Coffee is much more than just a drink. Around the world, it embodies rich traditions and social and cultural rituals that bring people together. As we travel through different countries, let us discover how this iconic drink is prepared, enjoyed and celebrated in four regions of the world: Turkey, Ethiopia, the Middle East with its cardamom coffee, and finally Vietnam.
Turkish coffee: heritage and hospitality
Turkish coffee, inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2013, is much more than just a drink in Turkey. Its preparation requires patience, precision and adherence to a specific ritual. Very finely ground beans are mixed with cold water and sugar in a small pot called a ‘cezve’ or ‘ibrik’. The mixture is heated slowly until it boils, taking care to form the characteristic foam on the surface. This coffee is served in tiny cups, usually accompanied by sweets such as Turkish delight.
Drinking Turkish coffee is a deeply social experience. Families and friends gather to share this convivial moment, with conversations in full flow. Turkish coffee is also used to tell fortunes by reading the grounds left at the bottom of the cups after drinking, a ritual still practised today out of curiosity or tradition.
Ethiopian coffee: a sacred ceremony
In Ethiopia, the original birthplace of coffee, this drink is deeply rooted in everyday traditions. The Ethiopian coffee ceremony, called ‘buna’, is an essential act of hospitality and friendship. The coffee is prepared entirely by hand, usually by a woman wearing traditional clothing. The green beans are roasted in front of the guests, producing fragrant smoke that fills the space. These roasted beans are then ground in a mortar and placed in a jebena (a traditional coffee pot) with boiling water.
This ceremony can last several hours and involves three successive servings, each with its own name: ‘abol’, ‘tona’ and ‘bereka’. Each round of coffee symbolises a particular blessing. Accompanied by roasted maize, popcorn or traditional biscuits, this ritual is a moment of communal sharing where participants talk, debate and build strong social bonds.
Cardamom coffee in the Middle East: an invitation to come together
In the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, cardamom coffee (‘gahwa’) is an iconic drink. This pale, slightly green coffee is prepared with lightly roasted, coarsely ground beans mixed with spices, mainly cardamom but sometimes also saffron or cloves. It is prepared in a coffee pot called a ‘dallah’, recognisable by its elegant, elongated shape.
This coffee is traditionally enjoyed without sugar, in small cups called ‘finjan’, often accompanied by dates to soften its natural bitterness. Serving coffee, a task performed by the host, is a highly respected gesture of welcome: it must be done with the right hand, and refusing the offered cup is considered impolite. This coffee symbolises hospitality and generosity, and is a sign of respect for guests. Many social rituals, such as negotiations or family agreements, begin by sharing a cup of gahwa.
Vietnamese coffee: a delicious break
Vietnamese coffee (‘cà phê’) has a unique identity, characterised by slow preparation and a particularly sweet flavour thanks to sweetened condensed milk. After coffee was introduced by the French in the 19th century, Vietnam developed a unique coffee culture, adapting the drink to its tastes and traditions. The traditional method uses an individual metal filter (‘phin’), placed directly over a cup containing sweetened condensed milk. The coffee, often very strong robusta, drips through slowly, creating a contemplative pause.
Vietnamese coffee can be enjoyed hot (‘cà phê sữa nóng’) or iced (‘cà phê sữa đá’). In bustling cities such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, it is common to see locals sitting in street-side cafés, slowly enjoying their drink while watching everyday life unfold. Whether enjoyed alone or with others, this ritual offers a precious moment of relaxation amid the hectic pace of urban life.
Diversity that brings people together
These four coffee rituals, although rooted in very different cultures, share one essential feature: conviviality. Whether Turkish, Ethiopian, flavoured with cardamom or Vietnamese, coffee goes far beyond its role as a stimulating drink. It is a powerful way to build social connections, strengthen cultural identity and welcome others into a special moment of conversation and sharing.
Exploring these rituals reveals just how much a simple cup of coffee can reflect a region’s cultural, historical and social richness. These deeply rooted traditions, passed down from generation to generation, continue to fascinate and invite everyone to celebrate cultural diversity over this universal drink.
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