I can sip something all day and have absolutely no guilt about it.
I love visiting cafés and checking out their menus. I do it everywhere I go — in every country I visit and even in my hometown, Jodhpur. I should probably write about my favourite cafés in Jodhpur someday too.
Most of my orders have stayed consistent over the years, but that doesn’t stop me from scanning the menu every single time. I still want to know what is new, what sounds interesting, and what I might want to try next.
So, this is my little list of my favourite drinks — what I love ordering, what has become my go-to, and a few things I have tried or still want to try.
Also, there will be no alcohol references in this one, so you can skip it if that’s what you came here for. Maybe some other article I’ll cover that too.
For now, let’s dig in.
1. Coffee — Always Coffee
If you know me even a little, you probably know about my love for coffee.
I have already written about my love for coffee and what I have at home. But this is slightly different.
This is about what I order when I am travelling, exploring cafés, or simply sitting somewhere and deciding what to drink.
Cappuccino with an extra shot, no sugar
This is probably my safest order when I want something hot.
A cappuccino, an extra shot of espresso, and absolutely no sugar.
The only thing that sometimes worries me is the intensity of the coffee. The extra shot usually compensates for it.
Some cafés are also kind enough to give a cookie on the side.
The cookie, of course, is usually consumed by my wife.
Iced Americano
Iced Americano is another frequent order when I just want some caffeine on the go.
It is crisp and strong and, to me, almost feels like an energy shot.
I love sipping it while walking around and exploring a place.
I can have it for a long time without feeling like I need to finish it immediately.
I once said that it hydrates like water. I am not sure how scientifically correct that is, but that is how it feels to me.
Vietnamese iced coffee
Vietnamese iced coffee is another favourite of mine.
I love the strong espresso, usually with condensed milk for sweetness.
Maybe I just have something to do with added sugar, but something about condensed milk gives me happiness.
And if the barista uses coconut cream or coconut milk with it, I am definitely not skipping it.
The best.
I travelled to Hanoi and Da Nang in January 2025, and I hopped from café to café just to enjoy the coffee there.
If you love coffee, please travel to Vietnam.
You will understand what I mean.
Egg coffee
Since we are already talking about Vietnam, one of the things that was on my bucket list was trying egg coffee.
I am vegetarian and I do not consume eggs. I actually tried eating them once because I was trying to increase my protein intake, but the taste disappointed me enough that I could not continue.
But I had to try egg coffee.
So I chose an authentic café in Hoi An and went for it.
And oh man, it was like a dessert.
The egg taste was surprisingly mild, while the coffee was creamy and rich.
I highly recommend trying it if you are in Vietnam.
And if you hate the taste of eggs like me, try it at a good café before deciding you don’t like it. The preparation really seems to matter.
Macchiato — someday
I really want to try a macchiato someday.
Ever since I saw one of my favourite travel YouTubers, Passenger Parmvir, travel to the remote African country of Eritrea and have one there, I have had this insane excitement about trying it myself.
It is funny how travel content can introduce you to something so simple and suddenly make you want to experience it in a completely different part of the world.
So, someday.
And a shoutout to him for introducing such amazing content and experiences to everyone.
2. Matcha
Judge all you want.
Matcha is good.
And no, it does not have to taste grassy.
Credit to my wife for introducing it to me, but it has slowly become one of my favourite drinks too.
Especially for someone like me who consumes an unhealthy amount of caffeine, matcha feels like a sweet spot.
I can even have it late at night without feeling like I have completely ruined my sleep.
My perfect order is a strong, frothy matcha made with coconut milk.
I also avoid adding artificial flavours.
And it satisfies my sugar cravings, which I mostly compensate for with chocolates or ice cream.
So yes, matcha has earned its place on my list of favourite drinks.
3. Fresh Coconut Water
This is probably the perfect drink you can have all day.
And I have no real limit to it.
I love consuming fruits and generally prefer eating fruit rather than drinking fruit juices.
Coconut water is different.
Give me a fresh coconut with the water inside and the coconut meat — yes, I googled it too, apparently that is what it is called — and I am happy.
Best.
4. Black Tea & Black Coffee
These are more functional drinks for me than favourites.
I occasionally have black tea while I work.
An Earl Grey sachet is usually my choice when I want something warm.
I also sometimes have instant black coffee before workouts when I want some caffeine.
I don’t particularly fancy either of them, but they do the job.
Sometimes that is enough.
5. Milk
I love milk.
And I love trying different kinds of milk in different countries.
The funny part is that my taste buds probably aren’t sophisticated enough to actually differentiate between most of them.
But that doesn’t stop me.
I will happily try milk in another country, convince myself that it tastes different, and enjoy the experience anyway.
6. Ube — I Don’t Get It Yet
Ube is the one drink on this list that I have tried twice and still don’t understand.
I did not like it.
But I am also not ready to completely form my opinion around it.
I am pretty sure the barista in my hometown had no clue how to make it properly.
So I will give ube another try at a reputed café before I officially decide whether I like it or not.
Suggestions are welcome.
That’s Pretty Much It
So this is pretty much it when it comes to my favourite beverages.
Coffee will probably always be number one. Matcha has earned its place. Coconut water is something I could have all day.
The rest come and go depending on where I am and what I am doing.
The interesting thing for me isn’t really the drinks themselves.
It is how these tiny preferences have stayed consistent over the years.
There have been very few things removed from this list. Mostly, I have just kept discovering new ones.
Some were introduced by my wife.
Some were discovered while travelling.
Some became regular orders.
And some, like ube, are still waiting for another chance.
Maybe that is what I enjoy about cafés and travelling in the first place.
There is always something familiar to order, and there is always something new to try.
If you have a drink you think I should try, connect with me on Instagram or drop me an email. I would love to know what you order — or tell you more about my completely unnecessary beverage opinions.
And while you’re here, do check out my homepage, filled with more articles about me, my travels, habits and thoughts.
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