When I was in The Hague, my friend and guide remarked that the Netherlands has the best coffee. End of conversation.
But doesn’t every country boast that their coffee is the best?
When I was growing up, I saw TV commercials for Folger’s, Maxwell House, and Sanka coffee. Our choices seemed fairly limited back then.
However, by the late 1990s, specialty roasts began to gain speed in the marketplace as coffee drinkers’ tastes evolved.
It’s no secret that drinking coffee has become an experience and your local café has become a destination. In fact, the Specialty Coffee Association of America “predicted that by 2015 there would be 18,000 coffeehouses in the U.S.”* By 2006, there were already 15,500.
Here are my favorites from here and there:
- Visiting or living in Washington, DC? Hit Peregrine on 14th Street or Filter on 20th. Peregrine serves up coffee with time and care, resulting in a drink that rivals any European café. Filter offers espresso and French pressed coffees.
- La Maison du Gateau in the Lake Geneva area of Nyon, Switzerland offers fuss-free coffee, pastries, and quiches, and is located across from the train station. Hop off the train, fuel, and go.
- The Outer Banks of North Carolina has the Front Porch Cafe. There’s a reason why this coffeehouse has been voted the local favorite four times. The rich-tasting coffee is roasted locally by Kill Devil Coffee Roasters and served by a friendly staff. In the warm months, take your cup out front and relax on the porch. (Website ordering is available.)
- Wired Puppy serves up the best coffee in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Located on Commercial Street, it’s a happening hangout any time of the day and a convenient place to fuel before a bike ride in the dunes or a day at the beach. (Website ordering is available.)
- Remember my Dutch friend? Zebedeüs in The Hague is intimate and tucked away on a busy shopping thoroughfare. Sit outside and order a latte. Hungry? The restaurant serves great lunches including omelets served on bread with salad on the side.
Tip: If you like your coffee rich and inexpensive, check out Sweden’s Gevalia. You can buy it at CVS or your local grocery store.
*Source: Highbeam Business