Nicosia's coffee world is changing. Many people in Cyprus drink a lot of coffee. They usually like traditional drinks. These include Cypriot coffee, frappé, and instant coffee. However, new coffee shops are opening. They offer a different kind of coffee experience.
These new places are called specialty coffee shops. Utu Coffee and Kollaborative are examples. They are more than just places for coffee. They teach people about coffee. Christos Soteriou owns Kollaborative. He sees that people in Nicosia want to learn. They are curious about single-origin coffees. These coffees have unique tastes.
Specialty coffee is defined by the SCA. Beans must score over 80 points. They are carefully grown and processed. This makes their flavors special. These coffees come from specific farms. They are different from mass-produced coffee.
Although many Cypriots drink coffee, they often choose familiar tastes. Specialty coffee shops offer new choices. They have beans from Honduras, Burundi, and Guatemala. Some beans are roasted by Coffee Collective in Copenhagen.
Some people think specialty coffee is only for rich people. However, the prices in Nicosia are reasonable. A double espresso at Utu Coffee costs €2.80. This is similar to prices at big coffee chains. Bags of coffee beans cost about €23. This is for people who want to make coffee at home.
Christos Soteriou gives advice. He says if you cannot find good coffee, try Starbucks. This is a practical tip for when better options are not available.
The growth of specialty coffee is important for Nicosia. It shows the city is developing. More people are learning about good coffee. They want to know where it comes from. The focus is now on the quality of coffee. People want to know the story behind each cup.