20 Strange Coffee Recipes From Around the World

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You can’t go more than a few blocks these days before you find another cafe showcasing a bevy of caffeinated beverages with names you can’t pronounce. If you consider coffee the sixth food group, you likely aren’t one to shy away from an interesting cup of java. But some of these strange coffee recipes from around the world may make you raise an eyebrow before you take a sip (but you’ll be glad you did).

1. Little Richard

This zesty caffeinated beverage only calls for two ingredients, espresso and a fizzy Mexican cola. Easy enough, right? The name derives from Little Richard’s famous, “Whoooooo!” Pour an ice-cold cola into a glass of ice and add a shot of espresso for a quick pick-me-up.

2. Honey And Cardamom Latte

Adding cardamom spice to coffee is a common practice in Indian and Middle Eastern cultures. The concept has traveled the globe, with the aromatic spice becoming a favorite in Sweden, Guatemala, and many other countries. Cardamom gives your coffee an extra kick, and it’s a great surprise in either hot or iced drinks. The addition of honey as the sweetener of choice provides this latte with an indulgent edge.

3. YuenYeung

YuenYeung is a milk tea popular in Hong Kong that uses canned milk as a creamer. It’s made by boiling water and tea leaves, then mixing in the canned milk until it’s steaming. After pouring the mixture through a strainer to eliminate the tea leaves, stir in filter coffee for a delicious hot drink. Or, serve it chilled over ice.

4. Vietnamese Egg Coffee

The idea of putting eggs in coffee may seem strange, but Cà Phê Trứng (Vietnamese egg coffee) is a sweet creamy drink that becomes a quick favorite to those who try it. This unique coffee includes whipped egg yolks, condensed milk, and a dash of vanilla if desired. It’s typically brewed coffee with the sweetened egg mixture gently spooned onto the top.

5. Lavender Latte

Lavender lattes are tasty whether you choose a hot, steamy cup on a frosty day or drink it chilled over ice for a refreshing boost. It features adding lavender syrup and steamed milk to espresso, and it isn’t necessarily associated with a particular country. It likely got its start in artisanal coffee shops trying out unique and interesting flavors (they’re easy to find in Los Angeles). The drink has a light, floral undertone and sweet taste with a pretty purple hue.

6. Kopi Luwak

What would you pay to try the “most expensive coffee in the world?” Now, what if you found out this same coffee used animal poop in its production process? This coffee from Java, Indonesia is often referred to thanks to the fact that it relies on an animal’s digestive system. Yep, you read that right. Kopi Luwak’s production consists of feeding a civet coffee beans, and then collecting and cleaning the beans after the animal excretes them. It’s also known as civet coffee.

7. Affogato

This decadent Italian coffee drink is more of a dessert, featuring espresso and creamy vanilla gelato. The name, Affogato, means “drowned” in Italian, and that’s exactly what this drink does. It drowns ice cream in coffee. Yum! Even more fun comes into play when you start adding creative toppings or changing up the ice cream flavors.

8. Kaffeost

If the idea of putting eggs in coffee had you raising your eyebrow, this Scandinavian twist will have you dropping your jaw. Kaffeost is a Scandinavian dish that features leipäjuusto (known as Finnish squeaky cheese in the US) in a steaming mug of coffee. The cheese, which is similar to feta, soaks up the coffee, which gives it a nutty taste and spongy, creamy texture.

9. Cuban Espresso

If you love sweet things, try a Cuban espresso as your coffee of choice. It’s an espresso shot made with brown sugar. Typically, the sugar is layered on top of the coffee in the filter before making the shot. If you don’t have an espresso machine, it might be tricky to make, but you could come close to the taste by adding brown sugar as your sweetener of choice.

10. Carajillo

Want a little something stronger in your coffee? A Carajillo is a popular Mexican cocktail originating from Spain. To make this spiked coffee, mix two ounces of espresso or a strong coffee with two ounces of Licor 43 in a cocktail shaker full of ice. Strain and pour over ice in the cocktail glass of your choice for a velvety smooth adult beverage.

11. Coffee With Orange Juice

Mixing orange juice and coffee sounds like it would be questionable at best. But many people find that it’s a refreshing way to start the day, especially in Arizona where it seems to have become quite the popular beverage. Depending on where you order it, it might be the OJ Express, the Good Morning, Vietnam, a Sunrise, or a myriad of other creative names. But no matter what it’s called, it includes two simple ingredients — coffee and orange juice.

12. Bicerin

Italy has its fair share of interesting coffee concoctions, including one from Turin. Bicerin includes espresso, chocolate, and whipped cream, but the trick is not to mix the ingredients. Instead, they’re served layered, usually in a tall stemmed glass. The bottom layer is hot chocolate, coffee goes in the middle, and everything is topped off with whipped cream.

13. Caffé Leccese

Another unique and delicious coffee drink we can thank Italy for is Caffé Leccese or Salentino, a popular choice in Puglia. It showcases a shot of espresso over ice with a sweet almond milk syrup. But it’s typically created in layers, starting with the almond milk on the bottom and the espresso shot on top, served in a clear glass.

14. Dalgona

Dalgona started in Macau, a Chinese territory with Portuguese origins. It is a coffee drink that consists of equal parts sugar, hot water, and instant coffee. To make it, you whip the ingredients together until the drink becomes creamy, then pour the drink into hot or cold milk. Depending on who serves your Dalgona, it could be topped with powdered coffee, honey, or cocoa.

15.  Türk Kahvesi

It’s no secret that Turkish coffee has a reputation for being particularly potent. The bold taste of Türk Kahvesi is created in a cezve, which is a specially designed copper pot. Finely ground unfiltered coffee goes directly into boiling water with sugar to create a thick drink. For a creamier, richer texture and flavor, some people add milk, but this is optional.

16. Mazagran

Mazagran is a Portuguese iced coffee drink that is highlighted by fresh lemon. Typically, a sweetened espresso or strong coffee is cooled and then poured over ice. Popular sweeteners are sugar or honey, and sometimes vanilla gets added for an extra dash of flavor. Squeeze in fresh lemon juice and garnish with a lemon slice for a refreshing citrus brew.

17. Oliang

If your goal is to expand your coffee palate, Thailand has you covered with its unique oliang, an iced coffee that mixes coffee beans with various grains and seeds. Some popular additions are sesame seeds, corn, cardamon, and rice. The ingredients get roasted together to create the coffee, then sugar, syrup, or condensed milk is used to cut the bitter brew.

18. Avolatte

Imagine if your cup of joe didn’t need a cup at all. How about drinking your coffee from an avocado instead? We have Australia to thank for what is perhaps one of the most inventive ways to serve coffee. The avolatte was born in the Truman Cafe in Melbourne, Australia. It features a latte poured into a scooped-out avocado. Apparently, the idea started as a joke to push back on the idea that the way to save money was to cut back on lattes and avocado toast.

19. Butterfly Pea Latte

When you order a butterfly pea latte, it’s like you’re getting a liquid piece of art, almost too pretty to drink. The vivid blue color is from the pigments in the butterfly pea flowers used to brew the coffee. These flowers are a popular addition to many Thai and Malaysian foods, teas, and medicines.

20. Goth Latte

Take a trip to the dark side, at least when it comes to your coffee, with a goth latte. This blackened beverage gets its dark shade from the addition of activated charcoal. It can be quite beautiful and comes with implied health benefits, although isn’t for everyone since the charcoal can interfere with certain medications. Similar to the lavender latte, it’s not quite known where this goth-inspired drink originated, but it became a fast obsession in many trendy cafes throughout the world.