The Coffee Academics
The Coffee Academics is a Hong Kong-founded specialty coffee roaster and retailer operating 55+ stores across Asia Pacific, serving both consumer and corporate clients (hotels, airlines, F&B, clubhouses) with locally roasted beans, an e-commerce storefront, bean subscriptions, and SCA-certified coffee education.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersCauseway Bay, Hong Kong SAR China
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Coffee Academics does
The Coffee Academics is a vertically integrated specialty coffee roaster and retailer founded in 2012 by Jennifer W.F. Liu and headquartered in Hong Kong. The company operates more than 55 retail outlets across Hong Kong (18), Singapore (6), Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Macau, complemented by a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront selling signature blends, single-origin beans, drip bags, capsules, cold brew, tea (via The Tea Academics sub-brand), and home brewing equipment.
Core operations are anchored by a 10,000 square-foot roastery in Tuen Mun District, Hong Kong (4,000 sf production area) producing over 3,000kg of roasted beans per month. The facility is HACCP and FSSC22000 certified and is supported by Giesen W15A and Bullet R1 roasters, BWT water filtration, and quality control by certified Q-Graders. Beans are sourced from 50+ direct-trade farms, with 488 items verified free from contaminants by SGS International.
The business monetizes across eight streams: (1) in-store retail coffee beverage sales (transactional), (2) e-commerce bean and merchandise sales (USD 11-56 per SKU), (3) recurring bean subscriptions, (4) corporate coffee solutions including custom kiosks for hotels, F&B groups, airlines, and clubhouses, (5) public coffee workshops at HKD 6,600 per session, (6) SCA-certified professional training (Barista Skills HKD 2,500-6,500, Q-Grader HKD 25,000), (7) event and catering, and (8) the TCA+ tiered loyalty program (Bronze HKD 400 through Black HKD 6,000 with up to 15% discount). Subsidiary entities include the TCACONNECT charitable Foundation and the RoasteryLab training facility.
The Coffee Academics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Coffee Academics
- Legal name
- The Coffee Academics
- Website
- https://theacademicsgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Coffee Academics is a Hong Kong-founded specialty coffee roaster and retailer operating 55+ stores across Asia Pacific, serving both consumer and corporate clients (hotels, airlines, F&B, clubhouses) with locally roasted beans, an e-commerce storefront, bean subscriptions, and SCA-certified coffee education.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Coffee Academics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee Retail and Roasting
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA), Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG), Coffee, Tea & Cacao Experiences (Roastery Tours, Tastings) (THAJAGAH)
Keywords
Where The Coffee Academics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Causeway Bay
- HQ country
- Hong Kong SAR China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices5 records
Markets served
The Coffee Academics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail Coffee Sales: Physical retail stores serving specialty coffee beverages across 55+ outlets in Asia Pacific. Each store has distinct personality and different elite espresso machines.
- E-commerce Coffee & Merchandise: Online storefront selling coffee beans (200g/1kg), drip bags, capsules, cold brew canned drinks, tea, and coffee equipment. Prices range from $11-$56 USD.
- Coffee Beans Subscription: Recurring subscription service for coffee beans delivered to customers. Includes custom blend options with charity farm sourcing.
- Corporate Coffee Solutions: Comprehensive B2B coffee solutions including bean subscriptions, custom kiosks, equipment packages, corporate workshops, and gifting programs for hotels, F&B groups, clubhouses, and airlines.
- Coffee Workshops & Classes: Public workshops covering latte art, sensory & tasting, brewing skills, roasting, and ESG/upcycling. Fee HKD 6,600 per session (max 10 pax) plus HKD 380 per additional person.
- Professional Coffee Courses: SCA-certified professional courses including Barista Skills (Foundation HKD 2,500, Intermediate HKD 6,500), Sensory Skills, and Q Grader Program (HKD 25,000 for 6-day intensive).
- Event & Catering: Event and catering services for corporate events and private functions.
