What Coffee Circle does

Coffee Circle is a Berlin-based specialty coffee roaster and direct-to-consumer brand founded in 2010 by Martin Elwert and operated as Circle Products GmbH. The company roasts coffee weekly at its Berlin roastery and sells single-origin and blended specialty coffees — including named origins such as Limu (Ethiopia), Rungeto (Kenya), Enjori (Ethiopia), Karibu, Buna Dimaa, and the 2025-launched Espresso Francisco Lopez (Guatemala) — alongside Nespresso-compatible compostable capsules, trial sets, and a curated accessory catalog featuring Timemore, Wacaco, Rhinowares and other third-party brands.

The business model is e-commerce-first D2C with a subscription tier (Kaffeeabo) offering a 10% discount and flexible delivery cadence, complemented by a B2B channel serving offices, gastronomy (restaurants and cafés), and retailers, plus company-operated physical cafés in Berlin. A separate product line is co-developed with Siemens for EQ fully automatic machines. Distribution runs on a Shopify storefront with climate-neutral DHL shipping, primarily within the DACH region.

The company's differentiation rests on a direct-trade model combined with a non-profit foundation (Coffee Circle Foundation e.V.) that reinvests €1 per kilogram sold into education, health, and sustainability projects in coffee-growing communities — over €5M cumulative across 15 years and more than one million people reached, per company disclosure. Coffee Circle has been a Certified B Corporation since 2016 (originally 112/200 points), a four-time 'Best for the World: Community' honoree, and has received the SCA Sustainability Award in both 2022 and 2026, plus the German Coffee Association's 'Röster des Jahres 2024.' Headcount is 51–100; the company is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding of venture scale and no reported M&A or exit activity.

Name

Coffee Circle

Legal name

Circle Products GmbH

Website

https://coffeecircle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Berlin-based specialty coffee roaster and D2C brand (Circle Products GmbH, est. 2010) selling single-origin and blended coffees, compostable capsules, accessories, and subscription coffee via coffeecircle.com and B2B channels, primarily in the DACH region, with a direct-trade model reinvesting €1/kg into farming communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Single-Serve Coffee (Pods, Capsules) (CRADAHAH), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI), Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roasting
• Direct trade coffee
• Coffee subscription service
• Compostable coffee capsules
• Specialty coffee beans

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Coffee Product Sales: Sale of specialty coffee beans including single origins and blends across various roast levels. Products sold in whole bean and ground formats, as well as capsules. Revenue generated from one-time purchases and subscription orders.
2. Coffee Subscription: Recurring subscription model offering 10% savings on regular coffee deliveries. Customers can customize their subscriptions including frequency and coffee selection.
3. Gift Subscriptions: Gift subscription options allowing customers to give coffee subscriptions as presents with surprise selections.
4. Coffee Accessories: Sale of coffee equipment and accessories including grinders, espresso machines, filters, scales, mugs, and cleaning products from third-party brands as well as Coffee Circle branded items.
5. B2B Sales: Business-to-business offerings including office coffee solutions, gastronomy supply, and retailer partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Coffee Circle roasts and sells specialty coffee directly to consumers and businesses from their Berlin roastery. Their core offering includes single-origin and blend coffee beans, compostable Nespresso-compatible capsules, a recurring subscription service (Kaffeeabo) with 10% savings, trial sets, and B2B coffee programs for offices, gastronomy, and retailers. The company operates a direct-trade model that reinvests €1 per kilogram sold through the Coffee Circle Foundation into coffee-growing communities.

