How Europe Drinks Coffee: The Rise of Specialty Coffee at Home

By the BrewFusion editorial team

Across Europe, a quiet revolution is taking place in kitchens. While coffee shops and third-wave venues continue to thrive, the real change is happening at home: consumers are embracing specialty coffee as an essential part of their daily rituals. From Stockholm to Lisbon, freshly ground beans, grinders, and methods like the V60 have become as common as teapots.

The Pandemic's Push: Making Coffee at Home Is Now Normal

During lockdowns, coffee lovers in Europe upgraded their home equipment. Sales of grinders, filter kits, and fresh beans soared. What began as a necessity turned into a passion—and consumers aren't backing down.

What Are They Drinking? Roasts, Origins, and Preferences

• Light and medium roasts predominate, especially in Scandinavia and Germany
• Single origin coffees from Ethiopia, Colombia and Kenya are the most popular
• Growing interest in traceability and direct trade

In cities like Berlin, Paris, and Barcelona, consumers explore subscription boxes that rotate roasters monthly, turning coffee into an experience of discovery.

Why Specialty Coffee Wins at Home

Consumers between 20 and 44 years old are leading the demand, valuing:

• Freshness: Roasted to order is the new standard
• Convenience: Never run out of coffee, thanks to subscriptions
• Quality: Better equipment and more refined palates demand better beans

Leading Cities in This Trend

Based on consumption, culture, and online searches, these cities are benchmarks for specialty coffee at home:

• Stockholm: Capital of light roasting with sustainability values
• Paris: Accelerated growth of premium home-made coffee
• Barcelona: A young and vibrant community around coffee
• Milan: Tradition and modernity meet in espresso culture
• Lisbon and Porto: Emerging scene with a strong influence from digital nomads

The Future: More Than Just Coffee

The rise of specialty coffee in Europe is about more than flavor. It's about ritual, quality, and ethical choices . As more consumers look for meaning in what they buy, they're turning to brands that share their values—and bring a café-quality experience to their homes.