coffee process while walking through different areas of the property. From tasting the coffee bean off of the tree to the final roast, the freshness was undeniable. Although I must admit, when I visited this farm I wasn't much of a coffee drinker and my host was asking if I could taste hints of different flavors and all I could taste was "coffee" (but WOW since then I've learned that coffee can have such personality!).

Some photos from the coffee farm in Indonesia

While I was on a road trip in Costa Rica, I stopped at another coffee farm. We had arrived with the intention of staying for an hour or so and the tours were supposed to run 2-3 hours. We had a plane to catch that evening and didn't have the time to stay for the full tour. Rather than telling us goodbye, the farm welcomed us in and we were given a private coffee tasting and abbreviated tour. Our guide gave us fresh coffee to taste and insisted that I try it black. I can tell you honestly that I had never tried a cup of black coffee that I actually enjoyed. That is, before this one. The caffeinated liquid was smooth and had hints of vanilla on the finish. I was offered milk and sugar to add (because I had straight up told this man that I never had liked black coffee) and to his surprise, and mine, I chose to drink the rest of the cup black.

Drinking the black coffee I thought I was destined to dislike

Seeing these coffee farms first hand and witnessing the full coffee process, it is clear that producing coffee isn't just a job, it's a way of life. It takes years to grow the plants, harvest the seeds, and develop the perfect roast blends to ultimately sell. The knowledge at these farms were derived from the close connection to the process itself and the artisanal palate to dissect the flavors and understand the complexity of a cup of coffee. Every question I asked (and I ask a lot of questions…) was met with kind and complete responses. It was as if sharing the coffee process with me was another way they could fulfill this passion for coffee.

Around the world, I've had coffee prepared in many different ways. In Portugal sweetened condensed milk is put into hot coffee. In France, a shot of espresso or classic cappuccino pair perfectly with a freshly baked croissant or pain au chocolat. In Vietnam, cold brew is combined with sweetened condensed milk for perfect summer sipping (one friend said I would get sick of it quickly, but I drank Vietnamese iced coffee everyday for 3 weeks and loved it). Another popular drink in the coastal Southeast Asian country is hot egg coffee. In Prague my pretty latte was paired with a mouth watering piece of chocolate cake (that I may or may not have eaten for breakfast). In the United States, coffee has been turned into nearly a milkshake in the form of a Frappuccino or a frosted coffee.

One of my MANY Vietnamese Iced Coffees during my visit

Coffee seems so simple. It's a commodity that is incorporated into everyday life and that most people would self-proclaim they couldn't live without. Yet, the creation of coffee requires deep knowledge and the presentation can possess artistic and creative qualities. Aside from that, a coffee shop can be a site for community gathering or a chance for a friendly smile for a stranger passing though.

Coffee Shops are a favorite place of mine to stop and travel journal

How coffee made me a more Lovable Traveler:

1. I've heard it said that "when you buy local, you're helping to pay for someone's child's dance lessons or put food on their table" and that's absolutely true. Its important to remember that there is power in purchases. With each coffee (or souvenir, snack, etc.) I have the choice to support someone's art, passion, and livelihood.

2. In some ways, coffee reminded me to take more risks and trust the people who know best (like the coffee professionals). Just like that black coffee in Costa Rica, destinations and the hosts there can offer advice on a range of foods, activities, and more to try in their destination. By trusting to (safely) venture outside of my comfort zone, I could have a more intimate experience with the destination and the art found there.

3. Try out the local spots. While visiting new places, it can be easy to gravitate towards international chains or places with menus in English because its more comfortable. But to get more than just a caffeine fix out of your coffee rush, consider a local business that could offer unique spaces, a friendly face, and a one-of-a-kind coffee experience.