Product overview

Coffee Circle is a Berlin-based specialty coffee company operating a direct-trade model. The product portfolio centers on premium roasted coffee beans sold through their e-commerce platform, available in single-origin varieties (Limu, Yirgacheffe, Daterra, Enjori, Rungeto, Java, San Jose, Iloma from origins including Ethiopia, Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, Guatemala, Tanzania, Indonesia, Bolivia, and Congo) and signature blends (Buna Dimaa, Karibu, Toleyo, Yirga Santos, Grano Gayo, Tiga Terra). The offering extends to Nespresso®-compatible compostable coffee capsules (Yirga Santos, Grano Gayo, Limu, Decaf varieties), a coffee subscription service (Kaffeeabo) with 10% subscriber discount, trial/sample sets for exploring varieties, and Siemens EQ coffee collaborations for automatic machines. Coffee Circle also sells complementary accessories including Timemore grinders and scales, Wacaco portable espresso makers, Rhinowares milk pitchers, barista tools (tampers, cleaning sets), and specialty food products like handmade coffee chocolates. B2B services cover office, gastronomy, and retail segments. A €1 per kg sold is reinvested through the Coffee Circle Foundation into coffee-growing communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Espresso Francisco Lopez Single-origin espresso from Guatemala, washed processing, medium roast, with flavor notes of cream, almond, and chocolate. Sourced from farms at 1,550m altitude in the Huehuetenango region and named after farmer Francisco Lopez. Available in 250g whole bean format at €14.90 (€59.60/kg).
• Limu Coffee Single-origin filter coffee from the Limu highlands in southwestern Ethiopia. Bio-certified, washed processing, medium roast with balanced flavor notes of grape and dark chocolate. One of the first coffees imported by Coffee Circle, sourced from the Kenissa Cooperative.
• Karibu Coffee Signature blend combining coffees from Ethiopia, Brazil, and Kenya. Medium roast with chocolate and cinnamon notes and low acidity. 100% Arabica. Sourced from the Rungeto Cooperative (850+ farmers, three washing stations including Kii Factory, ~1,750m altitude).
• Enjori Coffee Single-origin natural-processed coffee from the West Arsi and Sidamo regions of Ethiopia. Light roast with fruity-floral flavors of raspberry and milk chocolate. Grown at 2,100m altitude.
• Coffee Capsules (Nespresso Compatible) Compostable coffee capsules compatible with Nespresso machines. Available in Yirga Santos, Grano Gayo, Limu, and Decaf varieties. Made from 100% natural, renewable materials and fully compostable including home composting. Priced at €5.90 per 10-capsule pack (€103.51/kg); multipacks of 5 packs at €28.00 (€98.25/kg).
• Coffee Subscription (Kaffeeabo) Recurring coffee subscription service delivering freshly roasted specialty coffee on a flexible schedule. Subscribers save 10% on all orders and can customize delivery frequency and coffee selection through their account.
• Gift Subscription (Geschenkabo) Gift coffee subscription service that allows customers to give the gift of specialty coffee, with surprise coffee selections delivered regularly to the recipient.
• Trial Sets (Probiersets) Curated coffee sampling sets including Espresso Trial Set, Filter Coffee Trial Set, Automatic Coffee Trial Set, and combinations. Allow customers to explore different varieties before committing to full bags.
• Siemens EQ Coffee Collaboration Coffee varieties specifically developed in collaboration with Siemens for EQ fully automatic coffee machines. Includes EQ ESPRESSO 75, EQ ESPRESSO 60, and EQ CAFE CREMA 100 blends optimized for automatic brewing results.
• Barista Essential Set Bundled barista accessory set including rosewood tamper (58mm), tamping mat, knock box, microfiber cleaning cloth, and espresso guide, packaged in a gift box.
• Espresso Machine Cleaning Set Complete cleaning kit for espresso machines including two Coffee Circle cleaning cloths, an olive wood cleaning brush, and 900g of Urnex Cafiza cleaner, packaged in a gift box.
• Wacaco Portable Espresso Makers Portable espresso preparation devices from Wacaco, including Pixapresso, Picopresso, and Nanopresso. Battery-free handheld espresso makers for coffee on the go.
• Timemore Coffee Accessories Timemore branded coffee accessories including hand grinders (Chestnut C5 Pro, Chestnut S3), coffee scales (Black Mirror Basic 2, Black Mirror Mini, Mirror Basic 3), and related accessories.
• Rhinowares Barista Accessories Rhinowares milk pitchers and barista accessories, including 360ml and 600ml stainless steel milk pitchers and barista towel sets.
• Coffee Chocolate Handmade chocolate bars made in Berlin by Rosa Canina using Coffee Circle Karibu coffee and cocoa from Tanzania. Available in Coffee Crunch (60% cocoa), Dark Chocolate (75% cocoa), and Cappuccino Swirl (65% cocoa) varieties. Vegan.
• AeroPress Hand Coffee Grinder AeroPress hand coffee grinder distributed through Coffee Circle's accessories catalog, marketed for home brewing use alongside AeroPress brewers.
• Cold Brew Coffee Set Cold brew coffee set featuring Rungeto Cold Brew coffee, packaged for at-home cold brew preparation.
• B2B Coffee Services Business coffee solutions including office coffee supply, gastronomy packages for restaurants and cafes, and retailer offerings. Includes consultation and ongoing service relationships for commercial specialty coffee supply.

