...and a glass of water, please!

In Croatian cafes - and in many other countries as well - it's customary to serve a glass of water with coffee, often without anyone even having to ask for it.

There are many reasons for it. Well, first of all we've got the espresso culture in cafes and Turkish coffee culture at home. Both of these are similar in one way: traditionally, you get a small quantity of highly potent, concentrated and aromatic coffee.

In some other coffee cultures you get bigger coffees (though not usually that strong) which will hydrate you well. If you drink just a small espresso, you might end up thirstier than you left. So water provides hydration - which is always cool, as a lot of people are actually slightly dehydrated.

The other reason to drink water is to clean your palate. You may sip some water before you drink coffee (to feel the full taste of the coffee), or after you drink coffee (to wash it down, especially if it's vile). There's even a legend that Arabs - who used to sip water first - used that fact to identify European spies, who sipped water after drinking coffee.

Some people drink sparkling mineral water, but it can have a different effect: the CO2 bubbles can deaden the tastebuds. Which is probably not what you want to do if you're enjoying a good coffee. Also, to clarify one potential misunderstanding: in Croatia, if you order a mineral water a sparkling one will be assumed. In other countries, not necessarily so. Keep this info in mind if you're either traveling to Croatia or outside of it.

Some local cafes around here will sometimes have a combo offer - instead of water, you can get a Coca-cola or a Cedevita (instant, fruit-flavored drink). If your cafe has that offer, it's usually best to take it.