If you haven’t experienced the coffee culture in Asia then you are missing out. There are so many hidden gems to explore. Vietnam, Indonesia and India produce are in the top 10 countries producing the most coffee around the world. Latin America produces by far the most coffee in the world, but what many people might not know is Asia comes in at second place. This makes Asia a force to be reckoned with when it comes to coffee. Some of the trendiest and tastiest coffee is brewed and consumed in Asia. Although there are many destinations to enjoy a cuppa, here are some of the best.
Singapore
Coffee has been consumed by Singaporeans since the early 20th century and it is their national drink, although in Singapore it is called ‘Kopi’. Nowadays, more trendy coffee shops are springing up on the streets of Singapore, where busy workers grab the chance to take a much needed break. They are also becoming popular with tourists and locals looking for a trendy coffee hangout.
Coffee in Singapore has quite a strong aftertaste and is fairly dark in colour, and Singaporeans often have their coffee sweet with condensed milk. Most of the coffee houses will brew their coffee fresh onsite, typically made with Robusta beans, which are quite high in caffeine. If you are heading to Singapore it might be handy to learn the local lingo when it comes to ordering coffee, as Singaporeans are quite particular about their coffee. Some top places to have a perfect cup of coffee in Singapore include Raffles Hotel, Toast Box, The Real Food Cafe and The Fullerton Bay Hotel.
Japan
Although Japan is the home of pre-brewed canned coffee that you can buy from supermarkets and vending machines, there are lots of places to consume a first class cup of coffee. Coffee in Japan emerged at the end of the 18th century as a result of overseas trading with the Netherlands. The very first coffee shop opened in 1888 in Tokyo, and since then the coffee culture has flourished, particularly in the last 40 years. Coffee started to become popular with Japanese people partly because of their interest in Western culture.
If you are a coffee addict planning to go to Japan, there will be plenty of coffee shops to satisfy your need. Tokyo is a coffee hub in Japan, with lots of different coffee shops to choose from. Take your pick from big coffee chains such as Starbucks, small independent shops, vending machines or even coffee from McCafe, owned by McDonalds.
Life is quite fast paced in Japan, so the locals drink their coffee quickly and often fairly quietly because they need to grab their coffee and get back to work. Although Japan has not always been popular for coffee, more quality shops are starting to make good business and the country is now importing large amounts of coffee to cope with demand. Some coffee shops to check out in Japan include Bear Pond Espresso, Cafe Fresco and Kayaba Coffee.
Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the largest producers and exporters of coffee in the world. The coffee industry is crucial to the country’s economy as they produce such large quantities. This makes Vietnam a very suitable place for coffee lovers. The conditions and climate in Vietnam is perfect for coffee production. It is common here for customers to have their coffee served fresh while it is still brewing and like Singapore, the sweetness of condensed milk is the norm.
The Vietnamese use mostly Robusta beans which are often used in instant coffee blends in Europe. Despite the fact the streets of the main cities in Vietnam are packed full of coffee chains and shops, the locals don’t actually consume as much coffee as most other Asian countries.
Taiwan
The coffee market in Taiwan has been growing rapidly in the last ten years. You will be able to enjoy gourmet coffee on your next trip to Taiwan. They have a reputation for high quality beans that are freshly roasted. They make their coffee in a slow manner because their methods are fairly labour intensive in order to achieve the freshness. You can choose your favourite beans and have them roasted right away, or try an alternative way of drinking coffee from an iced drip coffee maker.
In order to find coffee shops in Taiwan you will need to learn the sign for coffee, as quite a few shops don’t have English signs. Espresso is probably the most popular type of coffee but that is closely followed by the iced drink blend. Taiwan is fast becoming popular with coffee critics and is starting to compete with some of the major players as coffee consumption in Taiwan continues to rapidly grow. Try visiting Coffee Bar-Den, Fong Da Coffee and Cafe Astoria for a traditional brew.
India
India comes just behind Taiwan when it comes to the top producing countries in Asia. It has huge coffee plantations in the South of the country, producing mainly Robusta coffee. Indian coffee has a beautiful aroma and it is fairly mild in taste. Coffee is traditionally made in India using the Indian filter coffee method where they create a milky and sweet coffee by combining coffee beans with chicory. Most of the coffee the make in India is for internal use as the country’s coffee consumption grows every year. You won’t be short of coffee on your next trip to India. Those interested in how coffee is made should take a trip to India as it has a longer history of coffee production and consumption than most Asian countries.
Indonesia
Indonesia produces a lot of coffee; a large proportion of this is done by small farmers. Being one of the largest producers of coffee in the world means that coffee mad visitors can taste lots of different types of coffee here. Many of the world’s major coffee producers are near the equator because it produces the right conditions for making coffee; Indonesia is in a brilliant location for growing coffee. There are three main coffee regions in Indonesia, Java, Sulawesi and Sumatra.You can also learn about how each type of coffee is grown if you visit these plantations. Black coffee is very common but if you want to taste something a little different you have to find a few hidden gems. Try visiting Graha Kopi in Pasar Segar, here coffee is consumed without any snacks or added extras because the owner thinks this takes away from the taste. There are lots of lovely coffee shops in Jakarta, but if you want a slightly different experience then buy some coffee from one of the street stalls where it is served in a plastic cup.
The post Guest Post – Best Countries in Asia for Coffee Lovers appeared first on Wez Wanders – Travel & Photography Blog.
Guest Post – Best Countries in Asia for Coffee Lovers
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