International Coffee Day 2020: Where to find the world’s best coffee and how they make it

Not that you really needed an excuse, but in honor of International Coffee Day 2020, we would like to raise a cup.

Our love for coffee goes beyond the Seattle purveyor who added tall, grande and vente into our daily vernacular.

Coffee knows how to travel – and the best comes from all over the world. The origins of coffee are global, of course: 15th-century Arabs were the first to cultivate coffee and a Frenchman was behind the 1843 debut of the world’s first commercial espresso machine.

There have been a few leaps forward since then, and we don’t mean the advent of the Frappuccino. So go get a refill and then read on about the world’s best coffee destinations and how they make it:

Wellington, New Zealand

New Zealand likes to experiment -- edible coffee cups, anyone?

While the ubiquitous flat white – sort of like a latte with less milk – was purportedly invented in Sydney, the drink was perfected in Wellington, New Zealand, where it’s become the nation’s unofficial national beverage.

“Wellington-ites really know their coffee, and there is a very high standard being served around the city,” says New Zealand coffee producer Nick Clark of Flight Coffee Unlimited. “Wellington is also a small city. There’s a lot of interaction between consumers and professionals, which helps our industry to improve and grow.”

Local order: Flat white. It’s a religion.

Melbourne, Australia

Market Lane Coffee in Melbourne sources its beans from around the world -- from Bolivia to Rwanda -- then roasts the coffee there.

“The coffee culture in Melbourne is just incredible,” says former World Barista Champion Pete Licata from the United States. Coffee is such an integral part of the Melbourne lifestyle that the city even hosts an annual coffee expo.

Local order: Piccolo latte.

While lattes, cappuccinos and flat whites remain popular, piccolo lattes (made with less milk so the espresso tastes stronger) are the drink du jour.

Hanoi, Vietnam

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Coffee is deep in the DNA of Vietnam, and the country is one of the biggest producers of the beans in the world.

When Vietnam was a colony of France, the French established coffee plantations across the country in the late 19th century, and, if you’re in the capital, Hanoi, you don’t have to go far for a fantastic cup.

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

Coffee is brewed in a traditional filter, dripping into a single cup below, producing a thick, intense brew that is sipped black or enjoyed with the traditional sweetened condensed milk. It’s something the Vietnamese became accustomed to when fresh milk was in short supply.

Popular on Instagram and with locals is ca phe trung, the egg coffee – in which a creamy, meringue-like egg white foam is placed on top of a black coffee.

Local order: Caphe den (thick black, slow brewed), or caphe sua (black with sweetened condensed milk) or coconut coffee (frozen coconut milk mixed with rich black coffee topped with shaved coconut ice – like egg coffee, it’s more a dessert than a drink).

London

Coffee-drinking goes patriotic here with the Union Flag on the froth.

Aussies and Kiwis famously opened the city’s first espresso-focused coffee shops roughly 20 years ago – bringing along their beloved flat whites – and more modern cafes have been popping up across the city ever since.

Tea may still be king in England, but Londoners have some bloody good coffee on offer now too.

Local order: Flat white or cappuccino.

Iceland

Thingvellir National Park -- This Iceland highlight appeals to both geology buffs and history enthusiasts. It's home to the rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, as well as the site where Iceland's first parliament, the Althing, gathered in 930 AD. It's part of Iceland's Golden Circle tourist route along with Gullfoss waterfall and Haukadalur geothermal area. Click on to see more of Iceland's most spectacular places.

Haukadalur geysers -- The Great Geysir erupts only sporadically but nearby Strokkur geyser shoots steam and boiling water up to 30 meters every 10 minutes or so. The natural phenomenon is a reminder of the geothermal energy that powers this island.

Gullfoss waterfall -- These spectacular falls lie on the Hvítá river, which is fed by the Langjökull glacier in southwest Iceland. It's a powerful reminder of the force and beauty of nature.

Gullfoss -- The towering waterfall cascades 32 meters in two stages with whitewater tumbling over basalt rocks amid a lush green backdrop in the summer, or stark white snow in the winter months.

The Krýsuvík geothermal area -- This stunning region features gurgling mud pools amid the yellow, red and orange clay-like earth. The dancing steam and hot springs are intertwined with many hiking paths allowing you to feel lost in the moon-like atmosphere.

