• Georgia’s historic wine tradition laid the muse for the growth of specialty espresso.
• Conventional delicacies and powerful hospitality additionally affect its rising specialty espresso scene.
• The nation bridges Japanese Europe and West Asia, culminating in a novel espresso market.
• Worldwide manufacturers similar to Costa have expanded into Georgia, whereas homegrown roasters like Shavi are coming into the US market.

Georgia, lengthy recognised for its winemaking heritage and distinctive meals tradition, is more and more positioning itself as an rising specialty espresso market in Japanese Europe and West Asia.

As soon as dominated by conventional brewing strategies similar to Turkish-style espresso, the nation’s espresso panorama is diversifying shortly. At this time, Tbilisi’s specialty espresso scene is increasing as a consequence of rising shopper curiosity in espresso schooling and new brewing strategies.

The mix of Georgia’s sturdy cultural id and rising openness to international traits is supporting homegrown specialty espresso roasters and cafés and attracting consideration from worldwide manufacturers and traders.

Alsu Karimova and Anastasia Costache of Shavi Espresso Roasters clarify how the Georgian specialty espresso market is evolving and why they’re increasing into the US.

You might also like our article on how specialty espresso tradition is altering in France.

Wine heritage is shaping espresso shopper preferences

Georgia’s credentials as a gastronomic innovator run deep. Archaeological proof suggests winemaking has flourished right here for over 8,000 years, incomes the nation recognition because the “birthplace” of wine. 

At this time, Georgian orange (or amber) wines – made utilizing historic qvevri clay vessels buried underground – have captured worldwide consideration. Their advanced, usually “funky” flavour profiles are showing in wine bars from Brooklyn to Berlin.

This winemaking legacy, combining historic and fashionable strategies, has created fertile floor for specialty espresso to proliferate. The identical cultural appreciation for fermentation, terroir, and artisanal manufacturing that defines Georgian wine naturally interprets to specialty espresso. Customers accustomed to discussing the nuances of wine are equally desperate to discover fermentation in espresso processing or talk about the impression of various origins on terroir.

“Georgian tradition impacts the best way we supply inexperienced beans and design our roast profiles,” says Alsu, the pinnacle roaster at award-winning Shavi Espresso Roasters in Tbilisi, Georgia. The roaster lately opened its fifth café in Tbilisi, and also will launch a café and roastery in Uzbekistan in February.

“We have a tendency to pick out extra pure and experimental processed coffees as a result of their flavour profiles match what many Georgian shoppers take pleasure in,” Alsu provides. “Our group lately created a mix with a jonjoli (pickled flower) tasting notice to raised talk with prospects and hook up with their style reminiscence.”

Georgia’s vibrant meals scene additional reinforces this basis. The nation’s delicacies emphasises daring flavours, seasonal elements, and communal eating – values that align with specialty espresso tradition. The standard supra, a feast characterised by hospitality and storytelling, displays the identical ethos that now defines lots of Tbilisi’s fashionable espresso outlets.

How Georgian tradition is influencing its specialty espresso scene

The nation’s location between Europe and Asia fosters a novel espresso tradition that blends custom and modernity. Turkish espresso stays a family staple, however espresso-based drinks and pour over brewing have gained traction in recent times, significantly amongst youthful shoppers in larger cities.

Quite than displacing conventional consumption, specialty espresso has built-in alongside it. This coexistence has enabled sooner market maturation in cities similar to Tbilisi and Batumi, rising acceptance of various brewing strategies and experimentation with processing.

“Our roasters and baristas usually draw inspiration from Georgian culinary traditions, experimenting with flavour and presentation in ways in which give the nation’s specialty espresso id its personal distinct character,” says Anastasia, the co-owner of Shavi Espresso Roasters, which has turn out to be one among Georgia’s most outstanding specialty espresso manufacturers.

“Conversely, we’re influencing Georgia’s espresso scene. Our roasting philosophy blends fashionable data-driven strategies with old-school craft,” she provides. “The result’s a portfolio of coffees which can be expressive, balanced, and unmistakably Shavi.”

This technique has translated into rising worldwide recognition. Shavi was named Finest Espresso Store on the 2025 European Espresso Journey Awards and secured silver for its Colombia Gaitania filter espresso on the World Espresso Awards European version, the place it was additionally named the nationwide winner for Georgia.