- TCA+ Loyalty Program: Tiered membership program (White, Bronze HKD 400, Silver HKD 800, Gold HKD 1,200, Black HKD 6,000) with Coïns earning (1 per HKD 40 spent) and up to 15% discount benefits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coffee Beans - Signature Blends |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Origin Coffee Beans |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Drip Bags |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tea Academics - Artisanal Tea Bags |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | SCA Coffee Skill Programme - Barista Skills |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | SCA Coffee Skill Programme - Sensory Skills |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Q Grader Programme |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | TCA Coffee Workshops |
| Subscription | Annual | TCA+ Rewards Membership Tiers |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
The Coffee Academics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Coffee Academics roasts and retails specialty-grade Arabica coffee through more than 55 cafes, its own e-commerce storefront, and bean subscriptions, supported by a HACCP- and FSSC22000-certified roastery in Hong Kong. It additionally delivers B2B corporate coffee solutions (kiosks, equipment, bean supply, workshops, gifting) and runs SCA-certified barista, sensory and Q-Grader training courses and public coffee workshops.
Product overview
The Coffee Academics is a specialty coffee retailer and roaster founded in 2012, operating a vertically integrated business combining retail coffee outlets, a certified roastery, and coffee education. The core product portfolio centers on specialty coffee beans (sold as Signature Blends, Single Origin, Capsules, Drip Bags, and Cold Brew) sourced from over 50 farms globally with Rainforest Alliance and Organic certification. Supporting product lines include The Tea Academics (artisanal tea sub-brand), coffee equipment and the proprietary Capsule Machine, gift cards, and corporate gifting. Beyond retail, the company offers total coffee solutions for businesses (Corporate Services), professional SCA-certified coffee education (Professional Coffee Course), public workshops (Coffee Workshops & Classes), event catering, and the TCA+ Rewards loyalty program. The company operates over 55 outlets across Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, with all beans roasted locally in Hong Kong.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Tea Academics: Artisanal tea product line including oolong, pu'erh, green, and specialty tea bags
- TCACONNECT Foundation
- TCA+ Rewards
- RoasteryLab
Products and services
- Signature Coffee Blends House-crafted blended coffee beans combining origins from multiple farms to deliver balanced, consistent flavor profiles, including TCA House Blend, Hong Kong Blend, TCA Decaf Blend and TCA Gala Blend. Roasted on demand in Hong Kong and intended for retail and home brewing.
- Single Origin Coffee Beans Premium single-origin specialty coffee beans sourced from specific farms and regions (Colombia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Yunnan China, Honduras, Ninety Plus Panama, Esmeralda Panama) in 200g packs, covering a range from $20 to $56 per 200g.
- Biodegradable Coffee Capsules Nespresso-compatible specialty coffee capsules filled with The Coffee Academics beans, with capsules and lids that are 100% biodegradable, sold via e-commerce for home and office brewing.
- Drip Bags Pre-packaged single-serve pour-over drip coffee filters containing ground specialty coffee in boxes of 5 (Brazil, Colombia, House Blend at $11) or 8 (TCA Gala Blend at $18) for convenient home or office brewing.
- Cold Brew Canned Series Ready-to-drink cold brew coffee packaged in cans, offering a convenient grab-and-go specialty coffee beverage for retail and on-the-go consumption.
- Coffee Beans Subscription Recurring subscription delivery service for The Coffee Academics coffee beans, allowing customers to select preferred blends with customizable frequency and charity farm sourcing options.
- The Tea Academics Artisanal Tea Bags Artisanal tea bag sub-brand under The Coffee Academics offering premium tea varieties including Phoenix Oolong, Yunnan Pu'erh, English Breakfast, Ginger Peach Green, Lychee Rose and Earl Grey Lavender at $9 per box of 12 packs.
