The city of Larissa in central Greece is the undisputed capital of coffee and to celebrate the municipality organized recently a three-day coffee show attended by thousands of people.
According to data from the Association of Cafe and Restaurant Owners of the city (SYKAEL), Larissa, with its 200,000 inhabitants, has a total of 1,150 cafes. One for every 170 inhabitants. Each coffee shop uses 5-20 kg of coffee per day, with the total daily consumption reaching 9 tons.
Coffee culture is thriving in Greece, but no other city can beat Larissa!
Coffee flavors and aromas in Larissa
Visitors to the central square of the city had the chance to sample the flavors and aromas of different brands of coffee. Experts taught the secrets of making and serving coffee. In addition, activities and competitions for young and old were organized, including three concerts.
“Our goal is to highlight Larissa as a point of reference and destination. We want a municipality that goes out, creates events and attracts visitors,” Mayor Thanasis Mamakos said.
Larissa has the largest urban café concentration in Greece and its main industry is selling coffee.
Furthermore, this type of business has shown great resistance to the economic crisis that hit Greece during the last decade.
From January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2014, 447 coffee businesses started operating in the municipality of Larissa, while during the same period, 372 coffee businesses closed down.
The President of the Larissa Chamber of Commerce, Dimitris Adam said recently that young people keep coming to him every day, requesting a license to open a coffee shop.
“What I always tell them is to not take the easy way. There can be no more coffee shops in this city. At the moment, every group of friends has its own coffee shop,” he said. “I urge them to look for something new and not to open another cheap café.”
Greeks love their coffee
More than 8 out of 10 Greeks drink coffee every day a recent survey revealed, confirming that coffee culture is thriving in the country.
According to a survey by pollsters Kapa Research on behalf of the Hellenic Coffee Association, 84 percent of Greeks enjoy at least one cup every day.
However, even among those who do not like to drink coffee, the majority (66 percent) make sure to always have it at home. Thus, while 84 percent of the participants enjoy their favorite drink on a daily basis, 95 percent of them buy coffee.
The majority of those who took part in the survey consume more than one coffee a day. 31 percent consume one, 40 percent two, and 22 percent three. Also, a tiny minority of 6 percent consume at least 4 coffees a day.
Related: Coffees You Must Try in Greece