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Well, here we are. England are in a World Cup semi-final, and tonight they face Argentina in Atlanta for a place in Sunday's final. If you're feeling something fluttering in your chest this morning, we understand completely — and we'd gently suggest a good cup of coffee is exactly what the day calls for.
We wrote a brew guide last weekend about surviving those brutal late kick-offs. Tonight is the happy opposite. An 8pm start is the most civilised slot England have had all knockout run, which means — for the first time in a while — a proper, full-strength cup is firmly back on the menu.
A Rare Coffee-Neutral Final Four
Here's something that might amuse the coffee lovers among you. Throughout this tournament we've been quietly cheering for the coffee-growing nations — Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and the rest. Tonight, for once, we have no dog in that particular fight. Neither England nor Argentina grows coffee in any meaningful quantity.
Which is oddly freeing. With no patriotic bean to reach for, you're free to simply brew whatever you love most and enjoy the match on its merits. Consider tonight a night off from coffee geography, and a chance to pour your outright favourite.
Argentina's Coffee Story Is Better Than You'd Think
Argentina may not grow coffee, but don't mistake that for a lack of coffee culture. Buenos Aires is home to one of the great café traditions in the world — its historic cafés notables are protected institutions, grand old rooms where people have lingered over a cup and an argument for well over a century.
That said, if you want to know what an Argentine truly reaches for, it isn't coffee at all — it's yerba mate, the earthy, energising infusion passed around among friends from a shared gourd. So while the football rivalry tonight is fierce, the drinks cabinet tells a gentler story: one nation of dedicated tea-adjacent sippers, and us lot over here who'll be white-knuckling a mug of something strong.
What We'll Be Brewing Tonight
A game of this magnitude deserves a cup that can go the distance — through ninety minutes, extra time, and whatever penalty-shootout horrors may await. Since the early evening kick-off gives you licence to go full-strength, here's where we'd point you:
For the big-match cup:
- Brazil Cerrado — smooth, balanced and endlessly drinkable, the safe pair of hands your nerves will appreciate.
- Colombia Antioquia — mild, nutty and dependable, a steady presence for a tense evening.
- Shujaa Blend — our warrior blend, and frankly the appropriate choice for a night that calls for a bit of fight.
A quick word of caution, mind. It's still an 8pm kick-off, and if this one goes all the way to penalties you could be riding the adrenaline well past eleven. If you're sensitive to caffeine — or you've an early start tomorrow regardless of the result — our Mexico Chiapas decaf will see you through the drama without stealing your sleep afterwards.
And If It Goes Our Way…
Win tonight, and England are in the World Cup final on Sunday — an 8pm kick-off against Spain, in a repeat of the Euro 2024 final that still stings a little. Another early evening slot, which means the good news for your coffee cupboard is that a full-strength cup will be perfectly on the cards for that one too.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. One match at a time. Brew something you love, settle in for the evening, and we'll see you on the other side.
Browse the full range in our specialty coffee collection and get your big-match cup sorted before kick-off.
Come on England 🏴