Quantifiable outcome

• €5 million+ invested in coffee-growing regions over 15 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Welthungerhilfe (German Hunger Relief)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2022Long-term partnership with Welthungerhilfe on biodiversity projects in Ethiopia's Jimma Zone. Projects include clean drinking water access, sanitation facilities, hygiene training, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture. The partnership has been instrumental in implementing Coffee Circle's foundation work in coffee-growing communities.
• HUNDEEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NGO partner in Ethiopia working alongside Coffee Circle and Welthungerhilfe on community development projects in coffee-growing regions.
• COQUAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership mentioned in context of Ethiopia projects as part of the collaborative approach to sustainable coffee production.
• SiemenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Siemens on EQ coffee products - specialty coffee specifically calibrated for Siemens EQ fully automatic coffee machines. Joint product development for optimized brewing results.
• Kenissa CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner15-year partnership with the Kenissa Cooperative in Limu, Ethiopia. Coffee Circle sources their flagship Limu coffee and invests in cooperative projects including washing stations and quality training.
• Rungeto CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Rungeto Cooperative in Kenya, comprising over 850 farmers. Sources include Karibu blend components, operating at around 1,750m altitude with three washing stations including Kii Factory.
• APAS Cooperative (Brazil)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2018 with APAS Cooperative in São Gonçalo do Sapucaí, Minas Gerais, Brazil. 67-71 farmers producing specialty coffee at 1,150m altitude with varieties including Yellow Bourbon and Yellow Catuai.
• B LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerB Lab is the nonprofit organization behind B Corp certification. Coffee Circle achieved certification in May 2016 and maintains it through ongoing impact assessments, currently holding 97 points (down from initial 112).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Barn Coffee Roasters: Berlin-based third-wave specialty coffee roaster with own cafes, DTC e-commerce, and B2B supply. Closest comparable by geography, roasting model, cafe-plus-DTC mix, and sustainability positioning.
• Bonanza Coffee Roasters: Berlin specialty roaster operating cafes and direct-trade single-origin offerings. Highly comparable in business model, origin relationships, and Berlin DTC/café dual-channel approach.
• Coffee Fellows: German specialty coffee chain combining cafes with own roasting and a strong DACH footprint. Comparable as a German roaster-cafe operator with retail-style customer experience.
• Andrae Kaffee: German specialty roaster with B2B foodservice and DTC offering, focused on single-origin and direct-trade. Comparable in DACH roasting, B2B supply, and ethical sourcing positioning.
• Five Elephant Coffee Roasters: Berlin specialty roaster with own cafes, direct-trade sourcing, and DTC e-commerce. Closely comparable Berlin DTC-plus-cafe model with similar single-origin focus.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: US-based third-wave specialty roaster (now owned by Lavazza/Peet's) operating cafes, wholesale, and DTC with direct-trade emphasis. Comparable model: roasting-plus-cafe-plus-DTC-plus-B2B with strong brand.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: US specialty coffee brand (Nestlé-owned) with cafes, DTC subscriptions, and grocery retail. Comparable omni-channel specialty model and subscription mechanic; relevant as a benchmark for scaled D2C specialty coffee.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: US specialty roaster with cafes, wholesale, DTC, and ready-to-drink coffee. Comparable in DTC, cafe, B2B, and direct-trade sourcing; useful benchmark for category extension (e.g., RTD).

Broad incumbents

• Dallmayr: Long-established German coffee and food brand with roasting, retail, foodservice distribution, and cafe-style Delicatessen. Comparable in DACH coffee retail and B2B foodservice presence at a much larger scale.
• Tchibo: One of Germany's largest coffee roasters and retailers, with omni-channel sales (retail, online, B2B). Comparable in DACH coffee retail scale and B2B reach, though a mass-market rather than specialty-only operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/coffee_circle
• Facebookfacebook.com/coffeecircle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1174460

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coffee Circle