Coffee sales in Taiwan are projected to exceed NT$40 billion (US$1.22 billion) in 2024 for the second consecutive year, reflecting the island’s growing enthusiasm for coffee culture.
A Blend of Tradition and Modernity: Taiwan’s Coffee Market
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While tea remains a cultural symbol of Taiwan, coffee has become an integral part of modern urban life, especially among young people in major cities.
The Taiwanese coffee market beautifully combines tradition and modern lifestyle, representing a refined and evolving coffee culture.
Coffee Everywhere: From Convenience Stores to Boutique Cafés
Coffee in Taiwan is omnipresent — from 24-hour convenience stores to intimate Japanese-style cafés tucked away in quiet alleyways.
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Chains like 7-Eleven and FamilyMart offer affordable, ready-to-drink coffee, making it accessible to everyone.
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Meanwhile, boutique coffee shops with minimalist Japanese aesthetics attract true coffee lovers seeking peaceful, sensory experiences.
Coffee as Part of Everyday Life
In cities like Taipei, it’s now common to see office workers emerging from metro stations with a latte or cappuccino in hand.
On average, Taiwanese people consume three cups of coffee per day, usually with less sugar and milk compared to Western styles.
Rise of Home Roasting and Specialty Brewing
A notable trend in Taiwan’s coffee scene is the rise of local chain cafés that roast their beans on-site, filling neighborhoods with the aroma of freshly ground coffee.
Popular chains such as Louisa Coffee, Cama Coffee, and Fika Fika Café have become household names.
In addition, home brewing is gaining popularity — consumers increasingly purchase drip-bag coffee (filter bag packs) for convenience at home or in offices.
(Vietnamese drip coffee products have also appeared on the shelves of high-end supermarkets such as the Breeze Center in Taipei.)
Coffee Sales Surpassing NT$40 Billion in 2024
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Finance (MOF), coffee shops, retailers, and wholesalers generated NT$37.67 billion in revenue during the first 11 months of 2024.
With December’s data pending, total sales are expected to exceed NT$40 billion for the second straight year.
Although it remains uncertain whether sales will reach the record high of NT$42.99 billion in 2023, surpassing NT$40 billion once again confirms the steady growth of Taiwan’s coffee consumption since 2018.
Coffee Shop Boom in Taiwan
From 2018 to November 2024, the number of coffee shops in Taiwan increased by 42.5%, averaging 6% growth annually, to a total of 4,824 cafés.
This does not include thousands of convenience stores, supermarkets, and gas stations that also sell coffee to-go.
This rapid expansion helped boost annual coffee sales by 36%, from NT$31.54 billion in 2018 to NT$42.97 billion in 2023.
Coffee Imports and Local Production
Most of Taiwan’s coffee is imported, mainly as green coffee beans.
In 2024, Taiwan imported a record 52,600 tons of coffee products, with green beans accounting for 71%, followed by processed coffee (16.3%) and roasted coffee (12.6%).
Local production has stabilized at around 950 tons of coffee beans per year, following the 2018 peak of 1,109 tons, mainly from Pingtung, Nantou, Taitung, and Chiayi counties.
This reflects rising demand for premium coffee and the rapid growth of specialty cafés across the island.