THE TREND OF HIGH-QUALITY COFFEE SHOPS IN EUROPE AND THE WORLD
Feb 22, 2025
In recent decades, the coffee market has undergone a genuine cultural, economic, and social revolution, with growing attention to high quality, traceability, and product sustainability. In the past, coffee was primarily considered an everyday, low-value consumer good. Today, it has transformed into an excellent beverage to be tasted and understood, much like wine or craft beer. This “third wave” of coffee has profoundly changed the dynamics of coffee shops in Europe and around the world. The Birth of the Quality Coffee Culture
The concept of a “high-quality coffee shop” developed in parallel with the spread of new methods of sourcing and roasting coffee, accompanied by greater consumer awareness. Everything began with micro-roasters and artisanal coffee shops in the United States, especially on the West Coast (Seattle and California), around the 1990s. From there arose the idea of presenting coffee as a refined product, with meticulous attention to detail: Bean selection and traceability: Importers and roasters started establishing direct relationships with plantations, favoring single-origin, high-quality coffees. Roasting process: Roasting methods became increasingly delicate and carefully studied to bring out the organoleptic characteristics of the beans. Barista training: The barista’s role evolved into that of a “coffee specialist,” possessing professional expertise in extraction, blending, and presentation of coffee-based beverages.
This trend gradually took hold in Europe as well, creating a network of specialized coffee shops in the continent’s main cities. Today, walking through London, Berlin, Milan, Paris, or Stockholm, one can easily come across shops that no longer offer just the traditional espresso but also filtered coffees (pour-over), cold brew, nitro coffee, as well as unique and innovative beverages.
The Situation in Europe2.1 Impact of the Third Wave
In Europe, the so-called Third Wave Coffee initially manifested in major capitals. London is often considered the city that most prominently promoted the quality coffee culture in the Old Continent, driven by the influence of Scandinavian countries (where per capita coffee consumption is among the highest in the world). In particular:
2.2 Growth in Demand
Interest in sustainability and the desire to know a product’s origin have led many consumers to pay a higher price for a certified quality cup of coffee. Specialized shops invest in state-of-the-art equipment, staff training, and increasingly transparent communication about supply chains. Hence:
3.1 North America
The United States and Canada are the epicenter of the Third Wave, with cities like Portland, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and Vancouver. Iconic coffee shops such as Intelligentsia, Stumptown, and Blue Bottle paved the way for an approach that combines:
3.2 Latin America
In coffee-growing regions like Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Guatemala, the culture of high-quality coffee has deep roots. However, historically, most of the harvest was exported. In recent years, though, an internal circuit of specialized coffee shops has emerged, aiming to serve high-end coffee to the local market:
3.3 Asia and Oceania
In Asia, countries like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore are becoming more and more captivated by quality coffee, with the opening of high-end coffee shops and a drive for technical perfection. In Oceania, Australia and New Zealand are famously at the forefront of coffee and latte art, with cities like Melbourne and Wellington competing with major Western metropolises in terms of creativity and innovation.
4.1 Sustainability and Social Responsibility
As the consumption of high-quality coffee increases, so does awareness of challenges related to climate change, resource exploitation, and working conditions in plantations. Sustainability is thus becoming a key competitive factor for coffee shops:
4.2 Alternative Brewing Methods
While espresso remains a timeless icon, there is a true rediscovery of slow extraction methods, such as:
4.3 Digitalization and Innovation
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of the sector. Many high-quality coffee shops now offer:
The trend of high-quality coffee shops in Europe and around the world seems set to grow further. The pandemic certainly slowed the opening of new places, but it also strengthened trends such as e-commerce and the desire to bring high-end coffee culture directly into consumers’ homes. Moreover, Millennials and Gen Z show particular concern for ethics and sustainability, favoring companies that communicate transparency and responsibility.
On the producer side, safeguarding biodiversity and choosing more sustainable agricultural practices are gaining ground, helping maintain the quality levels needed to position in the “premium” market. At the same time, some exporting-country governments are beginning to promote training and modernization programs to support small coffee farms.
