Destinations All Coffee Lovers Should Visit

Do you have a passion for travel? Does your wanderlust leave you daydreaming about bustling global cities replete with cultural attractions, or tropical beaches nestled in far-flung nations? Now what about coffee? Are you a caffeine connoisseur? A  java fiend, eager for their next sip of the hot stuff? If you answered with a resounding yes to these questions, this article is for you! Because why not combine two major passions - coffee and travel - and embark on a trip based around your love of choice brews?!

There are countless global destinations that any coffee enthusiast would embrace, from global cities to entire countries. So what are you waiting for? Here are some prime destinations where you can embrace your java passion:

1. Melbourne, Australia A thriving, multicultural metropolis, Melbourne, Australia, has much more to offer than just beaches and barbecues! The city is renowned for its arts, culture, fashion and, you guessed it, coffee! There are countless coffee shops to visit, and they are well spread out across the city's many neighborhoods, which the locals call "villages."

If Melbourne is your destination of choice, consider planning your trip around the annual coffee expo - the largest of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region - which happens every year in the spring (which is technically the autumn down under!).

2. Ethiopia If you want to develop a much closer connection with the coffee you drink, consider making a trip to the one of the world's biggest coffee-producing countries - the African nation of Ethiopia. Boasting a rather apt moniker - the "birthplace of coffee" - Ethiopia has a number of places to buy and sample delectable brews, particularly in the nation's capital, Addis Ababa.

Making coffee by hand is a cornerstone of Ethiopian culture. Known as coffee ceremonies, family and friends will often get together to make their own coffee drinks from scratch - that's right! Hey'll roast and grind the beans themselves, before using a special clay pot to brew the beverage. Befriend some locals and take part in this cultural experience, which is as rich as the javas you will be sampling! 

A quick safety note: The U.S. Department of State has released a warning with guidelines for safe travel in Ethiopia, while the British government advises against traveling to certain parts of the nation, particularly away from the capital Addis Ababa. Be sure to do some research online and plan accordingly.

3. Hawaii Did you know that the only place in the U.S. where coffee is grown is Hawaii? The Aloha State is home to a select few coffee farms, and it is possible to take tours! The island of Kona also hosts an annual coffee cultural festival, with the next event slated for November 2017. Of course, coffee is by no means the only attraction in the so-called Paradise of the Pacific! Spend time at the golden beaches, adorned with swaying palm trees, check out marine wildlife while snorkeling and hike up and around one of the state's many volcanoes. Hawaii really is like nowhere else on earth - there's just so much to see and do!

4. Belgrade, Serbia The epicenter of all things coffee in Europe isn't necessarily Paris or Rome (although they are marvelous java cities). For the sheer number of coffee shops alone, the coffee capital title may have to go to the stunning settlement of Belgrade, Serbia. The coffee shops are such an engrained part of culture in this historic city that they have been dubbed "intangible heritage" by UNESCO! Other major attractions in Belgrade include several palaces, many museums and various other historical and cultural attractions.

5. Colombia This South American nation is one of the world largest producers of coffee, coming in third behind Vietnam and Brazil. There are countless coffee farms to visit and explore, and thanks to the varying climates within the country's borders, there is never a time during the year when coffee isn't being produced somewhere in Colombia! This isn't the case in many other java-producing nations. Of course, in addition to learning more about the growth of coffee beans and coffee production at the farms, you can also visit the bustling metropolis of Bogota, engage in some exciting water sports or go hiking through some of the many lush forests!

The above destinations are just a select few of the countless global locales where coffee is a key component of daily life and culture! A whole world of all things java awaits!