The Top 5 Countries To Visit If You Love Coffee (One Is Unexpected)

Whether picking up a latte at the Starbucks drive-thru or roasting beans at home, most people who enjoy coffee will want to try the local brew when they travel. If you're looking for an extra special coffee experience for your next vacation, there are several places around the world that take pride in their coffee culture and are just waiting for you to come and try it.

When you think of countries that are associated with coffee, your mind might first wander to Central and South America. If that's you, your instincts are right on the money. Countries in these regions are well-known for producing some of the world's best coffee. However, it's not just about where it's grown but how it's roasted and the drinking experience, too.

To get the most out of international coffee culture, we'll take you on a journey around the globe to places that not only grow the best beans but make the best coffee, too. And there's one on this list that may even surprise you.

Costa Rica is another Arabica producer which claims to grow some of the best coffee in the world. What makes Costa Rica different from Colombia? Well, in Costa Rica, it is actually illegal to produce any other type of bean besides Arabica. The soils are also enriched with volcanic ash from the many volcanoes you can find around the country, and its numerous microclimates allow for a greater variation in the taste of Arabica coffee.

For example, in Turrialba, the coffee is lighter-bodied with mild acidity. In Tarrazú, the flavors are a bit bolder, and the coffee there may be reminiscent of the chocolate-and-orange Jaffa cake. What makes coffee in Costa Rica even more unique, though, is the care that goes into every part of the production and harvesting process. All the beans are handpicked by experienced farmers and farm hands, ensuring that only the best and ripest beans are selected for processing.

This care that Costa Ricans have for their coffee is also reflected on a national level in how they treat their environment, too. Costa Rica actually produces 99% of energy from renewable resources like wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric, and more than 98% of the country is free of deforestation. So, when you visit, you're not only getting access to some of the world's best coffee but also contributing to an eco-friendly economy.

We already named the top producer of coffee in the world — Brazil — but would it surprise you to find out that Vietnam is the second? After its colonization by the French, Vietnam adopted coffee or "ca phe" into its food heritage and began to grow its own beans in the Da Lat region. This area is known as the "Europe of Vietnam" due to its climate, and it's where you'll find a lot of Vietnam's agricultural and horticultural production.

Instead of Arabica, though, here you'll find Robusta, an equally sought-after bean but with a very different taste profile. While Arabica is milder and less bitter, for those that like strong, full-bodied flavors, Robusta is your golden ticket.

Vietnam's drinking culture is a lot like Italy's. They drink their brew from early in the morning, and late into the night, and use the pastime of coffee drinking to gossip, called "ba tam", and people watch. Though, that's probably where the similarities to Italian coffee culture begin and end.

In Vietnam, you'll largely be served your coffee iced unless you request otherwise. Typically, the coffee will be made with a "phin" which is a French-style drip filter that slowly allows hot water to drip through the coffee grounds, resulting in a rich flavorful brew. You'll need to be patient, though, as this isn't a fast process. However, it makes the final results all that more rewarding.