Why Coffee in Croatia Is Never Just Coffee: The Culture Behind the Cup
- Ema Resler
- Aug 18
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 19
Editor's Note
At Green Sea Shells, we celebrate how everyday rituals shape well-being and connection. In Croatia, coffee is never just coffee — it is time made visible. A terrace table becomes a living room, a conversation becomes a lifeline, and a cup becomes the pause that holds a community together. Ema Resler reminds us that rituals of slowing down are not luxuries; they are cultural necessities that help us stay human.
In Croatia, coffee isn’t a drink.
It’s how we stay human.
It’s 10:04 on a Tuesday, and the terrace of my neighborhood café is already full. No one’s rushing. No one’s walking with coffee in hand. Some people haven’t even ordered yet, and that’s completely normal — they didn’t come for caffeine. They came for their dose of peace and connection.
In Croatia, coffee isn’t about need. It’s a social ritual, a daily therapy, a gentle escape from your own four walls. When we say “let’s grab a coffee,” what we really mean is: I have time for you. And it doesn’t matter whether you order an espresso, a macchiato, or sparkling water — what matters is that you showed up.
I have my spot — and they don’t even need to ask what I’m having
There’s exactly one place I go for coffee in my neighborhood. Every time, I sit at the same table and order the same thing — or rather, I don’t have to. The waiter already knows.
“This is my spot. The waiter brings my coffee without even asking,” my neighbor told me with a grin.
It’s a small gesture that means more than it seems.
In some cafés, there’s even a kind of unofficial club — a group that doesn’t message or plan, yet somehow meets at the same time, every day.
“The regulars always sit at their table. They don’t coordinate — they just show up, and there’s always someone there,” one barista told me.
There’s no WhatsApp group, no confirmation. Just routine. And the need to be with others.
There’s no to-go culture — only time to sit and be
Tourists are often surprised that no one in Croatia walks around with coffee. But if you tried, you’d be missing the entire point.
Our cafés aren’t just places to drink something. They’re extensions of our living rooms. It’s where we talk politics, gossip about neighbors, close business deals, and celebrate birthdays — all over a single cup of coffee (or maybe three).
Every neighborhood has at least a few cafés, and each has its own crowd. Some are filled with retirees, others with students, and most are a mix. By morning, everyone knows who sits where, who comes first, and whether today might include a cheeky round of something stronger.
“The waiter always jokes with us over morning coffee — says we’re too classy for rakija. But in the end, he usually joins us for a round too,” laughed one guest I spoke with outside a café.
Coffee connects generations
One of my earliest memories is watching my grandmother drink Turkish-style coffee from a tiny cup. She never finished it — always left the grounds at the bottom, saying she could read the future from them. Now we still have coffee together, but on a sunny terrace, each with our own “modern” drink — even if she still insists it’s not real coffee.
Coffee brings us together. Across generations, across everyday life. I meet my mom for coffee when we need to vent. I meet friends to share everything and nothing. Some people I meet just to sit in silence, and that’s enough.
It’s not just a habit — it’s part of who we are.
Why this culture will last
Some might think we’re wasting time. But really, we’re reclaiming it.
Our cafés aren’t defined by menus, but by people. The same table, the same order, the same easy smile. While everything else speeds up, the terrace remains a place where time stretches. Not because we have to — but because we want to.
Coffee here isn’t just a drink. It’s the space between obligations, the glue between people, the moment of calm in a noisy world. And I truly believe it will stay — because as long as we have each other, we’ll always have a reason for one more coffee.
About the Author: Ema is a Croatian writer who can never say no to one more coffee.
