What ViCafe does

ViCafe is a Swiss specialty coffee roastery and multi-channel coffee retailer operating under the legal entity ViCOLLECTIVE AG. Founded in 2010 in Eglisau by Christian Forrer and Kurt Lambert, the company operates from a headquarters, roastery, bakery, and Academy at the SBB Werkstatt Areal in Zurich Altstetten, anchored by a 35kg Loring S35 Kestrel roaster that reduces energy consumption by approximately 70% versus conventional roasters. Core operations include individual post-roast blending, Q-Grader-led quality control, and direct trade sourcing from 10+ coffee-producing countries including Colombia, Kenya, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Indonesia through partnerships such as Finca Los Nogales (10+ years), Sancoffee, and the Harries Family estates.

The company monetizes through five distinct revenue streams: direct-to-consumer e-commerce with subscription coffee deliveries (CHF 14.90–16.90/month), a network of 19 proprietary espresso bars across Zurich, Basel, Lausanne, and Eglisau using a window-concept take-away model, B2B office coffee solutions (machine provision, beans, training, and maintenance) with named enterprise customers including Swiss Re, Zurich Insurance, BCG, Swissquote, TX Group, and CSS Versicherung, retail wholesale distribution through 800+ Swiss supermarkets (Coop and Migros), and an Academy offering barista and latte art courses at the Zurich roastery (CHF 150–250). The product portfolio spans roasted whole beans and ground coffee, Nespresso-compatible home-compostable capsules (TÜV Austria certified), equipment, accessories, gift vouchers, and a recent premium SKU (Christoph's Selection) tied to the Swiss Roasting Champion 2026 title.

ViCafe is a privately held, bootstrapped company with no disclosed external funding. Leadership transitioned in 2023: Ramon Schalch became CEO, founder Christian Forrer became Chairman of the Board, and Pascal Herzog serves as COO & Impact. The company holds B Corp certification (2023) and operates the ViFOUNDATION (CHF 0.50/kg donated), the Gutsch oat milk cooperative, and a sister brand (Vivi Kola) under the ViCOLLECTIVE holding. Headcount is 101–250 employees, with no revenue, valuation, or external investor data disclosed.

Name

ViCafe

Legal name

ViCOLLECTIVE AG

Website

https://vicafe.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ViCafe is a Swiss specialty coffee roastery and multi-channel retailer operating 19 espresso bars, an e-commerce subscription business, B2B office coffee solutions, and 800+ supermarket distribution points across Switzerland, serving individual consumers, corporate offices, and retail buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Roasting

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Roasting & Grinding (AFAFADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA), Espresso Bars & Coffee Bars (THAFADAD), DTC Beverage Delivery (Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic) (AFAIANAK), Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roasting
• Espresso bar chain
• Office coffee service
• Coffee capsule production
• Barista training courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Coffee Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of roasted coffee beans through e-commerce, with flexible subscription options offering monthly/weekly deliveries. Also sells ground coffee, capsules, and equipment accessories
2. Espresso Bar Retail: 19 espresso bar locations serving specialty coffee drinks for on-the-go consumption, featuring the distinctive window concept focused on takeaway specialty coffee
3. Office Coffee Solutions: B2B service offering including machine provision, beans, installation, training, and maintenance for corporate workplaces. Includes bean-only and fully managed options
4. Retail Distribution: Wholesale distribution through over 800 supermarkets across Switzerland including Coop and Migros locations
5. Academy & Training: Barista courses and coffee workshops including Home Barista Course (CHF 250) and Latte Art Course (CHF 150), conducted at the Zurich roastery

