Best Places For Coffee Lovers

Do you know what is one of the world’s most valuable commodities, one that evokes such intense passion and debates that its consumers are sometimes labelled snobs (yes, I am one of them!) It’s coffee, of course, and here's a handpicked list of the best places for coffee lovers.

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Coffee plays a huge part in Brazil’s economy and Sao Paulo’s countryside is responsible for a large percentage of its plantation. A trip to one of these plantations is a step back in time where you can see the traditional machinery used in the past. Sao Paulo has several excellent coffee shops – try Octavio Café and Bistro or Santo Grâo (where you can get freshly roasted and ground blends) or Coffee Lab, which focuses on microbrews.

Rome, Italy

The Italians take their coffee very seriously and there is a sheer array of coffee drinks available at every corner ‘bar’ in Italy – from a shot of espresso to caffè shakerato (espresso, sugar and ice – shaken, not stirred!), from caffè marocchino (espresso + cacao) to caffè corretto (coffee ‘corrected’ with a splash of liqueur). Of course, good ol' cappuccino is also available, but don’t order it after 11 am and remember that if you drink your coffee standing at the bar (like the Italians do), it turns out much cheaper. Rome is home to Antico Caffè Greco, the second oldest café-bar in Italy and everyone from Byron to Casanova have frequented it.

Bali, Indonesia

Fancy a coffee made from beans that have passed through an animal’s gut? Then try Kopi Luwak in Bali – one of the world’s most expensive coffees. This coffee is brewed from beans that have been eaten by the civet cat. The enzymes inside the cat’s stomach extract the bitterness from coffee giving Kopi Luwak a mild and sweet aftertaste. The $25-a-cup coffee is available all over Bali, but for a complete experience visit the Bali Pulina plantation, where you can see the civet cats, roast and pound some beans and also sample a variety of different blends.

Coorg, India

Known as India’s Coffee County, Coorg (Kodagu) district in Karnataka is dotted with several coffee plantations – both private as well as those of coffee companies. Find a home-stay with an attached plantation and savour freshly ground coffee every morning with your breakfast. If you visit during the berry-picking season, you can help out on the plantation as well. Try the Tata Coffee Plantation Trails Heritage Bungalow for an unforgettable stay.

Santa Maria de Dota, Costa Rica

A sleepy but picturesque town in South Central Costa Rica, Santa Maria de Dota has coffee flowing in its veins. And the 190-year old cooperative of some 800 coffee plantations, Coopedota, is at the centre of its economy. Take a half-day Coffee Experience Tour to visit its organic farms and production facilities, as well as to get a taste of its famous coffee. Coopedota has developed the world’s first carbon neutral coffee, by reducing to zero the emission of greenhouse gases released during coffee production.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

From the land where coffee originated, you can expect nothing short of a great brew. The traditional Ethiopian coffee ritual is quite unique and elaborate and is a treat for all senses. These ceremonies are quite common in small towns and villages. In Addis Ababa, try the sophisticated Tomoca café – the go-to coffee shop for locals and tourists alike or the intimate Café Choche – a relatively new place serving excellent, earthy coffee.

Havana, Cuba

Short, black and sweet – coffee is a vital part of the day in Havana, Cuba. Whether it’s the Café Cubano (espresso mixed with sugar as it brews) or Café Coradito (espresso topped with steamed milk), coffee is the perfect excuse to relax in a café and watch the world go by. Try the iconic Café de las Infusiones in Downtown Havana or Café El Escorial in Old Havana, which is touted to have the best coffee in the city.

Cape Town, South Africa

South Africa used to be all about bad instant coffee but over the past decade, it has metamorphosed into one of the best places for coffee lovers. Cape Town’s hipster population has largely been responsible for this upward swing and Truth Coffee in Buitenkant Street is where all the cool kids hang out. Or try Origin Coffee Roasting, which also offers coffee appreciation courses.

Golden Triangle, Thailand

Beating Kopi Luwak, Northern Thailand’s Black Ivory Coffee Company has come up with a $50-a-cup coffee – made from beans eaten by elephants and then collected from their dung a day later! The elephant’s stomach acids give the coffee a unique flavour and a smooth aftertaste. The coffee is produced at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation and is currently available in a few luxury resorts such as the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort.

Lisbon, Portugal

Another country where coffee has evolved into an art form is Portugal. Lisbon’s numerous pasteleria (coffee bars) offer a mean bica – a shot of black coffee (longer than the Italian espresso), served in a small narrow cup. Lisbon’s most popular coffee house is the century-old A Brasileria with breath-taking Art Nouveau décor. Or try Antiga Confeitaria de Bélém where you can savour a cup of coffee along with Lisbon’s best pastel da natas (an egg tart pastry).

Paris, France

Notorious for years for its bad, watery coffee, Paris has finally pulled up its socks and now boasts of some of the best places for coffee lovers. Try the charming and airy Ten Belles next to the trés popular Canal Saint Martin, where you can get some delicious pastries and cakes to go with your coffee. If you’re looking for Parisian vintage chic décor, head to Téléscope, adjacent to the Palais Royal. Order a coffee and croissant and linger around, watching beautiful people waltzing in and out!

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