Moscow – Qahwa World
Over the past year, Moscow’s coffee market has undergone a noticeable shift. Grab-and-go coffee outlets continue to expand, while traditional cafés with seating areas are gradually losing ground.
From January 2025 to January 2026, the number of coffee-to-go locations in the city grew by about 5%, rising from roughly 3,900 to 4,100 outlets. These formats typically include small kiosks or compact spaces with little or no seating.
At the same time, the number of classic cafés declined much more sharply. Over the same period, their total fell by 12%, from around 2,900 to 2,500. Earlier reports also pointed to closures by major chains: in 2025, one of Moscow’s largest café operators shut down more than 10% of its locations.
Similar trends are visible outside the capital. In other Russian cities with populations over one million, the number of coffee-to-go outlets increased by an average of 3.5% year on year, while the number of traditional cafés dropped by about 13%.
The highest concentration of cafés and grab-and-go coffee points remains in central districts. Presnensky, Tverskoy and Basmanny lead the way. As of January 2026, Tverskoy district had about 120 cafés and 188 coffee-to-go outlets; Presnensky counted 126 cafés and 183 to-go points; Basmanny had 114 cafés and 159 grab-and-go locations.
The rise of coffee to go comes amid higher prices in traditional cafés. In January 2026, the average bill in Moscow cafés reached 501 rubles. The most expensive coffee is found in Vnukovo and the Obruchevsky district, where a cup can cost more than 800 rubles. The lowest prices are typically seen in residential areas such as Pechatniki, Bibirevo, Vostochnoye Degunino, Altufyevsky district and Veshnyaki.
Market experts note that while the number of cafés had been growing steadily in previous years, consumer demand has recently started to weaken. Rising prices have made it harder for cafés to attract new customers. Higher costs are driven by several factors, including more expensive coffee beans and milk, rising wages, increasing rent, and higher electricity costs.
At the same time, competition from retailers is intensifying. Automated coffee machines in grocery stores are gaining popularity. During the first nine months of 2025, sales of ready-to-drink coffee in retail chains surged both in volume and in value, adding further pressure on traditional café formats.
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