5 International Coffees You’ve Probably Never Heard of Before

Coffee is a truly international beverage consumed in just about every corner of the world. If you are tempted to think that traditional American coffee is the be-all and end-all, it is not. It’s not even close. There are tons of intriguing coffee drinks on nearly every continent. Some you’ve heard of, others you have not.

Below are descriptions of five international coffees we are willing to bet are not on your radar. They are drinks that are, at least in some cases, quite regional. If you are looking to try something different, maybe one of these coffees is for you.

1. Barraquito Coffee – Spain

This coffee drink hails from the Canary Islands in Spain. It is actually a combination of coffee and Licor 43, a well-known Spanish liqueur that is made only by a single-family business located in Cartagena.

It is often described as a coffee cocktail due to how the ingredients are put together. Nothing is mixed. Rather, the ingredients are layered. You start with condensed milk followed by the liqueur. Next is a layer of espresso, then frothing milk and a topping of cinnamon and lemon peel.

2. Cà Phê Trứng – Vietnam

Vietnam’s Cà Phê Trứng is a coffee drink that includes an egg. Yes, you read that correctly. You start by mixing an egg yolk with sweetened condensed milk until it becomes a light and creamy foam. It takes about 10 minutes. Afterward, you pour hot coffee over it. The coffee slowly sinks to the bottom.

3. Kaffeost – Finland

Adventurous types who appreciate Vietnam’s egg coffee might also be interested in trying this gem from Finland. Translated literally as ‘coffee cheese’, Kaffeost is a mixture of hot coffee and a traditional dried cheese known as juustoleipä. You just put the cheese in a wooden mug and then pour in hot coffee. The cheese absorbs some of the coffee.

4. Mazagran – Portugal

Iced coffee lovers, here’s a drink from Portugal that is right up your alley. Mazagran is allegedly the first iced coffee drink ever invented. It is said to have originated in Algeria. At any rate, it is a drink that combines iced coffee with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Lemon juice amounts depend on personal taste. Some have described mazagran has iced coffee lemonade.

5. Kopi Luwak – Southeast Asian

This is perhaps the most unusual coffee drink on our list. Kopi luwak is not made from coffee beans per se, but from partially digested coffee cherries. Mammals known as Asian palm civets eat the cherries for their flavor despite the fact that their bodies do not fully digest them. The cherries are gathered after the civets pass them, then used to make drip coffee, espresso, or a French press brew.

There are some truly interesting coffee drinks found around the world. Here at Galaxie Coffee, we specialize in bringing the best coffee and other beverages to businesses throughout the tri-state area. We would love to add your office to our client list.