There’s a familiar scene at many cafés–bikes against walls, helmets and chairs, and the loud chatter of cycling groups who have stopped for their mid-ride caffeine hit. It is a world known fact that that the coffee and cycling tradition goes hand in hand. But why has coffee become such an essential part of cycling life? Let’s take a closer look at how this unique relationship came about.    

The History

Cycling has always been about rhythm, endurance, and community. Coffee, on the other hand, is about ritual. The connection between the two traces back to Europe where cycling itself has deep cultural roots. In Italy, professionals became famous for their pre-race espressos. In France and Belgium, cafés were the meeting point where cycling clubs would assemble before setting off on their ride.

As professional cycling grew, coffee brands joined forces with sporting industries. Italian brand Faema sponsored Eddy Merckx’s team in the 1960s, placing coffee machines right alongside bicycles on the world stage. Later, names like Segafredo and Café de Colombia followed, proving that coffee and cycling were more than a cultural quirk, but commercial partners too.

The Ritual

Fast forward to today, and coffee is still a leading characteristic in cycling culture. The café stop has become a sacred part of cycling. Groups of riders fill tables, fuelling up on caffeine and sharing stories, and forming like-minded connections. Clubs, friendships, and even business deals have all been brewed over coffee breaks. Not only are coffee stops a ritual, but cafés across the globe have also transformed into cycling hotspots. Equipped with repair stands, cycling memorabilia, and bike racks (like ours), they’re part pit stop, part community hub, and part cultural landmark.

The Fuel

And then there’s the science. Caffeine sharpens alertness, boosts stamina, and helps delay fatigue, making it a common natural ally for endurance athletes. It is known that pro riders knock back espressos before hitting the road to improve performance, and the tradition set decades ago continues on.

Next time you pull up for your mid-ride café stop, it’s worth remembering that you’re not just stopping for caffeine. You’re taking part in a tradition that’s been woven into cycling for generations–where performance meets ritual, and community is built over shared tables and a good cup of coffee. It’s these moments off the bike, as much as the journey on it, that give cycling its unique rhythm and culture.