＜GREECE COFFEE＞Coffee In Greece 2024

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Coffee in Greece is a huge part of the Greek culture. It’s much more than just a drink – it’s a pretext for meeting friends and discussing everyday life or serious affairs. Here is everything you need to know about Greek coffee and the coffee culture in Greece.

Greek coffee is a strong, thick coffee which is prepared after boiling ground Arabica coffee beans in a special pot, called briki. 

Traditionally, the pot is placed on coals covered by hot sand, and the coffee simmers until a thin layer of foam (kaimaki) appears on top. At this stage, the coffee is poured in a special Greek coffee cup. This is often referred to as a demitasse cup, and it’s a little bigger than a normal espresso cup.

You can adjust the quantity of sugar to your liking, from extra sweet, to no sugar at all. 

These days, it’s more common to use a gas stove or cooker to prepare Greek coffee. Yet, a handful of coffee shops still use the authentic method!

Having a coffee is a huge thing here in Greece. However, while the drink itself is important, the expression “going for a coffee” doesn’t have much to do with the actual coffee consumption. Instead, it indicates meeting for a chat and a catch-up.

First-time travelers to Greece are always surprised by the numbers of locals sitting around at cafés at any time of the day. But what’s the story behind Greece’s most popular pastime? Let’s find out!

According to legend, coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia in the 9th century AD. A goat herder, Kaldi, noticed that his goats became very energetic after eating the fruit of a yet unknown plant.

Kaldi took the fruit to a monk in a nearby monastery, who made a drink and discovered that it helped him stay awake. This is thought to be how coffee was first discovered.

The drink made its way to Yemen, many Arabic countries and the Ottoman Empire, often replacing alcoholic drinks that were banned by the Quran. It eventually reached Europe in the mid-1600s, and the US a few decades later.

Inevitably, coffee shops started appearing everywhere. They were places where male citizens gathered, discussed, and exchanged political and other opinions. They became an alternative place for men to meet, alongside the bazaars, marketplaces, houses or mosques – similar to the Ancient Agora of Athens[1].

As Greece was a part of the Ottoman Empire, Greeks embraced coffee and coffee culture early on. Several hundreds of cafés existed in Thessaloniki[2], Kavala and other cities in north Greece long before the Greek Revolution in 1821[3].

There are conflicting accounts regarding which was the first coffee shop, or kafeneio, in Greece owned by a Greek national. Some people claim that it was founded in Nafplion, the first capital of the Greek state.

According to others, Kafeneio Forlidas[4] on Pelio mountain, which opened in 1785, is the oldest coffee shop in Greece. It’s still in operation, currently owned by the seventh Forlidas generation! You can see what it looks like in this short video[5].

In 1834, Athens became the capital of modern Greece, and the Bavarian Prince Otto Friedrich Ludwig von Bayern was appointed as the first King. Soon after, the city began to have some entertainment and nightlife, and a few cafés opened.

One of the first establishments at the time was the “Bavarian Café”. Commonly known as “Gruner Baum” (Green Tree), it functioned as a multi-purpose coffee shop / beerhouse / restaurant / library / bowling club. It was mostly frequented by King Otto, Bavarian officers and other expats.

Another popular kafeneio in Athens was “Orea Ellas” (Beautiful Greece), on the corner of Aiolou and Ermou Street, close to today’s Monastiraki metro. Here is where everyone gathered to read the most recent newspapers and discuss political affairs.

During those times, cafés were limited to male patrons. Greek women only started going to cafés a few decades ago. If you visit more remote areas in Greece, you will still see a few kafeneia mainly frequented by old men.

These days, coffee shops thrive everywhere in Greece.

In bigger cities, like Athens, you will see modern coffee shops in every little neighbourhood, from bigger chain shops to small family-owned cafés. It’s always easy to sit for a coffee or get one to go, and it’s a daily ritual for many Greeks, often combined with shopping[6].

In smaller towns and villages, cafés are often the focal point of the community, where locals go to gather together and discuss the latest community news.

There are many different coffees to choose from in Greek coffee shops. From steaming hot coffee to iced coffee, here are the most popular types of coffee in Greece.

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