Recent trends in coffee consumption worldwide and in Lithuania have shifted for various reasons. While the pandemic closed cafes and restaurants, encouraging people to value home-brewed coffee, other factors like technological advances, the rising coffee culture, increasing coffee prices, and a growing focus on sustainability are also driving these changes. Experts note that more people in Lithuania are now choosing to brew coffee at home or at work. Lithuania ranks fourth globally in coffee consumption per capita, with residents averaging around 17 kg of coffee per year.
Recreating the Cafe Experience at Home
Today, many households are investing in modern coffee brewing equipment, which not only simplifies daily coffee preparation but also allows for experimenting with new brewing methods. "Kavos Draugas" sales manager Iveta Legotė points out that this is not a passing trend; coffee machines are no longer considered a luxury item. “People are increasingly aiming to recreate the café experience at home, choosing high-quality coffee prepared with machines rather than instant options. Furthermore, the growing interest in various brewing techniques shows that people enjoy the preparation process itself,” says I. Legotė.
Over the past year, global coffee prices have risen by about 15%. This trend affects both coffee suppliers and consumers, and, according to I. Legotė, changing coffee prices encourage more people to enjoy coffee at home at a lower cost. "Customers carefully calculate both the short-term and long-term costs of coffee preparation. A purchased coffee machine quickly pays off, as a kilogram of coffee can yield about a hundred cups. Comparing this to the cost of a hundred cups at a café shows how quickly an automatic coffee machine can pay for itself," she says.
Expanding Coffee Machine Market
I. Legotė highlights that consumers are increasingly investing in coffee brewing equipment, starting with basic models and eventually moving to higher-end machines with broader functionalities. The chosen brewing method often depends on individual needs and daily routines. "In Western Europe, many people work as baristas during their studies, so using semi-automatic coffee machines becomes familiar. However, for those who are pressed for time, fully automatic machines are more appealing. Meanwhile, in Northern Europe, filter coffee remains a popular choice," notes the expert. She adds that consumers are drawn to machines with new features, such as cold brewing or multiple grinders, which allow them to experiment with various types of coffee and enjoy top-quality coffee at home.
Despite this, automatic coffee machines remain the most popular due to their ease of use, low maintenance, and optimal price-to-quality ratio. These machines efficiently produce coffee, as one kilogram of beans yields 80–100 cups. Although capsule coffee machines were once very popular, I. Legotė notes that demand for them is decreasing due to environmental concerns. "Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important issue, so consumers are increasingly turning away from capsule machines, which produce a lot of plastic waste. This is prompting people to opt for more eco-friendly solutions, such as filter or automatic coffee machines, which generate less packaging waste," says I. Legotė.
Women Invest More in Quality Coffee Equipment
The growing popularity of coffee machines is closely linked to the availability of financing options. Donatas Mickus, Head of Sales at "Inbank," observes that more people are using installment purchase options to acquire quality coffee equipment. "The average financed amount for coffee machines is around 700 euros. Moreover, we see that customers are increasingly choosing the option to pay in ten installments without extra fees, which boosts sales," says D. Mickus.
Consumers aged 26–40 are the most likely to purchase coffee machines on an installment plan. Additionally, about 15% more sales are attributed to women, who actively invest in quality coffee and brewing equipment. D. Mickus also points to the seasonality of coffee machine sales, especially in November and December, when sales events and holiday promotions occur. Black Friday and the Christmas season make these months particularly active in terms of sales.
About Inbank
"Inbank" is a European fintech company with a banking license that connects merchants and consumers by offering next-generation financing solutions. Operating in the financial sector since 2010, Inbank collaborates with over 6,100 merchants to provide leasing, consumer loans, and deposit services in Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, and the Czech Republic, and accepts deposits from Germany, Austria, Finland, and the Netherlands. Inbank bonds are listed on the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange.
