"Why did the hipster burn his tongue? Because he drank his coffee before it was cool."

Before it was cool to sip turmeric lattes in minimalist cafes, while vibing to the tunes of your Beats and hammering out emails from your Macbook Air, there was a goat herder in Ethiopia in 800 A.D. who made a curious discovery. His goats emerged from some bushes one day, where they had been snacking on an unidentified berry. They had a noticeable pep in their step… Or so the legend goes. [1]

But whether or not the Ethiopian goat herder is whom we have to thank for our favorite morning brew (or any time of day, really), here at The Mountain Top Lodge we’re obsessed with coffee culture. Along with our guests, we do our fair share to contribute to the 146 billion cups of coffee America drinks each year. [2] Maybe you, too, are taking a little coffee break right now, sipping liquid comfort as you read this. (Isn’t reading and coffee such a great blend?)

So why don’t we use this time to go on a little journey together. Let’s travel around the world and be a fly on the wall, as we observe different coffee rituals. Something I think you’ll notice, and which warms my heart as much as a cappuccino sprinkled with cinnamon, is how coffee rituals around the world tend to share something in common. And that’s community. Coffee is a connector, wouldn’t you agree?

Of course we all have our own personal coffee rituals too—and especially for us introverts, coffee is sometimes the only companion we want in a moment of peace and quiet. Still, the fact remains that the tool most people reach for when they want to build a bridge of connection is: “Want to grab a coffee?”

Coffee Rituals of the World

Ethiopian Coffee Rituals

So why don’t we start where it all began, on the vibrant and diverse continent of Africa. After the massively influential discovery of the coffee bean, it was first used by ancient monks to stay awake during extended periods of prayer. Over time Ethiopia went on to cultivate a beautiful coffee ritual that all of Ethiopian society enjoys. It’s one that gathers the community in gratitude for an exchange of wisdom, storytelling, and connection by means of a special ceremony.

While this coffee ritual used to take place in shady, central spaces outdoors before urbanization, today the ceremony takes place in homes and in coffee shops. What’s wonderful about the Ethiopian coffee ritual is that it requires time. It’s a ceremony of three brewing phases, so when you participate in this Ethiopian coffee ritual, you’re gathered to spend time in fellowship with others; there’s no rushing.

The first phase is called Abol, and it’s the first of three brewing rounds using the same grinds. For this reason, the flavor of the Abol coffee is strong and rich in flavor. The second time brewing the same batch of coffee grinds is the Tona round. Now the coffee flavor is less intense. The third round, Bereka, produces a very mild coffee flavor. Though the flavor of the coffee is waning with each round, the connection between those gathered is intensifying, so it’s considered impolite to leave the ceremony early.

Not only that, but before the ceremony even begins, the coffee ritual has already started with the host’s traditional method of roasting the coffee beans and grinding them by hand with a mortar and pestle. Everything about this coffee ritual is unhurried, so clear your afternoon and savor every minute. Show respect to your host by staying a while to appreciate their skillful preparation and presentation. [7]

Photo by Taylor Flowe on Unsplash

Turkish Coffee Rituals

“A single cup of coffee can create a friendship that lasts for 40 years.”
– Turkish proverb

Let’s continue our trip around the world in Turkey, a country with deeply-rooted coffee rituals. Before Europeans and Americans fell in love with coffee, it was being consumed in Turkish homes and in coffee houses. In fact, Constantinople, the city we now know as Istanbul, was the birthplace of the coffee house in the year 1475. [1] People gathered in coffee houses for conversation, to exchange news, and to hear music performances. Over time, coffee became such an important element of society, that rituals formed around it.

One such coffee ritual was for resolving disputes. In the Turkish region of Anatolia, “friendship coffee” was served to men in discord to open dialogue and promote reconciliation. To this day, meeting to have a difficult conversation over a cup of coffee is a cross-cultural norm we’ve surely all experienced.

Then there’s the Turkish coffee ritual integral to wedding ceremonies. The bride’s responsibility is to prepare the perfect brew for her husband–to–be. The pair then drink coffee together as a means of getting to know one another. If the bride is fond of her betrothed, she adds sugar to his coffee cup. If she doesn’t take to her match, she’ll add salt instead. [3]

So what constitutes the perfect cup of Turkish coffee, anyway? Well, preparing it is a coffee ritual in and of itself involving the iconic cezve, the small metal pot attached to a long handle. Coffee is prepared for each person individually—one cezve per drinker. Traditionally, the coffee grinds and water are placed inside the little pot and set on hot sand, which slowly bakes the brew. The preparer tends diligently to the pot, stirring frequently to effect a controlled boil. [3, 4]

Photo by Yigit Danaci 🇹🇷 on Unsplash

When you receive your Turkish coffee, look for a foamy layer on top that forms as the coffee boils. This indicates a proper brew. Traditionally, your coffee will be served alongside a cup of water to rinse your palate and a Turkish delight, the perfect complement to the intense bittersweet flavors of the coffee. The more syrup-like consistency and settled grinds at the bottom of the cup may put off some western drinkers, but the Turkish coffee ritual is one worth experiencing for the beauty, aromas, and tradition alone. [3, 4]

Italian Coffee Rituals

Next, let’s flit over to Italy, a must-visit country on our tour of international coffee rituals. After all, we owe the Italians our coffee terms that we use on a daily basis: espresso, cappuccino, macchiato. Many Americans, in particular, ask: What is espresso? Is it a special kind of coffee bean? Is it a particular roast or coffee drink? You may even have believed it to be pronounced “expresso,” and if that’s the case, I regret to inform you otherwise. But it’s better I tell you now, before you order some in Italy…

Espresso is a method of coffee preparation. It means ‘fast’ in Italian, and by 17th century European standards—which is when the Italian moka coffee maker was invented—it was that. [5] Ironically, today, using the moka to make coffee is far slower than most Americans would prefer. I’m sure you know (or are) the coffee drinker who wishes slamming the alarm clock automatically produced the caffeine needed to make your feet touch the floor. Now that might be your kind of coffee ritual. Coffee machines are getting close to fulfilling this dream though, virtually serving as butlers, with special features that allow you to program your brew time so coffee is waiting for you as soon as you stumble into the kitchen.