“These awards mirror not solely our rising worldwide status and the dedication behind each roast, but in addition our deep dedication to hospitality,” Anastasia explains. “We make sure that we weave the heat and generosity on the coronary heart of Georgian tradition into each facet of our cafés.”

Development alternatives

Based on official commerce statistics, the worth of Georgia’s espresso imports surged by 43.9% in 2025 in comparison with the earlier 12 months. This enhance was pushed primarily by sustained excessive international espresso costs.

Indonesia was Georgia’s largest espresso provider, exporting 1,972 tonnes valued at US$10.1 million, accounting for practically 29% of the overall import worth. Different key suppliers included Vietnam, Italy, and Germany, highlighting Georgia’s dependency on European re-exporters.

With espresso costs anticipated to stabilise between US$2.50 and U$3/lb by mid-2026, there’s potential for Georgia’s espresso imports to extend over the subsequent few years.

Throughout the nation, specialty espresso consumption is turning into extra embedded in day by day routines. Extra shoppers are investing in dwelling brewing gear, whereas skilled coaching alternatives for baristas are increasing.

“You’ll usually see prospects shopping for their first V60 setups or baristas studying find out how to serve espresso at a better stage,” Alsu observes.

This shift in direction of education-led consumption is contributing to rising high quality expectations throughout the board. As shopper data deepens, operators are investing extra in sourcing, roasting, high quality consistency, and repair requirements, additional accelerating market growth.

Worldwide manufacturers are shifting in

As Georgia’s specialty espresso tradition has strengthened, worldwide operators have begun to take discover. Costa Espresso launched in Georgia in November 2022 with a retailer at Tbilisi Worldwide Airport and is now concentrating on different cities below a franchise settlement with Azerbaijan’s Sarda Group, aiming to open 15 shops by 2028.

US chain Reborn Espresso lately introduced its plans to enter the Georgian market, signalling confidence in each shopper sophistication and long-term development potential.

Starbucks can also be reportedly within the Georgian market, because it seeks to develop its worldwide footprint. The corporate allegedly plans to open its first retailer in Tbilisi’s Vake district in March 2026 and to function as much as 50 places nationwide over the subsequent eight years.

The nation’s place as a bridge between Europe and Asia additionally helps its enchantment, enabling the market to soak up various influences whereas retaining a powerful native id.

Business stakeholders more and more view Georgia as a market poised to enter its subsequent development section. “With higher schooling, improved sourcing, and better high quality expectations from prospects, the market can develop shortly within the coming years,” Alsu predicts.

Georgia’s tourism trade can also be comparatively new, and the nation is actively investing to draw extra guests. This might additional drive worldwide curiosity amongst each specialty espresso lovers and types seeking to develop into rising markets.

Georgian manufacturers look outwards

Importantly, growth is more and more two-way. Georgian specialty manufacturers at the moment are starting to discover worldwide development alternatives.

Shavi Espresso Roasters launched within the US in December, establishing operations in Washington, DC. Alsu relocated to supervise manufacturing, roasting on a Loring Falcon S15, with the corporate providing retail, wholesale, and single-serve drip espresso codecs.

“We selected to launch within the US as a result of it is among the most mature and influential specialty espresso markets on the planet,” she explains. “American shoppers worth transparency, craftsmanship, and innovation – values deeply embedded in Shavi’s DNA.”

Quite than speedy scaling, the main focus is on constructing long-term partnerships with cafés and retailers.

“We wish to showcase Georgia’s rising espresso tradition on a worldwide stage, and our aim within the US is to develop long-term relationships with native cafés and shoppers who recognize high-precision roasting and distinct flavour profiles,” Anastasia says. “As a New Yorker, I’m thrilled that we’re roasting on the East Coast and bringing distinctive flavour profiles, mild roast types, and a contact of Georgia to the US.”

The convergence of worldwide funding and home growth suggests Georgia’s specialty espresso sector is maturing.

As Georgian roasters develop internationally and international manufacturers take a look at the home market, the nation is turning into an more and more essential participant within the international specialty espresso trade.

Loved this? Then learn our article on how ladies are driving development in rising specialty espresso markets.

Picture credit: Shavi Espresso Roasters

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