Blue Lagoon - A major attraction, the Blue Lagoon is located in a lava field in Grindavík in southwest Iceland. It draws visitors from around the world looking to soak in the warm, mineral-rich waters amid a dreamlike atmosphere.

The Thórsmörk region -- This area offers a spectacular view of the landscape ranging from towering mountains to scores of glacial streams and miles of black sand. This interior region is a favorite among hikers in the summer months.

Skógafoss -- This is an epic waterfall on the Skóga River in the south of Iceland, dropping 60 meters off cliffs which once formed part of the coastline. It's common to see single or even double rainbows over the falls.

Reynisdrangar -- These striking basalt sea stacks jut out from a stunning black-sand beach at the foot of the Reynisfjall mountain in southern Iceland.

Reynisdrangar -- The nearby village of Vik sits on a flat coastal plain and is the southernmost settlement in Iceland.

Hallgrímskirkja -- This Lutheran church is one of the most prominent landmarks in Reykjavík. Standing 74.5 meters tall, it took 41 years to build and was finished in 1986. It's made out of concrete and the design was inspired by the shapes of lava cooling into columns.

Tjörnin -- Tjörnin is a small lake rich with bird life, situated next to Reykjavík City Hall. It borders a scenic strip of Reykjavík, with colorful houses that beg to be photographed.

Hraunfossar -- This natural feature in western Iceland is a series of waterfalls streaming more than 900 meters out of the Hallmundarhraun lava field.

Hraunfossar -- The lava flowed from an eruption from a volcano lying under the Langjökull glacier. The water drains into the Hvítá river.

Snæfellsjökull -- A huge glacier caps the summit of a volcano on the Snæfellsnes peninsula in the far west of Iceland. The peak soars to 1,446 meters and can be seen across the sea from Reykjavik on a clear day.

Djúpalónssandur -- This beach at the foot of Snæfellsjökull is covered by small black pebbles that were smoothed and shaped by the force of the tides and whipping of the wind. Visitors love to wander among the frozen lava landscapes and curious rock formations.

The Vatnshellir lava cave -- This 8,000-year-old lava tube takes visitors deep under the Snæfellsjökull National Park to view spectacular lava formations and stunning colors.

The Akranes Lighthouses -- The bigger of the two lighthouses is open to the public and is a delightful place to visit any time of year. Away from bright lights, tourists and townsfolk flock to the site in winter to catch a glimpse of the northern lights dancing in the sky.

The Látrabjarg cliffs -- On the westernmost tip of Iceland is a 14-kilometer stretch of sea cliffs which are home to millions of birds including puffins, gannets, guillemots and razorbills. It's one of the world's most spectacular sea-bird cliffs and offers myriad photo opportunities.

Rauðisandur beach -- This vast beach with golden-red sand lies in a remote area of the Westfjords and offers gorgeous views of the Látrabjarg area with the mighty Snæfellsjökull glacier looming in the background.

The Hornstrandir peninsula -- This wild peninsula on the northern tip of the Westfjords is a remote, sparsely populated area of mountains, valleys, tundra and fjords. It offers stunning hiking with excellent opportunities for spotting wildlife.

Jökulsárlón -- This is a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland at the head of Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. In summer ice blocks carve off the snout and float down to the lake's mouth or wash up on the black sand beaches.

Jökulsárlón --The icebergs vary in color from milky white to bright blue depending on the amount of air trapped within the ice and the light conditions at the time.

Jökulsárlón -- Seals can often be seen lolling on the icebergs of the glacial lagoon.

Skaftafell -- Part of Vatnajökull National Park, this is one of southeast Iceland's most stunning places. It's got towering mountains, glaciers, woods and waterfalls, plus green fields and black sands.

Skaftafell - It's particularly striking on clear days with the snow-capped mountains and blue skies in the background.

Skagafjörður -- This deep fjord in the north of Iceland is the focus of an agriculture-rich region where horses outnumber humans. Horse tours, rafting and hiking are just some of the possibilities amid the majestic scenery of mountains, coastline and chunks of glacial ice dotting the fjord.

Grimsey Island - A wind-swept and secluded island that is as striking in beauty as it is difficult to reach. It lies 40 kilometers off Iceland's north coast and is home to fewer than 100 people. It's a haven for birdwatchers and for those keen to say they have stood on the Arctic Circle, which crosses the tiny island.

