Specialty coffee in Greece

Specialty coffee in Greece is shaped by the freddo, iced espresso or cappuccino, and by an Athens scene with a strong line of national champions. The freddo espresso and freddo cappuccino are the national everyday drinks, usually sweetened, and many specialty shops choose medium-light blends to work in them. In Athens, Taf Coffee is often described as the patriarch of the specialty scene and a training ground for many competition baristas. Recent Greek champions include cup-taster Orestis Sfiris of Zudi Coffee Co and Giorgos Papantoniou of Foyer Espresso Bar, winner of the 2025 Hellenic Brewers Cup.

Athens holds the largest share of cafés and roasters, including in suburbs such as Peristeri and Argiroupoli. Thessaloniki is the second hub, and Patras and Kalamaria have roasters of their own. On the islands and in smaller cities, Chania, Heraklion, Corfu, Volos and Ioannina each have a few specialty bars.

Roasters that shape the Greek cup include Taf Coffee, Mind The Cup, Samba Coffee Roasters, The Underdog Roastery, Tailor Made Coffee Roasters and Faba Coffee Roasters. Coffee Island, a chain headquartered in Patras, is also part of the roasting landscape. Expect cold drinks year-round, filter coffee at the specialty-focused bars, and a lingering café culture that still echoes the traditional kafeneio.