Rick Steves' Best Budget Advice For Coffee Drinkers Staying At A Hotel In Europe

For many people, a cup of coffee is a routine and necessary start to the day. While the United States drinks more coffee by volume than any other country, java also happens to be one of the most popular beverages across the globe. And each country has adopted its own coffee culture. Jamaica is famous for its coffee, particularly its coffee beans, which have a distinct chocolate and nutty flavor. Standing at a coffee bar is how Italian locals drink their coffee, while ordering your favorite coffee in Portugal means taking time to savor the brew.

You can maintain your coffee rituals while traveling in Europe, where consumption of the caffeinated drink dates back to the 17th Century. However, if you're the type who enjoys more than one cup of joe at a time, you might consider a money-saving tip from travel expert Rick Steves: Drink your fill during breakfast, because consuming coffee later in the day is likely to cost you more.

In a post on RickSteves.com, the American travel writer and television personality advised tourists that some European hotels will offer guests a bottomless cup of coffee with their breakfast — and only with their breakfast. "After that, the cups acquire bottoms and refills will cost you," Steves said. That's unlike what is typical in the United States, where the server at your local diner usually will continue filling your mug at no extra charge. 

The concept of free drink refills in the U.S. dates back to coffeehouses in the 1800s. The idea of free refills isn't a common concept in Europe, and it's even outlawed in some countries pertaining to sugary soft drinks.

Steves was sure to note that "some" European hotels offer free coffee refills in the morning, meaning it might be worth confirming with an employee before ordering multiple rounds and inadvertently driving up your breakfast bill. And if you're in need of a caffeine jolt to fuel your travel adventures into the afternoon, expect to pay per cup.