Coffee Serving Etiquette: rules for drinking coffee at the bar

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December 14, 2022
Coffee Serving Etiquette: rules for drinking coffee at the bar

The coffee ritual is very important, it is a convivial moment that gives you the energy to face daily activities. Widespread and indispensable for many of us, prepared in a thousand different forms, coffee is one of the most loved products all over the world. However, not everyone knows that coffee has its own etiquette to follow, especially if drunk at the bar. Here is everything you need to know about coffee etiquette, what are the things you can do and which ones to avoid. 

Coffee has always been one of the top three most popular drinks in the world. However, the proper way to consume coffee varies from one continent to another and even from one nation to another. What is considered normal etiquette, or good manners in one place, may be considered rude elsewhere. 

You probably think coffee is coffee - no matter where you are, it's the same. But you couldn't be more wrong. Just as food varies from culture to culture, so do drinks! Let's take a look at how people drink coffee around the globe, so that the next time you travel, you'll even fit in with the locals! 

Ethiopia (Africa) 

Let's start our journey on the African continent and head to Ethiopia, the very birthplace of coffee. For example, coffee is known as an important part of every social gathering in Ethiopia. If you tend to drink coffee in a hurry, then you will have difficulty in Ethiopia. Moreover, coffee is considered a national drink, and drinking coffee is a ritual that usually lasts around two hours. When the ritual begins, sugar is first added into small cups, then water, and finally coffee. It is common to take a moment to inhale the aroma of coffee before drinking it. 

Italy (Europe) 

From Ethiopia, we will go northwest to Italy in Europe. When you are in Italy, you will not be able to satisfy your craving for coffee at any time of the day. Coffee is always ordered after meals, never before or during, and can only be espresso without milk. It is also common practice to serve a glass of water with coffee, which must be drunk beforehand. This is done to clean the taste pallet of any other tastes and prepare it for coffee. In stark contrast to Ethiopia, espresso should be drunk quickly.

Vietnam (Asia) 

You will find coffee all over Vietnam, with cafes on every corner. Vietnamese coffee is brewed in a small metal filter that sits over a cup of coffee. In this filter, coffee grounds and water enters, and an aromatic coffee flows into the cup. It is a strong and very dark roasted coffee, which is usually served with a few tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk. For the most part, it is more common to order iced coffee instead of hot coffee. This is because hot coffee takes a little longer to brew, and with generally warm weather, iced coffee is just more refreshing. 

Brazil (South America) 

Coffee is definitely the national drink for Brazil and is usually consumed several times throughout the day. In Brazil, coffee is made by boiling water, adding coffee, stirring it for a long time, and adding a lot of sugar. Unlike the general rule of making coffee, Brazilian coffee is boiled, and then the coffee is poured through a cotton coffee sock. In regular restaurants and even at gas stations, you can usually order a cafezinho (small coffee) at the counter and receive it for free. 

Serving coffee at the bar with style

As soon as you enter the restaurant, it is good manners to kindly greet the staff, avoiding talking on the cell phone at the same time. You can then proceed to order, considering that today it is really complicated to receive the request for a "simple" coffee. Especially when in company, the barista must orient himself in the jungle of orders: long, short, macchiato, frothed, decaffeinated, American, correct, barley, Moroccan and then again, cold macchiato, hot macchiato, soy stain, in large cup or small cup. It is therefore polite to help him, being very clear and concise.

If the coffee is served accompanied by a glass of water, remember to drink it before taking the coffee because it serves to clean the mouth to better appreciate its aroma. Once used, the sugar sachets should be placed on the saucer and not on the table or on the bar counter.

When the stop inside the restaurant is prolonged, it is polite to order a coffee or something else to your liking, at least every hour. When you finish enjoying the beloved drink, before leaving the place, it is our duty to thank and say goodbye.

Taste with class

When mixing the coffee, the cup must be held with the left hand while the spoon must be held with the right. With the right hand you bring the cup to your mouth, with the other you hold the saucer, which must not be left on the tray or on the table. The spoon is used to mix the sugar or simply to release the aroma of the coffee, always moving it from top to bottom or vice versa. The teaspoon must then be placed on the saucer, on the right side, without ever placing it on the table or bringing it to the mouth or using it to collect the sugar left on the bottom of the cup.

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