The Best Coffee Shops Turkey 2026 Begins: How Will Coffee Shops Be Evaluated?

A new evaluation platform is being launched for the new generation of coffee shops in Turkey. The Best Coffee Shops Turkey 2026 is preparing to evaluate independent coffee shops, roaster-cafes, and businesses offering quality coffee experiences in Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya in its first phase.

According to a news report by HORECA Trend dated September 7, 2026, The Best Coffee Shops is entering the Turkish market in collaboration with Dream Sales Machine. The program will evaluate not only the quality of coffee in the cup but also the preparation of the beans, barista expertise, customer service, innovation, atmosphere, sustainability, food-pastry products, and the consistency of the experience offered during different visits.

In the initial phase, applications for coffee shops, as well as sponsorship and volunteer jury applications, are open for the platform focusing on Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya. Güçlü Anadolu Gazetesi also confirms that the program will start in these three cities and that the evaluation criteria go beyond product quality.

The Definition of a “Good Coffee Shop” is Expanding

For a long time, the main competitive area in the coffee sector has been shaped around the quality of the beans, roasting profile, and brewing technique.

These elements are still fundamental criteria. However, it is important that the new evaluation model adds operational aspects such as employee competence, service quality, venue atmosphere, and consistency of experience.

This change shows that coffee shops are no longer seen merely as businesses that sell products.

An espresso can technically be prepared correctly; however, if the service time is inconsistent, if the barista cannot provide information about the product, or if the experience a customer receives during different visits varies, the overall performance of the business may weaken.

Thus, competition for coffee businesses is progressing on three layers: product, people, and operations.

Barista Competence is a Separate Area in Evaluation

Barista expertise is clearly included among the evaluation criteria within The Best Coffee Shops Turkey 2026.

This is an important aspect in coffee business management.

Buying good equipment or quality beans may be relatively easy; however, repeating the same quality across shifts and among different employees requires training.

The correct application of the espresso recipe, grind settings, milk texture, brewing parameters, and service communication are directly dependent on barista skills.

Therefore, employee training in coffee shops is not just a human resources expense but a part of maintaining product standards.

Especially in businesses with high employee turnover, documenting recipes, establishing calibration routines, and standardizing training for new employees becomes increasingly important.

Atmosphere is No Longer Just a Matter of Decoration

The program's evaluation criteria also include atmosphere and ambiance.

The commercial impact of atmosphere for coffee shops is broader than decoration choices.

Table layout, noise level, service flow, access to power outlets, lighting, seating duration, and queue management determine how different types of customers use the space.

For example, the space planning of a business that caters to fast takeaway traffic cannot be the same as that of a café where people spend several hours with their laptops.

Therefore, having a strong experience design does not merely mean creating an aesthetically pleasing interior.

The business's intention regarding how long it wants to host customers, table turnover goals, average spending, and service model should be considered alongside venue design.

Consistency is One of the Toughest Tests for Independent Coffee Shops

One of the striking criteria of The Best Coffee Shops Turkey is the consistency of experience across different visits.

This criterion may be the most critical aspect from a management perspective.

It is not enough for a coffee shop to offer excellent products during its opening week or for an experienced barista to achieve high standards during their shift.

A customer expects as similar quality as possible between Monday morning and Saturday afternoon.

For consistency, core recipes, espresso settings, milk weights, portion sizes, cleaning routines, and service language can be standardized.

The aim here is not for employees to become mechanical but to remove quality dependence on individuals.

Sustainability Assessment Requires Concrete Criteria

The program also identifies sustainability as one of the evaluation topics.

However, how this concept will be measured in the coffee sector is important.

Measurable indicators such as the amount of single-use cups, energy and water consumption, management of coffee grounds, local sourcing, packaging use, and food waste can be concrete representations of this topic.

On the other hand, merely using recyclable cups or including "sustainable" terms on the menu is not sufficient to demonstrate overall sustainability performance.

Although the main criteria have been explained in the published news of The Best Coffee Shops Turkey, the scoring weights and detailed evaluation methodology do not seem to be clearly published in accessible sources as of September 8, 2026.

Therefore, when the competition results are announced, the transparency of the evaluation system will also be important for the sector's credibility.

Why Are Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya the First Three Cities?

The platform has chosen Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya for its first phase in Turkey.

Istanbul is one of the most densely populated and diverse markets in Turkey in terms of specialty coffee. There is a wide range of business structures from independent roasters to large chains.

Ankara offers a different customer profile with its university population, neighborhood coffee shops, and strong regulars culture.

Antalya's distinction is the convergence of local consumers with a high volume of international visitor traffic in the same market.

Applying the same criteria in these three cities raises the question of how coffee markets with different customer behaviors will be compared.

What Can Competitions Provide for Businesses?

Being included in a ranking can provide visibility for independent coffee shops.

Especially, editorial lists and digital guides are increasingly used by international visitors when choosing coffee venues. Condé Nast Traveller Middle East also published a selection of 16 coffee and café spots in Istanbul in July 2026, addressing the city's contemporary coffee culture as part of the travel experience.

However, measuring the commercial impact of award or list visibility is also necessary.

If indicators such as customer traffic, new customer rate, average basket, social media reach, and the share of tourist customers are tracked after a business enters the list, it can be understood whether visibility translates into sales.

Otherwise, the award may remain only at the level of marketing communication.

The Jury Structure Will Be Critical for Trust

It is stated that professional baristas, roasters, gastronomy and hospitality professionals, content creators, and experienced coffee consumers can apply to the volunteer jury for the program.

This broad jury structure can provide different perspectives.

However, how potential commercial relationships between coffee shops, sponsors, and the jury will be managed is also important.

Especially in a system where sponsorship applications are open simultaneously, clearly sharing the rules that will maintain evaluation independence will increase trust.

There must be a clear editorial boundary between being a sponsor and influencing the evaluation result.

As of September 8, 2026, detailed official documents regarding scoring weights, conflict of interest policy, or jury oversight mechanisms could not be accessed in open sources.

This is not an indication of misconduct; it merely shows that public information about the evaluation system is currently limited.

Stafflink’s View

Access to quality beans and good equipment in the coffee sector is now possible for many businesses. Therefore, competitive advantage is increasingly formed in the details of operations.

In our opinion, evaluating barista expertise, service, atmosphere, and consistency alongside the product in The Best Coffee Shops Turkey 2026 is a correct direction for the industry.

However, the real value of such lists is determined not only by how many businesses receive awards but also by how open and consistent the evaluation system is.

For coffee shops, the main gain may be to use the evaluation criteria to review their operations rather than just a badge or ranking.

If a business can produce the same espresso across different shifts, maintain employee knowledge, welcome customers well, and do so in a commercially sustainable way, it means they have established a strong coffee business, regardless of whether they win an award in the competition or not.