The development of a coffee culture can be visualised as occurring in different waves. The first wave is when coffee is introduced to the market in the form of mass-produced brews. The second wave focuses on tastes and roasting styles and brings “espresso beverages” to the menu via coffee chains such as Starbucks and Peet’s.
The third wave is when coffee becomes more of a craft, emphasising the quality and origin of the beans. This particular wave introduces coffee drinkers to baristas and to bean growers as well. Observing cafe culture in different countries along these waves helps position our businesses better toward increasingly competitive cafe markets.