- Coffee Equipment and Gear Coffee brewing equipment and accessories sold through the e-shop, including drippers, filters, milk pitchers, BWT water filtration systems, kettles and mugs & tumblers for home and professional coffee preparation.
- The Morning Mini Machine Bundle Bundle pack combining a compact coffee machine with accessories, sold through The Coffee Academics e-shop for convenient home coffee preparation.
- The Coffee Academics Capsule Machine Proprietary coffee capsule machine compatible with The Coffee Academics' 100% biodegradable Nespresso-compatible capsules, available for pre-order via the e-shop.
- Gift Cards and Vouchers Digital and physical gift vouchers sold to consumers and corporate clients, redeemable for The Coffee Academics products and cafe experiences.
- Corporate Gifting Customized corporate gifting solutions including branded merchandise, coffee gift sets and bespoke packaging for business clients.
- TCA Coffee Workshops and Classes Interactive public and corporate coffee workshops at HKD 6,600 per session (max 10 pax) plus HKD 380 per additional attendee, covering Latte Art, Sensory & Tasting, Brewing Skills, Roasting, ESG & Zero-Waste Mixology and Food Pairing for 60-90 minute sessions.
- Professional SCA Coffee Courses SCA-certified professional coffee education including Barista Skills (Foundation HKD 2,500/Intermediate HKD 6,500), Sensory Skills (Foundation HKD 2,500/Intermediate HKD 6,500) and Q Grader Programme (HKD 25,000 for six-day intensive), awarding credits toward the SCA Diploma.
- Corporate Coffee Solutions End-to-end corporate coffee solutions for hotels, F&B groups, clubhouses, airlines and corporate offices, covering bean subscription supply, equipment packages, custom kiosk installations, corporate workshops and bespoke gifting programs.
- Event and Catering Services Specialty coffee catering and event services for corporate events, weddings and private functions, including mobile coffee truck, barista service and customizable event packages.
- Gourmet Food Products Specialty gourmet food and beverage products sold through The Coffee Academics e-commerce platform to complement the core coffee range.
Quantifiable outcome
- House Blend scored 92 points and JWF Blend scored 93 points, ranked 3rd globally
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Coffee Academics
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Coffee Academics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Coffee Academics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Capricornio CoffeescoreStrategic partnership with Capricornio Coffees in Brazil ensuring all coffee bean farms comply with international ecological, social, and economic standards. Supports social programs including 'Farm of Hope' rehabilitation program and 'Women in Coffee' empowerment initiative.
- Rainforest AlliancecoreCertification partnership ensuring beans are sourced from farms meeting Rainforest Alliance standards for biodiversity conservation and sustainability of livelihoods.
- BWT (Best Water Technology)coreGerman water filtering company (100+ years old) providing filtration systems to optimize mineral content of water used for brewing coffee, ensuring consistent quality.
- QIMA Coffee / Alliance for Coffee ExcellenceminorAcquired Yemen Auction Lot at Alliance for Coffee Excellence 'Private Collection Auction' supporting direct trade and quality sourcing.
- Hong Kong Adventist Hospital FoundationminorCharitable partnership for ESG initiatives and community outreach programs.
- Foodlink FoundationminorPartnership with food bank organization for food waste reduction and charitable initiatives.
- NespressocoreCompatible capsule product development. The Coffee Academics produces 100% biodegradable Nespresso-compatible capsules including the lid.
- Specialty Coffee Association (SCA)coreAuthorized training partner for SCA's globally recognized, research-based certifications including Coffee Skill Programme and Q Grader certification.
- Giant Tie DyeminorCo-organized Coffee Tie Dye workshop using house blend coffee grounds for sustainable upcycling.
- BeCandleminorCollaboration with local candle company to create artisan soy candle made from recycled coffee grounds of the exclusive Esmeralda 601 Geisha (Best of Panama 2017 winner).
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Coffee Academics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- % Arabica: Japan-founded specialty coffee brand rapidly expanding across Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Bangkok) with single-origin focus, minimalist cafe design, and premium positioning directly mirroring TCA's specialty positioning.
