As a barista of three years, I’ve come to admire the many different types of coffee and the people who drink them.

In just a single eight-hour workday, I get a personal glimpse into the lives of tourists, cruise-goers, market vendors, Amazon employees, students, and other Seattleites. For a moment, I sometimes feel like we’re old friends rather than strangers. Finding a way to make friends with nearly any customer I encounter has made an unimaginable impact on my own ability to network and conduct interviews as an aspiring journalist.

Amidst the popularity of flavored lattes, cold brew, and other classics, the broader landscape of coffee preferences was something I often find myself considering as I zone out behind the espresso machine.

A recent study by Coffeeness, a website dedicated to “all things coffee,” sought to finally answer the age-old question of what form of coffee is most beloved.

Seattle, the birthplace of some of the world’s most famous coffee brands like Starbucks, has developed its own unique coffee culture. Coffeeness’ study revealed that espresso is Seattle’s most popular form of coffee, which comes as no surprise to me as I’ve witnessed firsthand the sheer volume of espresso consumed by Seattleites each day.

Local tastes and traditions play a significant role in coffee preferences, leading them to vary dramatically across different countries. For example, in Italy, the birthplace of espresso, Americanos reign supreme, while in Qatar and Poland flat whites are favored. Japan’s preference leans towards mochas. Maybe it’s because I’m around java all day, but I find these differences fascinating.

Now, as I clock into work and begin dishing various coffee drinks out to the Seattle community, whether it be a businessman seeking out a black coffee, or an eager student ordering a flavored latte, I find myself thinking deeply about who orders what and why.

So, whether you’re enjoying espresso in Seattle, savoring a flat white in Poland, or enjoying a mocha in Japan, you too are partaking in a rich coffee culture that unites people across continents.

Carly Dykes is interning with Seattle magazine this summer. She will be a senior at the University of Washington this upcoming school year.