Love coffee? Love travelling? Coffee tourism might be the ideal way for you to spend your time. In the modern age, it’s easier than ever to enjoy a spot of ‘coffee tourism’.

In the UK, people are often obsessed with delicious coffees. For many, just being able to turn on your coffee helper and enjoy a drink from anywhere in the world is enough, but for others, the idea of actually visiting coffee hotspots might be one of the most exciting prospects out there.

In 2021, we live in the age of craft coffee, and in countries where coffee is a part of the culture, including the US and the UK, you can find coffee from hundreds of locations just by performing one simple search or by heading to the local shops. If you want to, you can try coffee from countries as wide-reaching as Ecuador, China, Ethiopia, and more. There are even experiments with growing coffee in countries that aren’t traditionally part of the “coffee belt”.

You can perform your own version of coffee tourism from home if you wish. There are plenty of ways to read the books and perform the research on your own, and you can watch exciting videos from coffee farms while you try the product for yourself. It’s not totally the same though is it?

What is coffee tourism?

Coffee tourism is basically any form of tourism that is designed to incorporate coffee, and coffee-related events and activities.

The first thing that comes to mind may be to visit the places where coffee is grown and processed. This can be one of the most exciting and exhilarating ways to tie both tourism and coffee together, but it is not the only way.

Some people may define coffee tourism as simply going to some cities where the coffee scene is incredibly good. For instance, if you were to visit Los Angeles and do a tour of the coffee shops and independent coffee businesses, you’d find a thriving scene. The same can be said of London.

If you want to visit the “coffee belt” then there are some amazing places on the list.

A huge chunk of South America fits the bill. Brazil is one of the biggest exporters of coffee in the world. As well as visiting farms and seeing how coffee is processed, you can also enjoy one of the most exciting cultures in the world. Sun, sea, soccer, and more.

Other popular South American destinations include Colombia and some smaller locations such as El Salvador and Honduras.

Jamaica is another of the popular spots for coffee tourism. Some of the Jamaican coffees on the market have been listed as the very best in the world. It might be time to see what all the fuss is about. Blue Mountain can make for an unforgettable day out as well as a chance to see some coffee farms.

There are also many different parts of Africa where coffee is grown, and hundreds of farms offering tours and experiences. Ethiopia and Kenya are among the most prolific exporters.

Head east into Asia and there are yet more locations where you can find intriguing varieties of coffee and farms to visit. Popular coffee varieties include those from Indonesia, such as the infamous Kopi Luwak (just ensure it has been responsibly sourced when trying it).

Other Asian destinations that are great for coffee include Malaysia and Vietnam. Vietnam is one of the biggest exporters of coffee in the world, too. India, China, and Papua New Guinea all have their own varieties of coffee, and you can hop around some islands exploring different farms and locations if you so wish.

Is coffee tourism for me?

If you love to travel, then a quick look through all of the locations we’ve mentioned will probably get your mouth watering for both coffee and for the experiences you can enjoy while you’re on your travels!

Coffee tourism is a great way to see different parts of the world, and you don’t have to spend your whole trip focusing on coffee, of course. If you head to Africa then you can incorporate wildlife and safari, if you head to South America you can enjoy some stunning beaches. If you head to Asia you can enjoy the famed food and culture. Obviously, there is more than just coffee in all of these places.

A coffee tourist is likely to spend some time on location at the coffee farms, and it is worth finding coffee farms that offer specific tours. You can also enjoy the other aspects of the industry such as visiting roasteries if you find this interesting, and enjoying some food and drink along the way.

There are tourist destinations aimed specifically at the coffee lovers out there, too. Parque Nacional del Café in Colombia is effectively a coffee theme park that gets over a million visitors a year. Coffee tourists are in for a treat.