In light of yesterday’s International Coffee Day, now is the perfect moment to explore the dynamic world of innovative coffee startups across Europe.
Coffee isn’t just a vast market; it’s a realm that’s constantly reinventing itself. With around two billion cups consumed globally every day, there are boundless opportunities for fresh and pioneering ideas. Think personalization, sustainability, or the infusion of rare ingredients.
Why not celebrate this occasion by exploring the coffee startup scene? We have decided to take a closer look at Europe’s coffee innovators and have selected 10 promising startups in this field that we believe are worth your attention.
Good News Coffee: Headquartered in Barcelona, GoodNews extends far beyond just good coffee. They are a youthful community of brand enthusiasts with a noble mission, an innovative and healthy product, a passion for sharing, and a zest for life with a smile. They can’t guarantee how your day begins, but they can certainly transform it into a “Good Day!” Established in 2020 they have secured over €15.5 million in funding to date.
Incapto Coffee: Listed on the 10 Spanish FoodTech startups to watch in 2023 Incapto has two primary objectives: to make high-quality coffee accessible to everyone in a straightforward manner and to remove capsules and unnecessary waste from the equation. They locally roast fresh coffee and collaborate with small-scale coffee growers to provide a more environmentally friendly and socially responsible whole-bean coffee experience. Headquartered in Barcelona, Incapto Coffee offers both automatic coffee machine sales and a coffee bean subscription system successfully raising a total of €11.5 million.
Wakuli: Established in 2019, Wakuli dispatch their coffee, conveniently fit for your mailbox, within a week of roasting. Moreover, they ensure fair compensation for farmers, thanks to their customers. In a world where consumers often pay excessive amounts for low-quality coffee, Wakuli prioritizes selling not only the finest-tasting coffee but also ensuring equitable pay for farmers. Their beans are fully traceable to the specific farms they originate from, and they are swiftly delivered to your doorstep shortly after roasting to preserve their freshness. Wakuli is a driven startup with a profound and simple mission: eradicating Bad Coffee. Headquartered in Den Haag, they have secured a total of €2.3 million in funding.
All Cup: Dedicated to the development of a unique coating that imparts heat and water resistance to various products. All Cup’s innovative work includes the creation of an edible coffee mug using a waffle-like material. Their vision is to replace all plastic coatings with a groundbreaking alternative. They have successfully formulated a coating that renders products resistant to both heat and water. Their inaugural application of this technology is the transformation of an ice cream wafer into an edible coffee cup. Established in 2022 and headquartered in Münster, the company has secured a total of €450K in funding to support their innovative endeavours
Amatera: Based in Paris, Amatera stands at the forefront of biotechnology research. Established in 2022, their paramount mission revolves around harnessing advanced biotechnological techniques to cultivate the coffee strains of tomorrow. With our current consumption reaching a staggering trillion cups of coffee each year—a figure anticipated to triple by 2050—and climate change threatening to shrink viable coffee-growing regions by as much as 50%, the urgency cannot be overstated. In response to these challenges, Amatera is fervently committed to developing both sustainable and climate-adaptable coffee varieties. Their overarching dedication is to ensure the sustained viability of coffee production amidst escalating global temperatures.
Coffeefrom: Established in 2021 and based in Campania, Italy, stands out as a pioneering social startup. With a steadfast commitment to the principles of extended producer responsibility, they have honed in on an innovative approach: repurposing coffee waste from the food industry into versatile materials, notably thermoplastics, for cutting-edge design applications. Their diverse team marries expertise from the environmental, social, design, and industrial sectors. In doing so, they champion an industrial symbiosis with a resounding social impact, notably by integrating marginalized individuals into logistics and fostering collaborations with socially conscious businesses and initiatives.
Syra Coffee: Based in Barcelona, was established in 2015. It began as a small, hole-in-the-wall coffee shop with a simple mission: to make excellent coffee a daily habit for everyone. Their approach has always been straightforward, focusing solely on serving exceptional coffee to go. They view coffee not just as a commodity, but as an experience, recognizing the profound impact that the first sip of a well-crafted cup can have on one’s day. Dedicated to sharing this joy, they consistently deliver top-notch coffee, whether it’s enjoyed in their shops or brewed at home.
Northern Wonder: Established in 2021 and based in Ede, Netherlands, Northern Wonder is committed to addressing the environmental implications of coffee production, especially its ties to deforestation. Their innovative strategy focuses on creating coffee substitutes without relying on traditional beans, choosing instead to use local non-tropical ingredients. In collaboration with institutions like Wageningen University & Research, they are identifying potential molecules in edible non-tropical plants that can replicate the genuine coffee flavour. Their efforts are geared not just towards maintaining the beloved coffee experience, but also reducing its environmental footprint. Recognized as one of the 10 most promising European bevtech startups in 2022, they have successfully secured €1 million in funding.
Kaffe Bueno: Based in Soborg and established in 2016, Kaffe Bueno has embarked on an inspiring mission. The startup harnesses green chemistry and biotechnology to transform coffee’s post-consumption by-products into valuable ingredients for cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and functional foods. They aspire to uncover the hidden health benefits of coffee while simultaneously reducing environmental impact and optimizing the use of coffee by-products. By doing so, Kaffe Bueno seeks to redefine coffee not just as a beverage but as a powerful contributor to human health. To bolster their innovative endeavours, the company has raised €3.6 million in funding.
Recycap: Based in Valencia and founded in 2022, this company is at the forefront of developing and commercialising innovative automated solutions for recycling coffee capsules. They’ve designed a patented platform that efficiently extracts coffee grounds from capsules, thus facilitating the recycling of aluminium capsules. To bolster their trailblazing endeavours, the company has secured a total of €555K
By the way: If you’re a corporate or investor looking for exciting startups in a specific market for a potential investment or acquisition, check out our Startup Sourcing Service!
