Most people think they know coffee—hot, black, maybe with a splash of cream or sugar. But travel the world and you’ll discover just how weird, wild, and downright fascinating coffee can get. From salty brews to buttery cups, here are 7 strange coffee rituals that’ll make your morning drip seem boring.
Let’s dig in.
1. Cheese in Your Coffee – Sweden & Finland’s Kaffeost
Imagine this: a steaming cup of black coffee… with cubes of cheese floating in it. Sounds wild, right? But in parts of northern Scandinavia, it’s completely normal. It’s called kaffeost—a traditional drink where they drop pieces of leipäjuusto (a squeaky, chewy cheese) into hot coffee.
The cheese soaks up the brew like a sponge, softening but not melting. You sip the coffee and then eat the warm, coffee-soaked cheese at the bottom. Think espresso meets mozzarella stick… in a mug. Locals say it’s cozy, comforting, and a hell of a way to fight off the cold.
Want to level up your coffee game like the Swedes? Skip the weird cheese step and just start with smoother beans. Try air-roasted coffee and unlock flavors your tongue’s never touched.
2. Egg Coffee – Vietnam’s Creamy Secret
Vietnam took one look at cream and said, “We can do better.” Enter cà phê trứng—egg coffee. Yes, it’s coffee topped with a frothy, whipped blend of egg yolk and sweetened condensed milk.
It’s rich. It’s custardy. It’s like drinking a coffee-flavored tiramisu. Born out of milk shortages in the 1940s, it’s now a full-on national treasure. The hot version is warm and silky, while the iced version? That’s dessert in a cup.
Once you taste the velvety foam on your lips, your regular latte will feel… flat. Like really flat.
3. Spiced Butter Coffee – Ethiopia’s Bunna with Niter Kibbeh
Forget sugar and cream. In Ethiopia, they pour niter kibbeh—a spiced, clarified butter—straight into their brew. This isn’t some trendy “bulletproof” copy. This is ancient tradition.
The butter is infused with cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, and other warm spices. It turns the coffee thick, rich, and savory. The kind of cup that coats your throat and warms your bones. They serve it during ceremonies, where coffee is brewed slowly in a clay pot called a jebena and shared in rounds. It’s not just coffee—it’s a ritual.
Add butter to your coffee if you want… but maybe start with beans that actually deserve it. Taste the clean power of air-roasted coffee today. No grease, just glory.
4. Salty Coffee – Taiwan’s Sea-Salt Latte
Hold the sugar, pass the salt. In Taiwan, one of the hottest café trends is the sea-salt coffee—a foamy, creamy iced coffee topped with a light sprinkle of sea salt. Sounds weird? It works.
The salt cuts the bitterness and enhances the natural sweetness of the beans, like salted caramel in coffee form. The trick is in the foam: creamy, lightly salted, and whipped just enough to float above the coffee like a cloud. Every sip is a mix of sweet, bitter, salty, and creamy all at once.
You won’t believe how good it tastes until you try it. Like popcorn with chocolate—unexpected, but addicting.
5. Charcoal Coffee – Indonesia’s Kopi Joss
You’re sitting in a street café in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The sun’s setting, scooters buzz past… and someone drops a burning hot chunk of charcoal into your coffee. Ssssss! It hisses, steams, and smokes.
This is kopi joss, and yeah—it’s metal.
The red-hot coal gets plunged into a glass of sweetened black coffee. Locals say it removes acidity and makes the coffee smoother. Some swear it helps with stomach issues. It’s gritty, intense, and totally unforgettable. Not the kind of thing you sip while scrolling Instagram.
You can’t bottle that feeling—but you can get a cup that’s just as bold. Clean, strong, and fire-roasted? Nah—go cleaner. Go air-roasted. Try a bag today and taste the clarity.
6. Coffee and Lemon – Italy’s Summer Secret
Espresso Romano. Sounds fancy, right? It’s just a shot of espresso served with a slice of lemon. Some Italians rub the lemon peel around the rim of the cup, releasing oils that cut through bitterness and add a bright zing.
Others squeeze it right into the shot for a tangy twist. The citrus wakes you up even faster, and gives your coffee an unexpected sparkle. It’s especially popular in southern Italy on hot days, where it refreshes more like a cocktail than a morning brew.
Not into lemon in your coffee? Fair enough. But what if your beans were so smooth you didn’t need a citrus rescue?
7. Mushroom Coffee – Finland (Again!) & Modern Health Freaks
Coffee… with mushrooms. But not the kind you toss on a pizza. This one’s got chaga or lion’s mane, earthy fungi that health nuts say boost focus and immunity. Finland’s been mixing mushrooms into coffee for years—especially during wartime shortages when real beans were scarce.
Today, it’s a wellness trend that’s exploded across the globe. The flavor? Woody, earthy, kinda nutty. It’s not bad, just very different. Some say it’s smoother than regular coffee and easier on the stomach. Others just drink it for the health claims.
Weird? Sure. But no weirder than goat-cheese lattes (yup, that’s a thing too).
The World is Weird. Your Coffee Doesn’t Have to Be.
Every culture puts its own twist on coffee. And hey, we respect the hustle. But the one thing that every coffee ritual needs? Great beans.
And that’s where air-roasting changes everything. No bitterness. No smokiness. Just pure, smooth flavor that lets the bean speak.
Want to taste coffee at its cleanest, richest, most full-flavored form? Try air-roasted coffee today and taste the weirdest thing of all: coffee that’s actually smooth.
All images shown in this blog are sourced from pexels.com.