“I have measured out my life with coffee spoons …”
–T.S. Eliot
Coffee is a universal language. Every corner of the world harbors a cozy, charming coffee shop that houses stories and serves up delicious, warm mugs. Whether it’s café, caffè, or cà phê, discover international coffee around the Commonwealth.
Community Ties
By 1850, Brazil was producing more than half of the world’s coffee supply. Today, it continues to be the top coffee-producing country and the second with the most coffee consumption. Brazilian coffee is known for its low acidity and full-bodied roasts.
For sure, coffee is the epitome of Brazilian hospitality; most Brazilians consume two or three cups per day. The tradition of gathering with family and friends in the evening for a cup of coffee and coffee cake is widely spread in the country.
Want to make café like a true brasileiro? Use a cloth filter—the pinnacle of a homemade cup that will remind many Brazilians of their grandma’s home. It’s not only eco-friendly, but it doesn’t filter out the oils, resulting in a richer and more flavorful cup.
Fredericksburg’s Curitiba Art Café fosters community with specialty coffee and a gallery of local artists, often hosting art-focused events. 919 Caroline St., Fredericksburg. CuritibaArtCafe.com
Rich Flavors, Deep Roots
After moving to the quiet Eastern Shore of Virginia, Yen Nguyen thought running a Chincoteague coffee shop would be fun.
“I called my family, who own a small coffee farm in Vietnam, and asked them to send 50 pounds of coffee,” says Nguyen, who was slammed with customers the minute she opened AmaRin Coffee USA in nearby New Church. She increased shipments, bought a roaster, and last year sold over 5 tons of coffee. She runs AmaRin with her husband, Brenden Kettner, who quit NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility to become roastmaster.
“Vietnam’s Central Highlands has a red, mineral-rich soil, and the beans’ flavor profile changes when roasted,” says Kettner.
AmaRin’s café specialty, Vietnamese Ice Milk Coffee, is 80 percent arabica and 20 percent robusta. Vietnam is a top producer of robusta, which “is tricky to roast. It needs to be perfect,” says Nguyen. 33181 Mill Dam Rd., New Church. AmaRinCoffeeUSA.com
Bridging Cultures
The tradition of Turkish coffee dates to the 16th century as a social ritual. It signaled the pinnacle of relationships—if two men fell out, they were served friendship coffee to resolve their dispute. The world’s first ever coffeehouse was opened in 1554 in Istanbul.
Gizem Salcigil White, also known as the Turkish Coffee Lady, who owns an eponymously named company, traveled the world with her Turkish coffee cart, continuing the tradition of uniting through the rich drink.
White now has a brick-and-mortar in Alexandria, serving up blends that honor the centuries-old heritage.
In order to make authentic Turkish coffee, you’ll need a cezve—a special, wide-bottomed pot, usually made of copper—granulated sugar, cold filtered water, and of course, Turkish coffee, which is defined by its finely ground beans, intense flavor, and thick, velvety texture. The grounds are not filtered out and remain at the bottom of the cup, adding to the tactile experience. All the ingredients are simmered together until a frothy layer forms on top. For an extra layer of authenticity, heat sand on top of a hot plate and circle the cezve on the sand instead of a stovetop. 1001 King St., Alexandria. TurkishCoffeeLady.com
Virginia’s World Cups
Want to continue your international excursions without leaving the coffee table? Read on for more locations across Virginia that happily serve up coffees from different cultures.
Arabica Cafe & Bakery
1158 E. Main St., Radford
Buna Kurs Ethiopian Café
402 1/2 N. 2nd St., Suite A, Richmond
Honduras Coffee Co.
121 N. Main St., Stuart
Magnolia Dessert Bar & Coffee (Thai)
431 Maple Ave., Suite A, Vienna
Marchese Italian Market
1700 Pleasure House Rd., Suite 106, Virginia Beach.
This article originally appeared in the October 2025 issue.
