Last Updated on February 1, 2024 by Ibrahim Bat
In this article, we focus on “Coffee in Turkey: A Market Research Report” However, our analysis will tackle the role of coffee in Turkey from a sociological perspective rather than an economic one. We aim to explore how coffee is interwoven with the Turkish way of life, supported by statistical data. Our key topics include:
- The most common coffee chains in Turkey,
- The favorite coffee types among the Turkish populace,
- The brewing techniques preferred in Turkish households,
- The coffee machines that are most widely used in Turkey,
- The status and reception of ready-to-drink coffee in the market,
- The perception and popularity of instant coffee brands in Turkey,
- The influencers shaping Turkey’s coffee culture.
What are the Most Popular Coffee Chains in Turkey?
In Turkey, Starbucks tops the coffee chain market with 689 locations, followed by Kahve Dünyası with 246, Espresso Lab with 157, Gloria Jean’s with 118, Caffè Nero with 81, and SOULMATE with 60 stores.
Starbucks
Turkey is the eighth country in the world with the most Starbucks stores. There are 689 Starbucks locations in Turkey.
On the Starbucks menu in Turkey, you can also find flavors unique to Anatolia, such as Turkish coffee and Turkish tea.
Kahve Dünyası: The Local Champion
Kahve Dünyası is the coffee chain with the most locations in Turkey after Starbucks. Kahve Dünyası has 246 locations in Turkey and is also the local coffee chain with the most branches.
Note: The English translation of Kahve Dünyası is “Coffee World.”
Espresso Lab
Espresso Lab has 157 branches in Turkey. Espresso Lab is the third most widespread coffee chain in Turkey.
Gloria Jeans
Gloria Jeans has 118 locations in Turkey. With 118 locations, Gloria Jeans is the fourth most widespread coffee chain in Turkey.
Caffè Nero
Caffè Nero has 81 branches in Turkey. However, the Caffè Nero locations in Turkey are not spread out over the entire country but are concentrated in the relatively “luxury” areas of major cities. For example, 63 of the 81 Caffè Nero branches are in Istanbul. Therefore, Caffè Nero is only known in a few cities in Turkey.
SOULMATE
SOULMATE is a relatively new coffee chain that is beginning to spread increasingly in Turkey. Soulmate has 60 branches in Turkey.
COFFEE CHAINS | STORE NUMBER | SOURCE |
| Kahve Dünyası | 246 | source |
| Starbucks | 689 | source |
| Espresso Lab | 157 | source |
| Gloria Jeans | 118 | source |
| Caffè Nero | 81 | source |
| SOULMATE | 60 | source |
The Most Consumed Coffee Types in Turkey
According to a decade of data from Google Trends, the most consumed coffees in Turkey are filter coffee, Turkish coffee, latte, espresso, and cold brew. Filter coffee and Turkish coffee are consumed the most. The ranking of the top 5 popular coffees in Turkey is as follows:
- Filter coffee
- Turkish coffee
- Latte
- Espresso
- Cold brew
The Most Popular Coffee Brewing Methods in Turkey
The most preferred brewing method in Turkey is Turkish coffee. Remember, Turkish coffee is not a botanical variety but a brewing method!
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Most Popular Coffee Makers in Turkey
Just like in every other country in the world, the filter coffee machine is the most popular coffee maker in Turkey. The second most preferred coffee maker in Turkey is the electric Turkish coffee machine. Despite their high prices, espresso machines are the third most widely used coffee maker in Turkey. In fourth place is the Moka pot, followed by the Hario V60 in fifth place. In terms of popularity, the Chemex is in sixth place, and the Aeropress is in seventh.
Note: There is likely a cezve in almost every home in Turkey. A cezve is a small pot specially designed for making Turkish coffee. It is traditionally made of brass or copper, and occasionally also made from stainless steel or ceramic. Therefore, we can say that the cezve is actually the most used coffee gear in Turkey. However, we did not include the cezve in our chart. We also did not add the French press to the chart.
