Unusual Coffee Flavors from Around the World: Salt, Butter, and Beyond

Coffee is one of the most universally beloved beverages, but the way it’s enjoyed can vary dramatically from culture to culture. While most of us are familiar with classic options like espresso, cappuccino, or a simple black coffee, there are some regions around the world that enjoy coffee in truly unique and sometimes unexpected ways. Whether it’s the salty, savory flavor of a traditional Turkish coffee, the creamy richness of butter coffee, or other quirky twists on the beloved brew, these unusual coffee flavors offer exciting new experiences for adventurous coffee drinkers.

In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the world’s most unusual coffee flavors and the cultural traditions behind them. Get ready to expand your coffee horizons and discover how people around the globe enjoy their cup of joe in creative and sometimes surprising ways.

1. Salted Coffee (Turkey, Iceland, and Finland)

It may sound strange to some, but adding salt to coffee has been a practice in several countries for centuries. Salted coffee is especially popular in regions with colder climates, where the salty addition is said to enhance the warmth and comfort of the drink.

• Turkey: In Turkey, coffee is often brewed with a pinch of salt, particularly in rural areas. The salt balances the coffee’s bitterness, creating a smoother, richer flavor. Turkish coffee is known for its intense, unfiltered brew, and the salt helps to soften the coffee's sharpness while adding a subtle savory note.

• Iceland: Icelandic coffee drinkers have a slightly different twist—known as “kaffi með salti” (coffee with salt)—which involves adding a dash of salt to black coffee. It’s believed to help reduce acidity and make the coffee taste less bitter. The practice is popular in rural Icelandic communities and is thought to be especially comforting during the long, cold winters.

• Finland: In Finland, salt is sometimes added to “kahvia”, the traditional Finnish coffee, which is brewed strong and enjoyed black. The salty flavor is believed to counterbalance the strong bitterness and provide a satisfying, heartwarming experience.

Why It Works: Salt in coffee helps to reduce the perception of bitterness, making the drink smoother and softer. Salt can also enhance the natural flavors in coffee, much like it does in cooking, by balancing the coffee's complexity and adding a savory edge.

2. Butter Coffee (Tibet and the U.S.)

If you’ve ever heard of "bulletproof coffee", you know it’s a blend of coffee and butter that’s said to provide sustained energy and focus. But this concept is not as modern as it might seem! In fact, drinking buttered coffee has been a tradition in several cultures for centuries.

• Tibet: Tibetans have been making butter tea (called po cha) for generations, and it’s not far off from the idea of butter coffee. The drink is made by mixing strong tea with butter (often yak butter), salt, and sometimes milk. The result is a thick, creamy, and calorie-rich beverage that provides energy and warmth to survive the harsh conditions of the Tibetan Plateau.

• United States: The trend of bulletproof coffee, popularized in the U.S. by entrepreneur Dave Asprey, took inspiration from this age-old Tibetan practice. Asprey’s version involves blending high-quality coffee with unsalted grass-fed butter and MCT oil, creating a creamy, frothy drink that’s both filling and energizing.

Why It Works: Butter coffee is often promoted for its sustained energy benefits due to the combination of healthy fats from butter and MCT oil. These fats are believed to provide long-lasting energy and support brain function, making it a popular choice among those who follow low-carb or ketogenic diets. Plus, the buttery texture adds a rich, indulgent element to the coffee.

3. Coffee with Egg (Vietnam and Sweden)

Coffee and egg? Yes, you read that right. It may sound odd, but in a few parts of the world, mixing eggs with coffee is a cherished tradition.

• Vietnam: In Vietnam, the practice of adding egg to coffee is famously embodied in “cà phê trứng” (egg coffee). This rich and creamy beverage is made by whipping egg yolks with sweetened condensed milk and then pouring it over strong Vietnamese coffee. The result is a thick, velvety drink that tastes almost like a coffee custard. Egg coffee is a popular treat in Hanoi, often served in cafés where it’s enjoyed as a dessert-like coffee drink.

• Sweden: In Sweden, some people enjoy coffee with a raw egg. This practice, known as “kaffekokning”, involves adding a raw egg (sometimes with its shell) to the coffee grounds before brewing. The egg helps clarify the coffee, making it smoother and less acidic by binding to some of the bitter compounds.

Why It Works: In both cases, the egg helps to soften the coffee’s bitterness and adds a creamy texture. In the case of egg coffee in Vietnam, the combination of sweetened condensed milk and egg creates a dessert-like experience that enhances the coffee’s richness. In Sweden, the raw egg serves more as a filtration agent, helping to produce a clearer, smoother cup of coffee.

4. Coffee with Cheese (Ethiopia and Sweden)

The combination of coffee and cheese might sound unusual, but it’s a practice that has been enjoyed in certain regions for generations.

• Ethiopia: In Ethiopia, a traditional coffee drink called “buna with cheese” involves pairing strong, freshly brewed coffee with a piece of cheese, such as "ayib" (a soft, cottage cheese-like cheese). This combination has long been enjoyed by rural Ethiopians as part of the coffee ceremony, offering a contrast between the rich bitterness of coffee and the creamy, savory flavor of the cheese.

• Sweden: Swedes have a practice known as “kaffeost”, where cheese curds (often a mild, white cheese) are added to hot coffee. The cheese curds soak up the coffee, becoming soft and chewy, and the drinker sips the coffee and occasionally nibbles on the cheese for an unusual yet comforting experience.

Why It Works: The contrast of savory and sweet between the cheese and the coffee enhances the overall flavor experience. The cheese curds absorb the coffee, allowing the drinker to enjoy both a unique texture and an interesting flavor combination. It’s also believed to help balance the acidity of the coffee, making it smoother.

5. Spiced Coffees (Mexico, India, and Morocco)

Spices are a staple in many traditional coffee recipes around the world, adding warmth and depth to the flavor profile. These spiced coffee drinks often reflect the local spices that are prevalent in the region.

• Mexico: Known as “café de olla”, Mexican spiced coffee is made with cinnamon, cloves, and piloncillo (a type of raw sugar). The ingredients are simmered with coffee to create a sweet, aromatic, and comforting drink that’s often enjoyed during holidays or celebrations.

• India: In India, “masala chai coffee” is a fusion drink that combines the flavors of spiced chai with coffee. Ground spices like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves are mixed into the coffee to create a rich, complex flavor profile that’s both spicy and creamy.

• Morocco: Moroccan coffee, or “qahwa”, often features a blend of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. The spices infuse the coffee with a warm, aromatic complexity, making it a popular drink during social gatherings.

Why It Works: Spices bring a sense of warmth and comfort to the coffee, creating a multi-layered flavor experience. They balance the coffee’s natural bitterness with their aromatic, warming qualities, making the drink more indulgent and inviting.

Conclusion: A World of Coffee Flavors to Explore

Coffee is far more than just a beverage—it’s a canvas for creative flavors and regional traditions. From the savory salt in Turkish coffee to the rich creaminess of butter coffee, and from the surprising addition of eggs to the spiced warmth of Moroccan and Mexican coffees, there’s no limit to the ways coffee can be enjoyed. Each of these unusual coffee drinks offers a unique taste experience, often deeply tied to the cultural identity and history of the region.

So, the next time you’re looking for a new way to enjoy your coffee, why not venture beyond the usual? Who knows—you might just discover a new favorite brew!