Godafoss -- The "waterfall of the Gods" is a spectacular semi-circular cataract in northeast Iceland. The water of the Skjálfandafljót River falls from a height of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters.

The Mývatn Nature Baths -- The man-made lagoon in the Lake Mývatn geothermal area in northeast Iceland features hot, mineral-rich water perfect for bathing. Similar to the Blue Lagoon but with its own unique atmosphere.

The Mývatn Nature Baths -- The milky-blue water, which stands at 96.8°F, comes from the National Power Company's borehole in Bjarnarflag.

Dimmuborgir -- The aptly named "dark castles" are a region of weird and wonderful lava caves and rock formations, arguably resembling an ancient citadel, east of Lake Mývatn.

Dimmuborgir -- The black lava pillars were born from a collapsed lava tube from a large volcanic eruption more than 2,000 years ago.

Víti -- This crater lake, next to the bigger Öskjuvatn, occupy the giant Askja caldera in northeast Iceland. The whole crater measures 50 square kilometers. Víti was formed during an eruption in 1875.

Dettifoss -- This waterfall in Vatnajökull National Park in northeast Iceland is reputed to be the most powerful in Europe.

Dettifoss -- The water comes from the nearby Vatnajökull glacier and has a greyish color because of the sediment-rich glacial run-off.

36 photos of beautiful places in Iceland

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Scandinavians have some of the highest coffee consumption per capita in the world, according to WorldAtlas.com. That includes coffee-crazy Icelanders, who occupy one of the most scenic – but also coldest – places on Earth.

One generation ago, coffee and cake was a standard afternoon break, but people focused more on the quality of the cake than the coffee. That’s changed dramatically; now you can hardly walk a city block without passing a coffee shop.

And with Iceland’s lack of commercial coffee behemoths, smaller businesses have had a chance to flourish.

Local order: Latte or cappuccino.

Rome, Italy

When in Rome, order an espresso.

Coffee is so much a part of Italian culture that you’ll rarely encounter a local who doesn’t drink it. But believe it or not, it’s not always that easy to find a decent espresso in Italy, with critics whispering that Italians have been resistant to adopt modern barista techniques.

With the best of the nation’s baristas calling it home, Rome is your best bet for a quality cup.

Local order: Espresso. Custom dictates that milky coffees can only be consumed at breakfast.

Singapore

Where coffee art is as important as the taste.

Coffee has always been an integral part of life in Singapore – the old tradition of kopitiam, or coffee shop culture, goes back centuries. But the city’s only recently embraced modern espresso technology – nowadays, latté art is an expected part of cafe service.

Local order: Latte, mocha or cappuccino.

Seattle

Coffee at Public Market is a Seattle tradition.

If there’s one American city that’s consistently ahead of the game, it’s Seattle. The green mermaid is only a small part of the hometown coffee scene.

“Coffee is our liquid sunshine in Seattle,” says coffee consultant Joshua Boyt, a former SCA World Barista competition judge. “Passion for the product, coupled with the sheer number of coffee shops across the city, has created a culture of constant improvement through competition and camaraderie.”

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

Austria

Fixations on cake have turned to coffee in Vienna.

They’re such an important part of Viennese culture that the city’s coffee houses were listed by UNESCO in 2011 as an Intangible Heritage.

Modern coffee connoisseurs such as Vienna coffee blogger Lameen Abdul-Malik of From Coffee With Love admit that the standard of coffee in these beloved institutions, which act as public living rooms where people come to chat, read newspapers and eat strudel, were lagging in terms of coffee technology and service expectations.

That’s started changing after Vienna hosted the World Barista Championships in 2012, and new-style independent coffee shops opened, says Abdul-Malik.

Local order: Espresso or cappuccino in a new style cafe. Or a Weiner melange (similar to a cappuccino, but usually topped with cream) in a traditional coffeehouse.

Nigeria

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Coffee was likely born in Africa – historians peg it to pre-15th-century Ethiopia – but Nigeria is one country’s that been slower to get into coffee culture. That’s been changing in recent years. Coffee culture is percolating there.

Local order: Regular filtered coffee, black or with milk, or yes, their version of Frappuccino.

A version of this story was first published in 2014, and it has been reformatted and updated for 2020.