Bonus information: Interest in Nespresso in Turkey is on the rise. Within a few years, Nespresso could become one of Turkey’s best-selling coffee makers. Additionally, the significant interest in Nespresso within Turkey has led many Turkish coffee companies to start producing Nespresso pods. Dozens of different brands are selling Nespresso-compatible coffee capsules in Turkey. You can find Nespresso-compatible coffee capsules even in Turkey’s small markets.
Keurig does not have any operations in Turkey.
RTD (Ready to Drink) Coffee in Turkey
The concept of “RTD (Ready-to-Drink) coffee” is still very new for Turkey. The awareness of RTD coffee among people has not yet matured. However, especially with cold brew starting to become a mainstream coffee option in Turkey, the Turkish RTD coffee industry is gaining attention. We believe that in the coming years, with the leadership of cold brew, the RTD coffee sector in Turkey will be fully embraced by the public.
On the other hand, Turkey is probably one of the countries where Ready-to-Drink tea is consumed the most. Indeed, tea is an important part of Turkish culture, and Turkey is one of the world’s largest consumers of tea on a per capita basis.
The most consumed RTD coffees in Turkey are as follows:
- Nescafe Xpress
- Starbucks Bottled Frappuccino
- OBESSO Iced Coffee Latte
- Hasan Efendi Cold Brew Coffee
Related: Best Cold Brew Coffee Subscription Services Reviewed!
Most Popular Instant Coffee Brands in Turkey
Turkey is probably one of the countries where instant coffee is consumed the most. As someone who was born and raised in Turkey, I can easily say this:
In 90% of Turkish kitchens, you will find Turkish tea, instant coffee, and Turkish coffee. Turkish tea is brewed in every home at least 1-3 times a day (during breakfast, lunch, and after dinner).
Even though every household has Turkish coffee, it is not brewed every day. While Turkish tea is brewed an average of three times a day, Turkish coffee is likely made only about twice a week. The primary reason for this is probably that Turkish coffee is brewed for more special occasions. For example, when people have guests, they make Turkish coffee. In Turkey, giving coffee to people who visit is a way to show you are friendly and kind.
Another reason Turkish coffee is not brewed as often as tea might be its high caffeine content. Turkish coffee is a strong brew with a high level of caffeine. Particularly for the older Turkish population, Turkish coffee can be quite potent. Therefore, it is consumed a few times a week rather than daily.
Turning to the instant coffee sector in Turkey:
Turkey is probably a paradise for instant coffee brands. Instant coffee powders are so prevalent in Turkey that if you ask 100 people to name the first two things that come to mind when they hear “coffee,” the second answer, after Turkish coffee, would likely be instant coffee.
On the other hand, the informal term for instant coffee in Turkey is “Nescafe.” When a Turkish person asks if you would like “Nescafe,” they mean:
“Would you like some instant coffee powder?”
No matter the brand of instant coffee powder, in Turkey, it is referred to as “Nescafe.” The term “instant coffee” is never used when searching for a different brand’s product on Google in Turkey. Instead, people search for “x brand nescafe.”
Or, if you’re at a supermarket and can’t find the instant coffee, you should ask the staff where the “Nescafe” is, not where the “instant coffee” is.
Without a doubt, this is a marketing success for Nestlé.
On the other hand, the best-selling instant coffee brands in Turkey are as follows:
- Nestle Nescafe 3 in 1 Classic
- Jacobs 3 in 1 Gold
- Ülker Cafe Crown Coffee 3 in 1
- Mahmood 3 in 1 Original.
Note
3 in 1: Coffee, sugar and milk powder.
Top Coffee Micro Influencers in Turkey
Influencer name | Platform | How many followers |
| Ahmet Ergin Karahan | Youtube | 22k |
| Kahvetrip | Youtube | 18.9k |
| Kahve Sakal | Youtube | 27k |
| Sinyorkahve | Youtube | 1.3k |
| Murat Aktas | Youtube | 500 |
| Koray Erdogdu | 13k | |
| Orkun Ustel | 5k | |
| Cihan Yuce | 13k | |
| Sam Cevikoz | 32k | |
| Kahve Nerede Icilir | 16.4k | |
| Cenk R. Girginol | 30.5k |
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