Latvian Coffee Brand Rocket Bean Café Ranked Among Europe’s Best

Latvian coffee roaster and specialty coffee brand Rocket Bean has been included in The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops – Europe 2026, an international ranking that recognizes the best cafés across Europe. The list is one of the most comprehensive evaluations of Europe’s coffee industry, comparing cafés from a wide range of markets—from countries with long-standing coffee traditions to rapidly emerging specialty coffee destinations.

The specialty coffee segment has experienced significant growth across Europe in recent years, with thousands of independent cafés and roasteries competing for recognition. The sector is largely dominated by countries with well-established coffee cultures and mature markets, making it relatively rare for businesses from smaller markets, including Latvia, to be featured in such rankings. This year, more than 5,300 cafés across Europe were evaluated, with Rocket Bean’s café on Miera Street in Riga securing 51st place among Europe’s best coffee shops. The company had previously announced that it had been included in the Top 100 list.

“This achievement demonstrates that Latvia’s specialty coffee culture is capable of competing at the highest European level. In the specialty coffee industry, we compete with markets where this culture has been developing for decades,” says Vilmārs Vjakse, CEO of Rocket Bean.

Rocket Bean’s recognition is significant not only for the company but also for Latvia as a whole. It highlights the ability of Latvian businesses to create high-value products and services that are recognized internationally, while further strengthening Riga’s position as a gastronomic destination. It also reassures international visitors that they can enjoy coffee in Riga at a level comparable to that of Europe’s leading coffee cities.

“This recognition gives us confidence that we are moving in the right direction. It motivates us to continue investing in quality and in the development of the specialty coffee industry,” Vjakse adds.

Rocket Bean has been operating in the specialty coffee sector for more than a decade, developing both coffee roasting and café culture in Latvia. The company is also investing heavily in the industry’s future through the establishment of a new coffee roastery and coffee education centre, scheduled to open this summer following an investment of more than €2.5 million.

According to the company, Latvian consumers are showing growing interest in coffee origins, roasting profiles, and brewing methods, reflecting an increasingly mature coffee culture and rising demand for high-quality, freshly roasted coffee.

“Our goal is to continue developing coffee culture and increasing awareness of quality, flavour, and origin. We see this trend becoming increasingly evident in Latvia, closely mirroring what we observe in Europe’s most developed coffee markets,” Vjakse concludes.