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ViCafe sources green coffee directly from farmers in 10+ countries, roasts it at its Spreitenbach facility, and sells specialty coffee through branded espresso bars, an e-commerce and subscription channel, retail distribution at Coop and Migros, and a dedicated B2B office coffee service. The company also produces home-compostable coffee capsules and runs a barista training academy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Espresso Bars
• Specialty Coffee Subscriptions (House Blend / Coffee Discovery) Subscription-based delivery of ViCafe roasted coffee to consumers, with options including the House Blend and a Coffee Discovery rotation; targets individual home coffee drinkers.
• Christoph's Selection (single-origin coffee) Premium single-origin coffee range curated by Christoph Meier; targets specialty coffee enthusiasts seeking limited, award-curator-selected offerings.
• ViCAFE Capsules (home-compostable) Home-compostable coffee capsules compatible with consumer espresso machines, certified by TÜV Austria; targets consumers seeking capsule convenience with a sustainable disposal profile.
• ViCAFE at Work (Office Coffee Service) Outsourced workplace coffee solution providing ViCafe roasted coffee, machines, and service to Swiss businesses; targets office and corporate buyers seeking a full-service specialty coffee experience.
• Roastery Coffee (retail SKUs at Coop and Migros) Packaged roasted coffee beans and ground coffee bearing the ViCafe brand, sold via Coop and Migros retail locations across Switzerland; targets grocery shoppers and home consumers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19 espresso bars operating across Zurich, Basel, Lausanne, and Eglisau as of July 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ViFOUNDATIONcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Independent Swiss foundation supported by ViCAFE through CHF 0.50 donation per kilogram of coffee sold. Drives projects in composting, reforestation, financial inclusion, and farmer training to strengthen long-term resilience in coffee farming communities. ViCAFE provides financial support, donations, and pro bono work.
• Gutsch (Oat Milk Cooperative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss organic oat drink cooperative co-founded by ViCAFE with other Swiss coffee roasters. Created 'by baristas, for baristas.' Made with Swiss-grown organic oats, sunflower oil, red algae, and water. Designed to foam perfectly with espresso. Soyana produces and bottles locally in Schlieren.
• SancoffeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerB Corp-certified cooperative in Brazil's Campo das Vertentes region supporting small, sustainable family farms. ViCAFE sources coffee through this partnership, particularly supporting inspiring female coffee farmers through the Nascentes program.
• Harries Family (Chania & Oreti Estates)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect trade partnership with Boyce and Georgina Harries at historic Chania & Oreti Estates in Thika, Kenya. Grown under shade of Grevillea trees in volcanic soil. Source of Christoph's Selection champion's coffee.
• Finca Los Nogales (Oscar Hernández)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner10+ year partnership with third-generation farmer Oscar Hernández in Huila, Colombia. Personal friendship and regular visits since 2016. Joint projects including composting and organic farming. Source of exclusive microlots and specially developed coffee varieties.
• Vivi Kola (Sister Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister brand under ViCOLLECTIVE AG. Swiss cola brand revived in 2010 by Christian Forrer and Kurt Lambert. Available at ViCAFE espresso bars as non-coffee alternative.
• GaeaStarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation partnership for clay cup technology. 3D-printed clay cups made from local clay, water, and salt. Biodegradable alternative to paper cups with plastic lining. Currently priced at CHF 1.50.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Schwarzbach Kaffee: Swiss specialty coffee roaster serving wholesale and retail customers in Switzerland. Highly comparable to ViCAFE in geography, scale, and direct-trade positioning.
• Henauer Kaffee: Zurich-based specialty coffee roaster and café operator. Direct competitor to ViCAFE in Swiss specialty coffee with overlapping retail and wholesale channels.
• Rast Kaffee: Swiss specialty roaster with cafés and wholesale distribution. Comparable in business model (roast + cafés + retail) and Swiss market focus.
• Stoll Kaffee: Long-established Swiss coffee roaster serving retail and foodservice. Comparable on the roasting/manufacturing side and Swiss retail distribution.
• Kaffeekranz: Swiss specialty coffee micro-roaster with cafés and online subscriptions. Closely comparable in size, specialty positioning, and DTC subscription model.

Broad incumbents

• Nespresso (Nestlé): Swiss-headquartered global capsule giant. Direct competitor on ViCAFE's new Nespresso-compatible capsule line and broader Swiss premium coffee category.
• Starbucks: Global coffee chain with significant Zurich and Swiss presence. Comparable as a café-channel competitor for on-the-go specialty coffee occasions.
• Lavazza: Italian coffee roaster with retail and capsule lines. Comparable as a European specialty/roasted-coffee and capsule competitor across similar channels.
• Costa Coffee: UK-headquartered coffee chain with European presence. Comparable as a broad café incumbent competing for on-the-go specialty coffee occasions in European cities.

Regional players

• Belco: French specialty green coffee importer and roaster. Comparable on the specialty sourcing/roasting side, though focused on the French market rather than Switzerland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/vicafe
• Xx.com/baristaschweiz
• Facebookfacebook.com/vicafebaristaespressobar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vicafe-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 ViCafe