12 Bucket List–Worthy Experiences for Coffee Drinkers


Coffee is a global pleasure—from Jamaica to Vietnam, it’s a go-to drink for much of the world—but there are local traditions infused into every cup. Exploring coffee culture is a window into that heritage, with a caffeine kick to boot. And, lining up to place your order offers the chance to rub shoulders with locals as they sip their own favorite brews. So whether you’re sampling third-wave roasts at Melbourne cafés or exploring bean-to-cup production in the Colombian highlands, these coffee tours show just how diverse (and delicious) the world of coffee can be.
1. Follow Medellín coffee from bean to cup
Climb into the hills surrounding Medellín to find lush coffee plantations just beyond the city limits. This is the starting point for discovering the richly flavored coffees Colombia is famed for, and this bean-to-cup tour delves into every detail of the growing process on a garden-like organic farm.
2. Immerse yourself in Istanbul coffee culture
Walk through an Istanbul bazaar, and you’ll see locals sipping tiny cups of rich, dark coffee—but there’s an art to ordering and drinking the distinctive brews. On this Istanbul coffee tour, you’ll taste your way through the city’s old-school coffee shops and learn to brew your own in a copper pot over hot sand.
3. Try an authentic Swedish “fika” in Stockholm
The treats-and-coffee break called “fika” is a highlight of Swedish life, a time to cozy up with a hot drink and good conversation. This fika-themed walking tour of Stockholm pairs Swedish coffee with stops at a series of cafés, pastry shops, and bakeries where the city’s locals savor their daily pause.
4. Discover the secrets of Jamaica’s Blue Mountain coffee
Coffee beans from the Blue Mountains of Jamaica are among the world’s most nuanced, their rich flavor nourished by the region’s cool, misty weather. See how it’s grown and produced on this tour of a Blue Mountain coffee farm, sample a local brew, then visit a shop specializing in Blue Mountain coffee ice cream.
5. Join a coffee ceremony in Addis Ababa
A market tour and cooking class are delicious preludes to a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony in an Addis Ababa home. Join your host to see how locals prepare coffee—called “buna”—from beginning to end. It’s a sensory experience using fresh beans that are roasted by hand before brewing.
6. Meet Bogotá baristas for guided tastings
Colombian coffee culture doesn’t stop at highland farms: chic cafés and craft coffee abound in Bogotá’s stylish neighborhoods. This coffee-themed walking tour is a deep dive into the local coffee culture, with the chance to meet baristas, café owners, and other coffee specialists in some of the city’s most energetic hangouts.
7. Learn the art of Argentinian coffee during a sensory workshop
Immerse yourself in Argentina’s coffee scene with this aromatic experience and discover different bean varieties and how they affect taste and texture. Finish by sampling a selection of freshly roasted Single Origin coffees and leave with a newfound appreciation for the coffee-making process.
8. Visit Gran Canaria coffee farms and sample local wine
Coffee plantations have thrived in scenic Valle de Agaete for centuries, a rare source of beans in a region that loves espresso. Exploring multiple coffee-growing sites (and wines) on this all-day tour is the chance to follow the Canary Islands’ coffee production all the way from fields to processing. Plus, lunch is included in the price for ease.
9. Sample Seattle specialty coffees on a walking tour
Seattle coffee culture started a revolution in America’s drinking habits, and the Emerald City still brews at the country’s cutting edge. Sipping and strolling around the city, including at the famous Pike Place Market.
10. Taste on-the-farm coffee and chocolate in Costa Rica
Travel to this family-owned coffee farm near Arenal Volcano to see artisanal coffee production as Costa Ricans have practiced it for generations. Harvest, roast, and grind: you’ll encounter each step of the process as the coffee travels from farm fields to the finished cup. And since cacao and sugarcane are grown on-site, you can sample the coffee alongside another of Costa Rica’s most flavorful products—artisanal chocolate.
11. Learn to make Vietnamese coffee at home
Discover three classic varieties of Vietnamese coffee—black coffee, white coffee, and egg coffee—with this hands-on class that’s an immersion into local coffee culture. You’ll learn how to make each one and discover the coffee bean style that lends Vietnamese coffee its distinctive flavor.
12. Sip your way through Melbourne’s coffee scene
With a well-earned reputation for some of the finest coffee on earth, Melbourne abounds in local cafés, roasters, and stylish coffee bars. This morning walking tour—featuring included coffee tastings—is a crash course in the local scene, from its early days to the third-wave coffee that put the city on the world’s coffee map.
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