Coffee Culture Around the World

What would you call a morning that does not involve coffee? Definitely that is not a good morning! Coffee has been an essential part of our day's start. Not only that, coffee is a drink that remains popular at all times and with all age groups. Today, different coffee houses and even online tea stores are increasing the coffee and tea culture. Blooming tea, coffee and other drinks have become a part of our lives and nobody is new to them. Coffee houses are not only meant for coffee anymore. Different coffee houses and bistros around the block are meeting points and a place to share the latest gossip with your friends.

Coffee culture is basically a media term that is more popularly used for a social place that is enclosed with an ambiance of coffee and tea all around it. Due to the popularity across the globe, there are different ways and different rituals about coffee everywhere.

In Asia, people generally like to have a lighter and sweeter coffee as compared to the other Western countries. Coffee houses are usually places of gathering and social gatherings. The most preferred is Cappuccino. In Northern Europe, coffee is served at parties with homemade cakes, pastries and cookies. Coffee in Turkey becomes slightly different. The beans are fine and the water is boiled approximately three times and then placed in a long handle brass pot. At times cardamom or sugar is also added. The French usually drink coffee at the start of the day, and to Germans, it is a drink for social gatherings.

There are religious boundaries associated with coffee and tea as well. Different religions have different things to say about coffee. In Islam, tea and coffee is prohibited only at the time of fasting. The fast lasts from dawn to dusk and all the edibles, including water, are prohibited at that time.

Coffee is prohibited to Mormons. Also known as the Latter-Day Saints, followers of this religion prohibit coffee because they think it blocks their spiritual connections. According to the Words of Wisdom, it is said, "Hot drinks are not for the body or belly" (D&C 89:9). It is interpreted that Joseph Smith actually referred to tea and coffee because they were the only hot drinks available at that time.

According to the Seventh Day Adventist, the views about coffee are somewhat mixed. Previously, they prohibited it as they largely emphasize on a healthy diet. Therefore, to them it was prohibited as it contains caffeine. However, this view is somewhat obsolete now and no longer implemented. Still, it is supposed to be avoided.

In Judaism, there are actually no issues with coffee. Issues are there with kosher. Kosher issues arise from tea and coffee both. Flavored coffee might use different flavorings, flavored beans and syrups that do not answer all the kosher issues. The same goes with decaffeinated coffee as it contains ethyl acetate.

Rastafarians are quite similar to the Seventh Day Adventist and generally emphasize on a healthy diet. This genre prohibits the use of tobacco, alcohol, salt, coffee, meat and other processed edibles. Their diet mainly depends on grains, fruits and vegetables.

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