International Coffee Day 2020: Explore where to find the finest coffee in the world and the methods behind brewing it to perfection

While you may not need a reason, let's raise a cup in celebration of International Coffee Day 2020.

Our passion for coffee extends beyond the Seattle giant that made tall, grande, and venti part of our everyday vocabulary.

Coffee has traveled far and wide – and the finest brews come from across the globe. Coffee’s origins are rooted in the 15th century, with Arabs being the first to cultivate it, while a Frenchman introduced the world’s first commercial espresso machine in 1843.

Much has evolved since those days – and no, we're not just talking about the Frappuccino. So, grab a refill and dive into the world’s top coffee hotspots and their brewing techniques:

Wellington, New Zealand

Though the iconic flat white – a latte with less milk – is said to have been created in Sydney, it was perfected in Wellington, New Zealand, where it has become the nation’s unofficial drink of choice.

“Wellingtonians truly understand their coffee, and the city offers a remarkably high standard across the board,” says Nick Clark, a New Zealand coffee producer with Flight Coffee Unlimited. “Wellington is a small city, so there’s plenty of interaction between consumers and baristas, which drives the growth and improvement of our coffee culture.”

Local choice: Flat white. It's practically a way of life.

Melbourne, Australia

“Melbourne’s coffee scene is truly remarkable,” says Pete Licata, former World Barista Champion from the United States. Coffee is so deeply woven into Melbourne’s culture that the city even hosts an annual coffee expo.

Local favorite: Piccolo latte.

While lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites continue to be beloved choices, piccolo lattes (with less milk to bring out a bolder espresso flavor) are the current trend.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Coffee is ingrained in Vietnam’s culture, and the country is one of the world’s largest coffee producers.

During the French colonial era, coffee plantations were established throughout Vietnam in the late 19th century. If you’re in Hanoi, you won’t have to travel far to find an exceptional cup of coffee.

Don’t expect to find a flat white or Americano here, though.

Coffee is traditionally brewed using a filter, slowly dripping into a cup below to create a rich, intense brew. It’s typically enjoyed black or with sweetened condensed milk – a custom born out of scarcity of fresh milk in Vietnam.

A local favorite that’s trending on Instagram is ca phe trung, egg coffee – where a creamy, meringue-like egg foam is placed atop a strong black coffee.

Local favorite: Caphe den (rich, slow-brewed black coffee), caphe sua (black coffee with sweetened condensed milk), or coconut coffee (frozen coconut milk blended with strong black coffee and topped with shaved coconut ice – more of a dessert than a drink, much like egg coffee).

London

About two decades ago, Aussies and Kiwis opened the city’s first espresso-centric cafes, introducing the flat white, and since then, modern coffee shops have been sprouting up across London.

While tea is still the reigning monarch in England, London now serves up some seriously impressive coffee options.

Local favorite: Flat white or cappuccino.

Iceland

Scandinavians are among the world’s top coffee drinkers, according to WorldAtlas.com. This includes the coffee-loving Icelanders, who live in one of the most picturesque – but also one of the coldest – regions on Earth.

A generation ago, coffee and cake were a traditional afternoon treat, though the focus was more on the cake than the coffee. That’s no longer the case; today, it’s nearly impossible to walk a city block without encountering a coffee shop.

With Iceland's absence of large corporate coffee chains, smaller local businesses have thrived, offering a unique coffee culture.

Local favorite: Latte or cappuccino.

Rome, Italy

Coffee is deeply embedded in Italian culture, so much so that it's rare to find a local who doesn’t drink it. However, it might surprise you that finding a great espresso isn’t always easy in Italy, as some say Italians are slow to embrace modern barista techniques.

With the nation’s finest baristas calling it home, Rome is your best chance for a top-notch espresso.

Local favorite: Espresso. Tradition dictates that milky coffees are only enjoyed at breakfast time.

Singapore

Coffee has always been at the heart of Singaporean life – the tradition of kopitiam, or coffee shop culture, dates back centuries. However, it’s only in recent years that the city has fully embraced modern espresso techniques – today, latte art is a staple in cafés.

Local choice: Latte, mocha, or cappuccino.

Seattle

If there’s one American city that’s always ahead of the curve, it’s Seattle. The green mermaid may be famous, but it’s just a small part of the city’s dynamic coffee culture.

“Coffee is our liquid sunshine in Seattle,” says Joshua Boyt, a coffee consultant and former SCA World Barista competition judge. “The passion for coffee, combined with the sheer abundance of cafés around the city, has fostered a culture of constant innovation through both competition and camaraderie.”

Local favorite: Espresso, cappuccino, or a single-origin pour-over.

Austria

Vienna’s coffee houses are such an integral part of the culture that they were recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Heritage in 2011.

Modern coffee enthusiasts, like Vienna coffee blogger Lameen Abdul-Malik of From Coffee With Love, admit that while these iconic coffee houses were once slow to adopt new coffee technology and meet evolving service standards, they have remained beloved social hubs where people gather to chat, read, and enjoy strudel.

Things began to change after Vienna hosted the World Barista Championships in 2012, and the city saw a wave of independent coffee shops offering a more modern approach, according to Abdul-Malik.

Local order: Espresso or cappuccino at a contemporary café, or a Wiener melange (similar to a cappuccino but typically topped with cream) in a classic coffeehouse.

Nigeria

Coffee is believed to have originated in Africa – with historians tracing it back to Ethiopia in the 15th century – but Nigeria has been slow to embrace the coffee culture. However, that’s changing as coffee culture begins to take hold there.

Local choice: Regular filtered coffee, served black or with milk, or their own take on a Frappuccino.

This story was originally published in 2014, and has been reworked and updated for 2020.