Billions of cups of coffee are consumed every single day around the globe and it's now the third most popular drink in the world. People drink coffee to give them a kick start in the mornings and as an energy boost after a busy morning shopping or sightseeing!

Most people actually know nothing about all the work that goes into growing and producing a decent cup of coffee and wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a cup of freshly roasted or ground, Arabica or Robusta coffee. That's part of the reason why it can be so difficult to find place where you can truly get a decent cup to drink whilst here on holiday.

For a truly rich flavour coffee should be freshly roasted or ground just before drinking and the most famous coffee houses have trained barista's whose main role is to use their skills and knowledge to successfully make a great cup of coffee. A barista either receives their training from the coffee house where they are employed or acquire the required skills by attending barista training classes.

The knowledge they gain includes all kinds of details from how to operate, maintain and programme the coffee machine correctly and grinding and tamping methods, to the water temperature and quality and free pouring and latte art. Then there's roasting, coffee plant cultivation, drying methods, effective storage methods, recycling of the coffee and packaging used, and a well trained and astute tongue to consider! As you can see making a cup of coffee isn't as simple as you had thought.

There are lots of places you can find freshly brewed coffee and Barcelona is one of these destinations mainly due to its situation at a central crossroads point in Europe. It's also a multi-ethnic city where people travel to for business, tourists visit from all over the world, and traders use en-route to other destinations. Many rent an apartment during their stay here and use it as a base from which to explore the city and drink up its many delights.

In Barcelona there are plenty of places that serve coffee although it can be difficult to find a great coffee here. Café culture in the city is a vital essence to life in Barcelona and the residents use it as a means to getting together and socialising. Coffee can be found in lots of different surroundings, from the quick fix where you are literally standing at a bar gulping down an espresso before going on your way, to the specialized coffee shops with their very own barista to produce a delicious brew. And then there's the multi-chain coffee shops such as Starbucks who have franchises open at various locations and offer a completely different experience to those of the old smoky atmosphere most people acquaint coffee houses with.

One place you should definitely check out if coffee is your passion is the Casa Gispert, a fascinating little store where, as soon as you step through the door, you are transported 100 years back in time. Some of the decor and furnishings, such as the wooden counter, are still in use even after all this time and combined with the aromas of roasted fruits and spices that hit you the effect is sensational.

Inside the store is a large oven that's used to roast coffee and nuts, which is particularly unique as nowhere else in Europe uses this method any longer. The fruits are roasted next to the flame which means that the roasting master has to watch over it the whole time. Also on sale are a variety of roasted nuts and all types of delicatessen from the Mediterranean such as herbs and spices and oils and vinegars. You'll also find a good choice of tea here along with delicious chocolates, sweets, jam and honey.

Appartments in Barcelona are easy enough to find, just take a look at some websites that deal in accommodation in the city and you'll find there's lots of choice from budget to more luxurious options. Book and pay online and save yourself a lot of money and a lot of time.