Did You Know French Coffee Was Invented In Kuwait?

And so was Greek coffee, apparently

On the left-hand side, a Turkish coffee. On the right-hand side, a French coffee. Graphic by author.

I knew that I would learn a lot during my time in Kuwait City, but I did not expect to discover that “French coffee” was invented there!

I was sitting in a restaurant with one of my colleagues after work for a late 4 pm lunch when my world of coffee suddenly expanded. We had just enjoyed a glorious fish meal when she asked me if I was in the mood for coffee and if I had ever tried French coffee.

I shook my head. I wanted a coffee but had no idea what she was talking about. I must have misunderstood, I thought. Could she mean a “cafe au lait”?

“It’s entirely a Kuwaiti invention! I’m not sure what France has to do with it, but it is quite good. Just don’t tell French people about it,” she added.

In my short life of traveling the world, I have heard of American coffee (that’s the Americano), Italian coffee (that would be an Espresso), Irish coffee (the one with alcohol), Viennese coffee (the one with chocolate), and Turkish coffee, among others. But French coffee did not ring a bell.

Yet, when the waiter approached, the presentation sure looked familiar!

In simple terms, Kuwaiti French coffee consists of Turkish coffee brewed with milk. That’s it. It…