So far, I have had coffee in 3 different countries: the United States, Croatia, and Italy. The coffee culture in the U.S. compared to Italy and Croatia has been vastly different. In the United States, it is typical for Americans to go to coffee shops and order a latte or some type of coffee with a flavor or sugary syrup. In Tuscaloosa, if you frequent coffee shops, you likely go to Heritage House, Turbo, or Monarch coffee. However, in the European countries I’ve visited so far, I’ve found that you can’t expect to go to a coffee shop and order a hazelnut latte with oat milk, or anything of the sort. Instead, you can go to restaurants or bars and order a coffee alongside food or other beverages.
It is difficult to find a shop that specializes in only coffee or pastries. The closest thing that I have found has been bakeries (which have delicious sandwiches, donuts, and other sweet treats)! If you are looking for a little coffee pick-me-up, I recommend that you go to a local bakery and order coffee or find a restaurant and order a brunch coffee.
Another thing I have noticed about the coffee culture in Europe that differs from the United States is the price variation for different coffees. Many Europeans order Cappuccinos, which would cost about $4. However, in Europe, Cappuccinos cost about £2 (or $2.17). Coffee is typically cheaper in Europe and is drank more often with meals than it is in America.
While coffee culture in Croatia and Italy is very different than in the United States, I feel that coffee is still extremely accessible in these European countries, and I have been extremely pleased with the low costs of coffee compared to American prices.
