Europe continues to be the world's largest coffee market, responsible for approximately 28% of total global consumption, according to a new report from the European Coffee Federation (ECF). The findings provide a detailed overview of the coffee sector's significant economic footprint across the 27 member states of the European Union.
The report quantifies the industry's economic impact, stating that coffee contributes €84.4 billion (approx. $96.1 billion USD) in direct Gross Added Value (GVA) and supports around 1.5 million direct full-time equivalent jobs within the EU27. The vast majority of this employment, about 87%, is concentrated in the hotel, restaurant, and catering (HORECA) sector.
Germany stands out as the primary entry point for green coffee into the bloc, handling 1.01 million tonnes, or 34% of all EU coffee imports, primarily through the Port of Hamburg. Italy is the second-largest importer, receiving around 606,000 tonnes via historic coffee ports like Trieste and Genoa. The report also underscores Europe's importance to producing countries, noting that the continent receives over half of Uganda's coffee exports and 91% of all coffee grown in Burundi.