- Intelligentsia Coffee: US third-wave specialty coffee roaster (Peet's-owned) known for direct trade, transparency, and barista training programs — directly comparable to TCA on sourcing philosophy, education focus, and specialty retail model.
- Blue Bottle Coffee: US-origin third-wave specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator (Nestlé-owned) with growing Asia presence in Japan, Hong Kong, and Seoul; competes in the same premium roasted-coffee-and-cafe category with vertically integrated roasting.
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters: US third-wave specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator (owned by Peet's Coffee/LVMH) with vertically integrated roasting, retail cafes, and direct-trade sourcing; structurally similar to TCA's roastery-plus-cafe model.
- Pacific Coffee Company: Hong Kong-based specialty coffee chain with deep Hong Kong presence and regional expansion; the most direct in-market competitor to The Coffee Academics across retail and B2B channels in HK.
Regional players
- Luckin Coffee: Mass-market tech-driven coffee chain dominant in mainland China with rapid store expansion; not a specialty peer, but the most aggressive regional coffee operator whose pricing and scale set the competitive backdrop across Asian coffee retail.
- Tim Hortons China (Tims China): Canadian coffee brand operated as a China-focused entity expanding across mainland China and Hong Kong; a capitalised regional player targeting the same Asian specialty-mass crossover consumer that TCA also serves.
Broad incumbents
- Costa Coffee: UK-origin broad coffee chain (Coca-Cola owned until 2019, sold to Coca-Cola bottler) with significant Asia franchise presence; competes in the cafe retail and B2B coffee solutions markets where TCA operates.
- Starbucks: Global coffee incumbent operating thousands of stores across Asia Pacific including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand; Starbucks Reserve represents their premium specialty play that overlaps with TCA's positioning.
Others
- Nespresso (Nestlé): Global single-serve coffee capsule brand; relevant because TCA launched Nespresso-compatible 100% biodegradable capsules and its own proprietary capsule machine, directly positioning against Nespresso in the at-home premium segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Coffee Academics social profiles
Digital presenceThe Coffee Academics compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
The Coffee Academics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Coffee Academics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Coffee Academics subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Coffee Academics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Coffee Academics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Coffee Academics
What does The Coffee Academics do?
The Coffee Academics roasts and retails specialty-grade Arabica coffee through more than 55 cafes, its own e-commerce storefront, and bean subscriptions, supported by a HACCP- and FSSC22000-certified roastery in Hong Kong. It additionally delivers B2B corporate coffee solutions (kiosks, equipment, bean supply, workshops, gifting) and runs SCA-certified barista, sensory and Q-Grader training courses and public coffee workshops.
Is The Coffee Academics a public or private company?
The Coffee Academics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Coffee Academics founded?
The Coffee Academics was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Coffee Academics based?
The Coffee Academics is headquartered in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong SAR China, in the Asia region.
How does The Coffee Academics make money?
Eight revenue lines are on record. Retail Coffee Sales are the primary driver. The others are E-commerce Coffee & Merchandise, coffee Beans Subscription, corporate Coffee Solutions, coffee Workshops & Classes, professional Coffee Courses, event & Catering and TCA+ Loyalty Program.
Who are The Coffee Academics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are % Arabica, Intelligentsia Coffee, Blue Bottle Coffee, Stumptown Coffee Roasters and Pacific Coffee Company. Regional players are Luckin Coffee and Tim Hortons China (Tims China). Broad incumbents are Costa Coffee and Starbucks. Nespresso (Nestlé) is listed as an others.
Does The Coffee Academics have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Coffee Academics.
What industry is The Coffee Academics in?
The Coffee Academics's product category is Specialty Coffee Retail and Roasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFADAE, Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes), with a secondary code of THAFADAA, Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave). Its NAICS code is 311920 and its SIC code is 5810.