Outside the border is an important part of the development of Greek coffee chains, alongside the expansion of their presence in the domestic market. From Europe and the Middle East to North America and North Africa, Greek brands transfer their know-how and experience in coffee to larger markets with opportunities for further development, at the same time that in the Greek market competition remains intense. For several large chains, even extroversion is a key axis in their development strategy.
Starting with Daphne in 1972
Of the oldest coffee and focus chains in Greece, the Gregory chain started in 1972 in Daphne, when Gregory Georgatos opened his first store. The pies made in the back of the store with recipes from Kefalonia, birthplace of the founder and Constantinople, place of origin of his wife, were then a reference point.
The second generation of the family that took over in the next decade launched new products such as sandwiches and the philosophy of taking away coffee, initially Greek and frappe, while since 1991 cappuccino and espresso. Today, more than 350 Grigoris stores are in operation while outside the border the chain is present in Cyprus, Romania and Germany.
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30 Year History in Coffee
Long is the story of Flocafe, starting in 1994 and first store on Kifisia Avenue. A year later she expanded outside Athens and in 2003 she took her first step in the Cyprus market. Today, the chain, a member of the Vivartia focus group, has close to 100 stores in Greece and abroad, also having a significant presence in Cyprus, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Kuwait, Bulgaria, Hungary, Qatar and the Netherlands.
In parallel with the expansion abroad, Flocafe has evolved successively and its own model, from the classic coffee shops at FLOCAFE Espresso Room and then at Espresso Room Street, adapted to the different needs of coffee consumption. The chain has also developed presence in «closed» markets such as ships, airports, malls and highways.
From Patras to India and Montmartre
From a small coffee shop on Riga Feraiou Street in Patras in 1999, Coffee Island within nearly three decades has traveled a route that now reaches all four continents. Its network numbers over 420 shops in Greece, while abroad its presence extends to more than 60 points. From Cyprus, Romania and the United Kingdom to Canada, Dubai and India. India is, in fact, developing into one of the markets with significant dynamics for the company.
This year was another station in its international course, with the entry of Coffee Island into France and first store in the district of Montmart. In the footage of the chain is further development in both markets where it is already present and entry into new geographical areas.
From the Greek city of coffee in over 20 countries
Outside Attica Mikel also started, with first store in 2008 in Larissa, a city with an intense coffee culture and a highly developed coffee market. From there, the chain developed into the Greek market and then crossed the border, gradually expanding its presence in international markets.
Mikel's network currently surpasses 420 stores in over 20 countries and extends among others to Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Germany and Bulgaria, while Turkey is one of the most important markets for the chain. Emphasis on the development plan also gives India, where the company has already signed an agreement to create stores in the coming months.
From wholesale coffee to international markets
For Coffee Berry, the starting point was in 2003, when its founder, Haris Gryparis, began to engage in wholesale sales. Four years later he took the next step, establishing a coffee processing plant in the industrial area of Koropi. The first Coffee Berry store opened in 2016 in Glyfada, while the same year the chain expanded to Cyprus.
Its presence today extends to a total of six countries: Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Germany, Morocco and recently in Hungary. In late 2025 her first store opened at Budapest International Airport, further strengthening her footprint on foreign markets.
With his philosophy «3rd wave coffee»
Coffee Lab started from Chalkida in 2009 and was one of the first street coffee chains in Greece to adopt the so-called philosophy «3rd wave coffee». In 2012 Coffee Lab was established in its current form, while in 2015 the network's development via franchise began, clearing the way for the expansion of the chain.
Its international presence extends from Cyprus and the United Kingdom to France, Austria, Germany and Bulgaria, but also to markets in the Middle East and North Africa, such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco. Coffee Lab has over 170 stores, while more than 40 are located outside the border.
