Coffee is steadily finding a place in tea-dominated Bangladesh, especially among young people. Once an occasional drink in urban homes, it is now common in cafes, offices and social gatherings, driven by changing lifestyles, urbanisation and exposure to international food habits, according to a special report by the state news agency BSS.
Commercial coffee took off after instant coffee entered the local market in 1998, and affordable instant products widened the customer base in the early 2000s. An international-style coffee shop opened in Dhaka's Banani in 2005, and a specialty roaster followed in 2011. After Dhanmondi, Banani, Gulshan and Uttara, cafes are now spreading to other large cities.
The rise shows in imports. According to figures reported in the national media, Bangladesh imported about 139 tonnes of coffee in 2003, about 264 tonnes in 2012 and about 1,745 tonnes in 2022. The country still relies largely on imports to meet demand.
The report says the hill districts of Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari have considerable potential for coffee. Cultivation projects have given farmers a way to diversify and earn extra income, and more domestic production could cut imports while creating jobs in farming, processing, packaging and marketing.
Limited output, poor processing facilities, scarce investment and a lack of modern cultivation technology remain the main obstacles. Cafe coffee is still beyond many people's budgets, and cafe owners face high rent, equipment and running costs. Experts say developing local production and processing and encouraging investment would make coffee more accessible.
The spread of coffee does not mean tea is declining, the report says, but that Bangladesh's drinking habits are diversifying; tea still rules everyday gatherings.
Source: BSS
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