STORY: A glimpse into Croatia's coffee culture on Int'l Coffee Day
SHOOTING TIME: Oct. 1, 2024
DATELINE: Oct. 2, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:46
LOCATION: Zagreb
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of people drinking coffee in Zagreb
2. SOUNDBITE (English): BRANIMIR BENCIC, Zagreb resident
3. various of coffee roasting

STORYLINE:

Tuesday was International Coffee Day, a global celebration that highlights the importance of coffee in cultures around the world. 

For many in Croatia, coffee is not merely a drink but a social ritual, a daily pleasure, and a moment of relaxation.
   
The tradition of drinking coffee is deeply embedded in Croatian culture, with its roots stretching back to the time of the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.

In Croatia, coffee is not something consumed in a rush. Here, the ritual of drinking coffee can last for hours. This is especially evident in Zagreb, where cafe bars become places of social gathering and conversation.

SOUNDBITE (English): BRANIMIR BENCIC, Zagreb resident
"We really do not enjoy taking two quick sips of our coffee and call it a day, call it quits. No. We do like to enjoy it, we like to spend our time. It's a bit of a ritual. It's probably our version of 'me time' before the term was even coined. And that's how we enjoy it. So we take our time. So even when we want to meet with friends, we say we have to meet over a cup of coffee, even though no one will necessarily order it. However, that's the phrase we use. It's the social glue that we have."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Zagreb.
(XHTV)