What Cafe Kimbo does

Cafe Kimbo is an Italian coffee manufacturer founded in 1963 by the Rubino brothers, with a Spanish distribution subsidiary operating under the Espresso Italiano brand from Sallent De Llobregat and offices in Sant Boi de Llobregat (Barcelona) and Alcorcón (Madrid). The company has maintained the #2 position in the Italian packaged coffee market since 1994, producing traditional Neapolitan-style roasts (160-250°C, 8-12 minute process) using Arabica/Robusta blend formulations sourced from Central and South America, India, and Africa. Its product portfolio spans whole beans, ground coffee, proprietary Kimbo capsules, Nespresso-compatible capsules (5.8g per capsule, among the highest doses in the compatible segment), and the Cápsula Uno proprietary system (7g per capsule, co-developed with Indesit at 20-bar pressure). The company also operates the Unika Café sub-brand for alternative beverages (barley coffee, ginseng coffee, matcha) and offers barista training programs.

Cafe Kimbo's business model centers on multi-channel coffee distribution with revenue generated from B2B sales to foodservice operators (bars, restaurants, offices, travel retail), B2C sales via the Mammafiore online storefront, and bundled coffee-plus-equipment solutions through technology partnerships. Customer segments include professional bars/cafés (Prestige, Extra Cream, Gran Gourmet lines), offices and corporates (compatible capsules, E.S.E. pods, monodose), home consumers (Antiga Tradición, Aroma Intenso, Espresso Napolitano, Oro 100% Arabica), and alternative-beverage consumers (Unika Café). Named enterprise clients include HMS Host, Jamie Oliver restaurants, and Autogrill, complemented by a long tail of 1500+ Spanish clients across the HORECA channel.

The company's go-to-market combines product-led differentiation (high-dose capsules, Neapolitan heritage, Bio Organic and Fairtrade certifications), channel partnerships (Mammafiore for distribution, Iberital and Indesit for equipment), and event-driven marketing (Alimentaria Barcelona, Salon de Gourmets Madrid). Marketing is supported by Spanish-language content (blog, Facebook, Instagram), free barista training, and trade show participation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the company operates on unit pricing for beans, capsules, and pods. Ownership remains concentrated with the founding Rubino family, with no disclosed institutional investment or public listing.

Name

Cafe Kimbo

Legal name

Cafe Kimbo

Website

https://espressoitaliano.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cafe Kimbo is an Italian coffee manufacturer founded in 1963 by the Rubino brothers, producing traditional Neapolitan roasts and capsule systems (Nespresso-compatible and proprietary Cápsula Uno) for B2B foodservice and B2C retail, with a Spanish distribution subsidiary serving 1500+ clients including HMS Host, Autogrill, and Jamie Oliver restaurants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sallent De Llobregat

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Coffee Product Sales: Manufacturing and distribution of Italian coffee products including whole beans, ground coffee, capsules (compatible and proprietary), and specialty beverages. B2B sales to foodservice (bars, restaurants, offices) and B2C through distributors and online.
2. Alternative Beverages: Distribution of alternative coffee beverages including barley coffee, ginseng coffee, teas, and infusions through the Unika Café line. Targets consumers seeking caffeine-free or functional beverage options.
3. Barista Training Services: Training services provided to baristas and café staff, teaching Italian espresso preparation techniques, menu development for coffee shops, and equipment usage. Part of B2B partnership development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cafe Kimbo is an Italian coffee manufacturer that produces and distributes premium espresso-style coffee across whole bean, ground, capsule (Nespresso-compatible and proprietary Cápsula Uno), ESE pod, tea/infusion, and alternative-beverage formats. The company sells these products B2B to Spanish bars, restaurants, hospitality operators, and offices via direct sales and distributor partnerships, and B2C to home consumers through the Mammafiore online store. Services include professional barista training and café menu-development support.

Product overview

Cafe Kimbo is an Italian coffee company founded in 1963 by the Rubino brothers, manufacturing and distributing high-quality Italian coffee. The product portfolio centers on whole bean and ground coffee products (Antiga Tradición, Aroma Intenso, Espresso Napolitano, Oro 100% Arabica, Bio Orgánica), complemented by multiple capsule systems including proprietary Kimbo capsules, Nespresso-compatible capsules (Intenso, Napoli, Armonia 100% Arabica, Bio Organic), and the Cápsula Uno system. The company also offers the Unika Café sub-brand featuring alternative beverages (barley coffee, ginseng coffee, matcha), along with a range of teas and infusions (Earl Grey, chamomile, mint, green teas). Services include barista training programs. Kimbo holds second place in the Italian packaged coffee market since 1994.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Unika Café: Natural alternatives to coffee including barley coffee, ginseng coffee, and matcha products from artisan producers.

