When the world shut down, I suddenly had the impossible urge to travel. Of course, I could do nothing about it, except indulge in weak attempts at foreign-inspired recipes. Plus, there has always been coffee to look forward to.

Considering that coffee shops were completely out of the question this past year and a half, I, like almost everyone else, turned to the internet to get my goods. I am by no means a coffee snob, but I do have a borderline Lorelai Gilmore-like craving for it.

The pandemic left me with plenty of time to curate my own coffee experience to cure my wanderlust. I did this by testing beans from around the world, from Papua New Guinea to Kenya. My boyfriend and I always share a cup of coffee in the a.m., it’s become part of our morning ritual. We love Atlas Coffee Club’s subscription. We get a new bag of curated coffee from a different part of the world every month.

I also invested in a versatile Ninja Coffee Maker. When I hit that 2 p.m. slump, nothing motivates me more than a caffeinated treat inspired by regional delights you’d usually find at a wonderful coffee shop around the world.

Korea: Whipped Coffee

If you like coffee-flavored ice cream, then you’ll absolutely enjoy a cup of Korean Dalgona coffee. It’s a thick, foaming beverage that almost feels like you’re drinking a dessert.

Turkey: Turkish Coffee

My boyfriend remembered having the best cup of coffee during his travels in Turkey a few years ago. Turkish Coffee requires you to envelop yourself in the entire experience. It’s strong, and you really only need a small cup.

Spain: Cafe Con Leche

I grew up with this Spanish classic. While I prefer a standard iced coffee, nothing makes me more nostalgic than a simple Cafe Con Leche.

Vietnam: Iced Coffee

Sometimes, plain iced coffee just doesn’t cut it. When I get the craving, I use this basic Vietnamese Iced Coffee recipe.

Italy: Cappuccino

Every now and then, I like to change up my workspace, and I’ll spend the afternoon lounging in my sun-drenched kitchen with my laptop. It’s the perfect time for an airy and light Perfect Cappuccino.

Thailand: Iced Coffee

I get a lot of my go-to recipes from Chrissy Teigen’s cookbooks, including this essential Thai Iced Coffee recipe. It’s a delicious and sweet option when I feel my coffee routine is starting to get stale.

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