But the Italian moka pot is a vessel for manual stovetop preparation of coffee, and for many Europeans—not just Italians—it’s still a part of their morning coffee ritual. It’s also quite possibly how your Italian host would prepare coffee for you if you were invited to their home. Like in many cultures, even offering coffee to unexpected guests is a sign of proper hospitality in Italy.

The moka pot has three components. First, the base. Fill it most of the way with water. Next, you’ll need the basket. Place your freshly ground coffee in the little basket that rests just above the water level. Lastly, comes the top with a lid and spout. Screw the top onto the base, and this is where your finished coffee will be ready for pouring at the end of the process. As the water boils on the stove, steam pushes its way through the coffee grinds, settling in the top of the pot as robust, delicious, concentrated coffee. [6] Given how rich the brew is, it’s usually enjoyed in small doses, with a bite of something sweet or a spoonful of sugar. To turn it into something resembling an American coffee, add hot water (hence, the term americano) or add some milk to soften the intensity.

Photo by Fidel Fernando on Unsplash

Today, automatic espresso machines fortunately have sped up the process, and many patrons of Italian coffee bars do, indeed, enjoy their coffee very quickly, without even taking a seat. This way, there’s always time for a quick espresso stop, no matter how late you’re running. And no—nobody forgot to put chairs around the high-tops at traditional Italian coffee bars; you’re meant to stand. This coffee ritual requires you fuel up and move on. Unless, of course, you’re one of the retired regulars with a special seat at the bar, on a first name basis with the barista. Thanks for that term, too, Italy

Vietnamese Coffee Rituals

French colonizers introduced coffee to Asia in the 19th century, and today, Vietnam is the world’s second largest coffee producer in the world, after Brazil. [1, 8] With coffee shops everywhere in big cities like Hanoi, your coffee experience can be whatever you desire. A quick, casual swig from a hole in the wall establishment—just sip it standing or rest on a small plastic chair—or at a stylish sit-down cafe where the coffee still only costs a couple U.S. dollars.

In Vietnam, there are two particularly unique aspects of their coffee rituals. First, they have a distinct brewing method. Secondly, they prepare coffee drinks with ingredients we wouldn’t typically use in the west.

Traditional Vietnamese coffee is made with the robusta bean, which contains less sugar and fat, but more caffeine—perfect, right? Just like the Italians have their moka, Vietnamese have their phin. This is a filter made out of thin metal (like tin or aluminum) that is placed directly on top of your coffee glass. This may remind you of a pour-over coffee, because it’s prepared by pouring hot water on top of the coffee grinds in the phin. [6]

Photo by Irish83 on Unsplash

A very popular way for the Vietnamese to take their coffee is laced with condensed milk. While unusual in North America, you’ll find coffee with condensed milk on menus in parts of Latin America and in Europe as well, like in Spain.

The coffee drinks most unique to Vietnam, however, are their ‘ca phe cot dua’ (coffee mixed with yogurt) and ‘ca phe trung,’ which is espresso plus condensed milk, sugar, and raw egg yolk. Somehow this sounds deceptively delicious, doesn’t it? And if this makes you wonder what coffee-flavored eggnog might taste like, visit The Mountain Top Lodge in the wintertime to try the out-of-this-world festive eggnog latte we created!

The Mountain Top Lodge Coffee Rituals

All this talk about coffee rituals has me jonesing for a (second) cup. And I know just the place. At The Mountain Top Lodge, you’ll find morning, afternoon, and evening coffee rituals to enjoy in good company.

Every morning starts with the inviting aroma of coffee spreading throughout the lodge. It’s a beverage that gathers our guests around the breakfast table, and it’s what keeps conversations going late into the morning. There’s no need to rush off. Linger a little, and take your morning with a splash of leisure. Whether on the welcoming leather couches of our lobby, in the Adirondacks on the deck, or in the rocking chairs on the porch, this coffee ritual is about community.

After spending some time out in town or hiking in the woods, our guests love returning to the lodge to find the perfect complement to their afternoon coffee break: freshly baked cookies. What a perfect pairing. Take your coffee outside and drink in views and fresh mountain air with as much fervor as the delicious coffee we brew. Pause your day to quiet your mind. This coffee ritual is about calm.

If you’re one of the people seemingly unaffected by caffeine in the evening, you may enjoy our coffee cocktails. On our Welcome Bar menu you’ll find cocktails like the Cup of Ambition, a delicious blend of espresso, kahlua, dark rum, and cherry liquor. End the night with stories about the day’s adventures sidled up to the fire, whether it’s the fireplace in the lobby or the firepit in the wine garden. This coffee ritual is about cozy.

Even if you’re not one of our overnight guests, we love chatting with our locals and restaurant patrons over a cup of coffee. So come on by The Welcome Bar and see what’s brewing! We’re always up for a friendly coffee chat.

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