Euro 2020 - How do Other European Nations have their Coffee?

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In England, the humble latte is the most popular type of coffee but there are an almost infinite number of ways the drink can be enjoyed.

Now the belated Euro 2020 football tournament is finally underway, what better time to take a look at some of the ways coffee is consumed by our European neighbours?

Italy

As the world capital of coffee, Italy knows a thing or two about drinking the black stuff. Espressos are the most popular option, with Italians typically drinking multiple cups each day.

Rich and thick, espressos are brewed by forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water through finely ground coffee beans and, in Italy, are commonly served with a slice of lemon to bring out their sweeter flavours. 

Despite increasing your metabolism, helping you burn calories faster and being delicious, professional athletes are still more likely to opt for water at half-time.

Portugal

A refreshing twist on a classic, one of the most popular coffees in Portugal is the Mazagran, aka the original iced coffee.

Available in any Portuguese pastelaria worth its salt, Mazagran is a sweetened, cold beverage that typically consists of espresso and lemon juice. However, the lemon can be replaced with rum for coffee fans in need of an even stronger kick. Ronaldo might not approve.

Finland

Finland may be something of an unknown quantity when it comes to its national football team but, in the UK, even less is known about Kaffeost, one of the country's traditional drinks.

A combination of coffee and cheese cubes - which are immersed in the liquid - Kaffeost is traditionally 'enjoyed' by groups of Finns as a welcome drink. Opinion is divided about whether the cheese should be eaten before the coffee is drunk or vice-versa but one thing Kaffeost fans agree on is that it should be drunk before the coffee becomes cold and somehow makes the whole thing taste even worse.

In the European Championship of coffees, this one is unlikely to make it out of the group stage.

Turkey

Turkish coffee, or Türk kahvesi, is prepared using very finely ground coffee beans and is one of the most popular types of coffee in the world due to its seriously high strength.

Simmered in a special brass pot known as a cezve, Turkish coffee is rich and gets its potency from being unfiltered, resulting in a higher concentration of caffeine and a drink that should come with a warning. Not for the faint-hearted.

Spain

Among the best looking of all coffees, Spanish cafe bombon coffees are a sweet-toothed coffee lover's dream.

Sugary and so thick you can chew them, cafe bombons are equal parts black coffee and sweetened, condensed milk, served in a glass in order to appeal to the eyes as much as the taste buds. 

By slowly adding the milk to the coffee, the milk sinks to the bottom of the glass and separates, resulting in a coffee in two distinct, irresistible layers that look and taste classier than Andrés Iniesta in a three piece suit.

Whichever type of coffee you prefer, we're confident you'll find something to love among our range of quality Cafe2U coffees. Find your nearest van here and make a booking.