Products and services

• Kimbo Espresso Coffee Blends (Home) A home-consumer ("En casa") portfolio of Italian espresso blends spanning whole bean and ground formats, including Antiga Tradición, Aroma Intenso, Espresso Napolitano, Oro 100% Arabica, Bio Orgánica Fairtrade, and Descafeinado, designed for individual consumers seeking authentic Neapolitan-roasted Italian coffee at home.
• Kimbo Professional Bar Blends A professional foodservice ("En el Bar") portfolio of bulk Italian espresso blends targeted at bars, cafés, and restaurants, including Extra Cream, Prestige, Unique, and Gran Gourmet, offered in larger 1000g–3000g grain packs to support high-volume service.
• Kimbo Nespresso-Compatible Capsules Nespresso-compatible capsule range for home and office use with 5.8g of ground coffee per capsule—one of the highest doses in the compatible-capsule market—including Intenso, Napoli, Armonia 100% Arabica, and Bio Organic varieties.
• Cápsula Uno System Proprietary Kimbo capsule system using 7g of ground coffee per capsule (higher than typical 5g compatible capsules), paired with an Indesit-designed Uno machine delivering 20 bar pressure and a 50-second first cup; includes Napoli, Sublime, Decaffeinated, and Dolce varieties for office and home consumers.
• Kimbo Proprietary Capsules (Office) Proprietary Kimbo capsules for corporate office use, including Espresso 100% Arabica, Espresso Napoletano, and Espresso Decaffeinated, supplied in 50x2 box format designed for workplace capsule machines.
• Monodosis ESE (Cialde) Pods E.S.E. (Easy Serving Espresso) pods in 200-count boxes for office coffee machines, including Espresso 100% Arabica and Espresso Decaffeinated variants.
• Tés y Infusiones (Teas and Infusions) Range of teas and infusions including Earl Grey, Apple Raspberry, Chamomile, Mint, Pakistani Tea, Red Body of Desire, Jasmine Green Tea, and Ginger Lemon Green Tea, sold as part of the Kimbo at-home portfolio for non-coffee hot beverages.
• Unika Café Alternative Beverages Sub-brand of alternative coffee and tea beverages, including organic barley coffee (caffè d'orzo, EU IT BIO 007 certified), ginseng coffee blend (12–20% Arabica with magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron), and vegan matcha (Japanese matcha with coconut milk, L-theanine, catechins), targeting caffeine-sensitive, functional-beverage, and natural-product consumers.
• Barista Training Services Professional barista training programs for café staff and hospitality partners covering hands-on espresso, cappuccino, and latte preparation, plus café menu planning assistance, offered as a B2B value-add to support partner success.

Quantifiable outcome

• Highest coffee dose in compatible capsule segment at 5.8g per capsule
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IberitalcoreTechnology or Integration · 5 December 2018Iberital manufactures professional espresso machines in Barcelona, operating for 40 years. Collaboration to offer complete coffee solutions combining Kimbo Italian coffee with New Iberital espresso machines. Iberital machines feature advanced technology with programmable doses, temperature control, and 20-bar pressure for optimal espresso extraction.
• MammafiorecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMammafiore is a leading distributor of authentic Italian food products ('Made in Italy'). Kimbo maintains ongoing collaboration with Mammafiore for distribution of Italian coffee through their online store. The partnership aims to cover all sales needs by providing quality Italian products to Spanish consumers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pellini: Italian packaged coffee and capsule producer with similar mid-tier positioning to Kimbo; competes in retail espresso, compatible capsules, and foodservice blends.
• Illy: Premium Italian coffee company with comparable espresso heritage, capsule systems (Iperespresso), and foodservice presence; competes with Kimbo in HORECA and premium retail.
• Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group: Large Italian coffee group owning brands such as Boncafé and Brunetti; competes with Kimbo in packaged coffee and HORECA across multiple international markets.
• Hausbrandt: Trieste-based Italian coffee company with comparable traditional roasting heritage, foodservice distribution, and capsule offerings; competes in similar HORECA and retail channels.
• Caffè Borbone: Italian coffee company that scaled rapidly via Nespresso-compatible capsules; a close comparable in capsule dose strategy and Italian packaged coffee market positioning.
• Lavazza: Italy's largest coffee roaster and Kimbo's primary domestic competitor; both compete in packaged Italian coffee, Nespresso-compatible capsules, and HORECA supply across Europe.
• Segafredo Zanetti: Italian coffee roaster with strong HORECA and global foodservice distribution; directly comparable to Kimbo's B2B bar and restaurant channel focus.

Broad incumbents

• Nespresso: Capsule system owner and the platform on which Kimbo's compatible capsule business is built; defines the category standards and competitive dynamics Kimbo must navigate.
• Bialetti: Iconic Italian coffee brand with overlapping packaged coffee, moka, and capsule offerings; broader household goods portfolio but comparable Italian heritage and retail presence.
• JDE Peet's (L'OR / Jacobs Douwe Egberts): Global coffee major with L'OR espresso capsules and comparable compatible capsule ranges; competes with Kimbo on retail shelf and foodservice across European markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Kimbo.iberica
• Instagraminstagram.com/kimbo_es
• Xx.com/cafe_kimbo

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Cafe Kimbo