Coffee world
Coffee around the world: cultures, drinks and brewing
Who drinks the most coffee and why, how five coffee-loving world powers take theirs, every drink on the café menu explained, and brewing basics that make your cup taste like a café.
Guides
Coffee worldWhich Country Drinks the Most Coffee? A Cheerful World Tour of the NumbersFinland drinks the most coffee per person, about 12 kg a year in StoneX's 2023 ranking, followed by Norway, Iceland and Denmark.
Coffee worldCoffee Culture Around the World: Inside the 5 Coffee SuperpowersCoffee culture differs hugely among these five major coffee nations.
Coffee worldTypes of Coffee Drinks: A Friendly Guide to Every Cup on the MenuMost types of coffee drinks are espresso combined with water, milk or foam in different ratios: macchiato, cortado, flat white, cappuccino and latte go from strongest to milkiest.
Coffee worldLatte vs Cappuccino: What's the Difference, and Which Will You Love?A cappuccino is a small drink of roughly equal parts espresso, steamed milk and thick foam, so it tastes stronger and airier.
Coffee worldHow to Make Espresso at Home: A Calm, Step-by-Step GuideTo make espresso, grind fresh coffee fine (like table salt), tamp it evenly in the portafilter and brew with hot water under about 9 bar of pressure.
Coffee worldCoffee to Water Ratio: The Simple Secret to a Better CupA good coffee to water ratio for most brewing methods is 1:13 to 1:16 by weight, for example 15 g of coffee for 240 ml (8 fl oz) of water.Explore coffee around the world
Coffee is a daily ritual almost everywhere, but every culture brews and shares it differently. Learning those traditions is a joyful way to taste more and to make better coffee at home. A cup of light-roast Finnish filter coffee and a small, sweet Brazilian cafezinho each teach you something about flavor, strength and ritual.
Cultures and countries
Finland and its Nordic neighbors drink the most coffee per person, while the United States drinks the most in total. Coffee consumption by country lays out the data and the reasons behind it. For a closer look at how five coffee-loving world powers, the United States, Brazil, Germany, Japan and China, take their coffee, read coffee culture in five world powers.
Drinks on the café menu
Espresso, ristretto, americano, flat white, cortado: the menu can feel like a quiz. Types of coffee drinks explains each one in plain words, and latte vs cappuccino settles the most common question at the counter.
Brewing basics that make a big difference
- Ratio. Weighing coffee and water is the simplest step toward a balanced cup. Start with the coffee to water ratio guide.
- Espresso technique. Dose, grind and time work together; how to make espresso walks you through a first shot.
- Beans. Origin shapes flavor, from nutty Brazil to floral Ethiopia. Buying whole beans with a recent roast date and grinding just before brewing keeps that character in the cup.
Curious which origins suit your taste? Bean Match turns your favorite flavors into a roast level, origins and processing to try.
Frequently asked questions
Which country drinks the most coffee?
Per person, Finland leads, at about 12 kg a year in StoneX's 2023 ranking, followed by Norway, Iceland and Denmark. In total volume, the United States drinks the most coffee according to USDA, ahead of Brazil. Rankings vary by data source and year, so our country guide shows the figures with their sources.
What is the difference between a latte and a cappuccino?
Both combine espresso and steamed milk. A cappuccino is smaller, with a thicker layer of airy foam and a stronger coffee taste. A latte has more steamed milk and only a thin layer of foam, so it tastes milder and creamier. Our latte vs cappuccino guide covers the details.
What is the best coffee to water ratio?
For most brewing methods a good starting point is 1:13 to 1:16 by weight, for example 15 g of coffee for 240 ml (8 fl oz) of water. Espresso uses a much stronger ratio of about 1:2. Weigh both coffee and water for a few brews, then change one thing at a time until the cup tastes just right.