If you’re anything like us, you depend on a little Vitamin C to power through your day. No, not that one. We’re talking about the other Vitamin C – caffeine! Whether tea or coffee is your preference, the odds are high that you’re reading this post with your favorite mug or travel tumbler in your hand. While you’re probably pretty familiar with the coffee culture in the AV industry, we thought you might like to learn a little more about coffee culture as it exists around the world. After all, Biamp is a global company.

Cuba
Because our in-booth coffee comes from Café Cubano, we’d like to start off by shining a spotlight on Cuban coffee traditions. Traditional Cuban-style espresso tends to involve Spanish, Italian, or other dark roasts. However, unlike Italian-style espresso, sugar is added directly to the espresso pitcher, resulting in a much sweeter flavor. Florida’s proximity to Cuba makes this style of coffee particularly popular in Orlando, which is why we chose to feature it in our InfoComm booth café.

Sweden
In Sweden, coffee is an institution. Swedish coffee is notably stronger, with a much higher caffeine concentration. Without sufficient caffeine, the long, dark winters would be quite a challenge. Fika, the Swedish word for coffee break, refers to morning and afternoon breaks during the workday. Swedish workers take these breaks rather seriously, and use them as an opportunity to socialize freely with their colleagues.

Ethiopia
Widely considered to be the birthplace of the coffee plant, Ethiopia has coffee traditions that span several centuries. Coffee plays an important role in daily life, and the coffee ceremony is a vital social activity. The coffee ceremony is always performed by women, and begins with burning incense. The hostess then cleans a handful of green coffee beans, and roasts them in a pan. Once the beans are fully roasted, she grinds them by hand using a mortar-and-pestle-like device. She boils the freshly ground coffee beans, fills the cups, and distributes the beverage to her guests. The entire ceremony typically lasts two to three hours, allowing participants to bond with one another and catch up on the news of the day.

Japan
Although coffee culture is relatively new to Japan – a country that has historically favored tea – trendy coffee shops have become ubiquitous. The Shibuya district of Tokyo is home to the world’s busiest Starbucks, where customers brave hours-long wait times for a chance to sit in front of the large windows overlooking the famous Shibuya crossing on the bustling street below. Japan’s emerging coffee culture offers a unique combination of modern latte art and the time-honored ceremonies of traditional Japanese tea service.

Whether you have a favorite coffee tradition or you’re just looking for an energy boost, visit us at booth #4043 to enjoy a complimentary tea or coffee while you check out the latest from Biamp.