I’m often asked, “Where in the world have you had the best coffee?” That’s a good question but a tough one to answer because I’ve turned up some fine cups of coffee on six continents. The thing about “best coffee” is that what makes it good is more than just taste—it’s also the memories of sharing it with dear friends. Whether it’s at a café in Kabul girded with sandbags and razor wire or on a posh street in London, it’s the camaraderie of the road as much as the brew itself.
A while back, I created a rather long hashtag for my Instagram account—one that helps me keep track of great coffee spots during my travels: #theworldcoffeetourcontinues. If it would be possible to include an entire country, I would choose Morocco. Sure, Morocco would have some stiff competition from Italy, Cuba, and Australia (in my opinion), but Morocco is in a class by itself. I’ve never been to a place that has such consistently great coffee so readily available—from swank sidewalk cafes to truck stops along the highway.
The classic Moroccan cup is called “nous-nous,” which is pronounced “noose-noose” and in the local Arabic dialect means “half-half.” It’s as easy as it sounds—pour frothed milk in a glass and add a couple of shots of espresso. Given the density of the cream, the coffee tucks in nicely beneath the blanket of froth.
So, the next time you are on the streets of Casablanca or at a road stop in the Sahara, just say, “nous-nous” and enjoy a perfect parfait of deliciousness!