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"As De la Pau Coffee Co, we have become one of the most respected coffee experience companies in Turkey. We not only bring the best and high quality coffee to our customers, but also carry out multifaceted activities for the development of coffee culture,’ said Serap Akçay, Founder and CEO of De la Pau Coffee, ’There is a great potential in coffee consumption in Turkey. While the average monthly coffee consumption per capita in Europe is 2 kg, this rate is 1-1.2 kg in Turkey. We are known as a tea society, but we are experiencing an evolution towards coffee culture. I attribute this evolution to the interest of Generation Z in coffee. I think that by 2030, per capita coffee consumption in Turkey will increase from 1kg to 2kg."

Serap Akçay, Founder and CEO of De la Pau Coffee, which offers professional coffee experience and sells coffee products, stated that there is a great potential in coffee consumption in Turkey and said, ‘While the average monthly coffee consumption per capita in Europe is 2 kg, this rate is 1-1.2 kg in Turkey. We are known as a tea society, but we are experiencing an evolution towards coffee culture. I attribute this evolution to the interest of Generation Z in coffee. I think that by 2030, per capita coffee consumption in Turkey will increase from 1 kg to 2 kg."

Akçay gave information about the sector at the COFFEX Istanbul 2024 Fair, which was held at the Haliç Congress Centre and brought together the global coffee industry. Akçay, who contributed as a moderator to the ‘Continental Coffees and Their Use in Turkey Panel’ held at the fair, analysed the developing coffee sector together with the international sector stakeholders in the panel. Stating that freshly ground coffee is the best coffee, Akçay pointed out that coffee consumption in Turkey is increasing day by day.

Progress from tea society to coffee society

Stating that the increasing trend in coffee consumption in Turkey continues, Akçay said that the coffee culture developing in the society has created a large and organised industry. Akçay gave the following information:

"There is a great potential in coffee consumption in Turkey. While the average monthly coffee consumption per capita in Europe is 2 kg, this rate is 1-1.2 kg in Turkey. We are known as a tea society, but we are experiencing an evolution towards coffee culture. I attribute this evolution to the interest of Generation Z in coffee. I think that by 2030, per capita coffee consumption in Turkey will increase from 1 kg to 2 kg. Generation Z sees coffee as a symbol of modernism. They see it as a pattern of their own identity.

These facts led me to take my interest in coffee to a professional level and I founded De la Pau Coffee Co. At this point, De la Pau Coffee Co. has become one of the most respected coffee experience companies in Turkey. We not only bring the best and high quality coffee to our customers, but also carry out multifaceted activities for the development of coffee culture."

Countries such as Switzerland, Germany and Italy are coffee exporters

Stating that green coffee has an important economic value in world foreign trade, Akçay stated that it is the 104th most traded and 1024th most complex product according to the Product Complexity Index. Explaining that in 2021, approximately 10 million tonnes of green coffee production, 7.8 million tonnes of green coffee exports and 7.5 million tonnes of green coffee imports were made in the world, Akçay said: "While world coffee production is carried out in certain countries, every country obtains the product through foreign trade. Due to its economic value, many countries earn income from its added value by importing the product for export. In 2021, approximately 10 million tonnes of coffee was produced in the world, approximately 7.5 million tonnes of coffee worth 22.5 billion dollars was imported, and approximately 7.8 million tonnes of green coffee worth 22.3 billion dollars was exported. Brazil (16.7 per cent), Switzerland (9.3 per cent), Colombia (9.95 per cent) and Germany (8.21 per cent) are the leading exporters of green coffee. The majority of exporter countries are located in South America, Africa and Asia. Countries such as Switzerland, Germany and Italy have a 24 per cent share in exports despite the fact that they are not coffee producers. These countries gain profit by importing for export purposes. The USA (19 per cent), Germany (10.6 per cent), Belgium (5.94 per cent) and Italy (5.25 per cent) ranked first, second, third and fourth respectively. In addition, the European region accounts for more than 40% of total coffee imports. In Asia, Japan stood out with a 3.76 per cent share."

Turkey is a country that can be the star of coffee exports

According to Euromonitor reports, the use of world coffees in Turkey has increased by 30 per cent in the last 5 years, Akçay said, adding that the share of Brazilian, Vietnamese, Colombian, Ethiopian, Guatemalan and Indonesian coffees has increased in Turkey. Stating that Turkey can export more coffee to its foreign trade hinterland, Serap Akçay said, ‘The development of coffee culture in Turkey enables new professionals and qualified brands to enter the sector. In this direction, I think that as a country, we can reach a higher know-how capacity in coffee and offer both this commercial knowledge and quality coffee to the markets with which our country has developed commercial relations. Turkey is a country that can be the star of exports in coffee exports, especially with Turkish coffee."

Coffee has become a means of communication for me

Akçay stated that he visited various coffee plantations around the world, especially in Ethiopia, and said that these experiences reminded him of the paradoxical nature of life. Noting that he believes that happiness can be found even in poverty, Akçay said: "Even the simplest resources can make life sustainable. People in Ethiopia come together and maintain their culture and traditions thanks to coffee. This showed me how people can come together and be in solidarity even under the most difficult conditions. My passion for coffee is no longer limited to preparing or consuming a beverage. Every cup of coffee reminds me of the labour, hardship and resilience of these people. It is through these simple yet powerful connections that I have come to understand the meaning and value of life more deeply. Coffee has become a means of communication for me; with every sip, I reflect and try to convey the complexity, beauty and resilience of life. My experiences in Ethiopia have been a reminder to make every moment of life more precious."

De la Pau Coffee Production Manager Tan moderated the coffee roasters panel

In addition, Kurtuluş Orkun Tan, De la Pau Coffee Production Manager, moderated the ‘Coffee Roasters and Technological Development’ panel at the COFFEX 2024 Fair, which brought together the coffee industry at the Haliç Congress Centre. Tan shared the information that the best coffee is freshly ground and freshly filtered coffee in the panel where important details about the kitchen of the sector were discussed.