site.btaSerbians Start Day with Coffee and Shot of Plum Spirit

According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the average Serbian drinks around 12.3 kilograms of coffee per year, almost twice as much as the average Italian, who consumes about 6.5 kilograms.

A blend for domaca kafa (Serbian-style Turkish coffee) can be found everywhere in Serbia. Often, 200 grammes of roasted and ground coffee for brewing in a dzezva (coffee pot) is among the gifts Serbians exchange during holidays.

"I’m not affected by the seasons - when I wake up, the first thing I think about is coffee," said 46-year-old industrial design specialist Srdjan Petrovic in an interview with BTA.

It is no secret that Serbians enjoy drinking coffee throughout the day. A short walk along the main streets of the Serbian capital Belgrade reveals packed cafes, no matter the time of day.

"I love drinking coffee with friends. But when a man invites me for coffee, that means something more than just a casual meeting," said 24-year-old Kristina.

"If I haven’t had my coffee after lunch, don’t count on me to work," she added, noting that all gastroenterology specialists agree that coffee helps digestion.

Tourists visiting Belgrade for the first time are often surprised to see that, along with the many hot and cold coffee options, Serbians also enjoy their coffee with sljivovica (plum spirit).

"Coffee and sljivovica should never be separated, they're friends! It's a habit rooted in many years of Serbian tradition," said Aleksandra Ostojic. She owns a cafe at Palilula Market, located near the RTS public broadcaster and the National Assembly in Belgrade. There, coffee is always served with, though she personally prefers cappuccino before noon and espresso for the rest of the day, just like the Italians.

Her cafe attracts not only locals but also many foreigners, including Bulgarians. The name of the establishment loosely translates into Bulgarian as a casual, aimless walk, a term that reflects the relaxed atmosphere and the local habit of strolling through the market before stopping for a coffee. In the cafe, customers often order a “set”, coffee in a small porcelain cup and sljivovica in a stemmed glass.

Another serving style is called "three in one" - coffee, sljivovica, and a glass of water.

"This is usually enjoyed in the morning. In the past, some people even poured the spirit directly into their Turkish coffee. I don’t remember that time myself, but older people say that pouring sljivovica into coffee was the rule for starting the day right," Ostojic explained.

The combination of coffee and sljivovica is also a tradition among Serbians’ northeastern neighbors, the Montenegrins, who likewise enjoy this sensory-boosting mix in the morning.

In Serbia, a standard serving of the spirit is just 30 milliliters.