EL CAFE

What EL CAFE does

El Café is a privately held French distributor of professional equipment serving the CHR (Café, Hôtel, Restaurant) sector. Operating from a primary market in France with delivery and after-sales coverage extending to Belgium and the broader European Union, the company sells through its e-commerce storefront at elcafe.fr alongside an expert B2B advisory sales motion. The company's claimed 35+ years of sector expertise (founded around 2012 based on the most consistent 13+ years of e-commerce operations reference) is supported by long-tenured distribution partnerships with premium CHR suppliers including Lavazza, Necta, Saeco, Gaggia, DeLonghi, CASSELIN, Bartscher, Zumex, Blendtec, Granita, and Ripple Maker.

The company does not develop proprietary technology; instead, it curates and resells third-party branded equipment across five primary categories: professional espresso machines (grain, capsule, automatic, and traditional models), bar and juice equipment, Granita and Bubble Tea machines with consumables, Ripple Maker beverage personalization printers with proprietary pods and a mobile companion app, and a comprehensive CASSELIN/Bartscher kitchen line spanning refrigeration, cooking, warewashing, and food preparation. Pricing is unit-based and displayed ex-tax (HT), with 3x/4x installment options via PayPal/Oney, a 5% first-order discount, and free delivery from €150 in France and Belgium.

Revenue is generated through one-time hardware sales (equipment plus consumables such as coffee, capsules, Ripple Pods, syrups, and granita powders) supplemented by professional installation and maintenance services with a committed 4-hour response time during business hours. The go-to-market combines a bottom-of-funnel e-commerce platform, a dedicated Pro Space (Espace Pro) section for B2B accounts, sales-led expert account management staffed by baristas, roasters, and technicians, and a broad top-of-funnel social presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X. El Café is 100% French-owned with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or external funding.

Name

EL CAFE

Legal name

El Café

Website

https://elcafe.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

El Café is a privately held French distributor of professional CHR (café, hotel, restaurant) equipment, reselling multi-brand espresso machines, bar and kitchen appliances, granita and Bubble Tea systems, and Ripple Maker beverage printers to hospitality professionals across France, Belgium, and the EU.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Foodservice Equipment

NAICS

Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341)

akta.pro primary industry

Restaurant & Commercial Kitchen Equipment Wholesale (AFAIALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foodservice & Hospitality Supply Marketplaces (CRAFAHAE), Bar & Beverage Service Supplies Wholesale (AFAIALAG)

Keywords

• Professional coffee equipment
• CHR equipment supply
• Commercial espresso machines
• Professional kitchen equipment
• Beverage equipment distribution

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (B2B/B2C e-commerce): El Café generates revenue by selling CHR (Café, Hôtel, Restaurant) professional equipment and consumables through its e-commerce platform elcafe.fr. Revenue is derived from one-time product sales across categories including coffee machines, juices/bar, granita/ice, professional kitchen equipment, and Ripple Maker accessories. The company offers B2B advisory and quotes for larger equipment purchases.
2. Professional Services & Maintenance: Revenue is supplemented by installation and maintenance services for CHR equipment across France and the EU, providing after-sales support and spare parts through its service network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

El Café distributes and resells professional CHR (Café, Hôtel, Restaurant) equipment from premium third-party brands through its own elcafe.fr e-commerce platform, complemented by expert B2B advisory, installation, and maintenance services. Its catalog spans professional coffee machines (Delonghi, Necta, Saeco, Gaggia, Lavazza), coffee grinders, juice extractors and blenders (Zumex, Blendtec), granita/slush machines and bubble tea kiosks (Granita), ice cream machines, Ripple Maker beverage personalization printers and pods, complete professional kitchen equipment lines (CASSELIN, Bartscher) covering cooking, refrigeration, and warewashing, plus bar consumables (Monin, Da Vinci Gourmet, Boba Fabric) and water filtration systems (BRITA).

Product overview

El Café is a French professional CHR (Cafés, Hôtels, Restaurants) equipment supplier offering a comprehensive portfolio of coffee machines, beverage equipment, and professional kitchen equipment. The core offering includes Ripple Maker beverage personalization printers (II, Go!, and Pro variants) with specialized pods, professional espresso machines from brands like Necta, Saeco, Gaggia, Delonghi, and Lavazza, juice and bar equipment from Zumex and Blendtec, Granita machines with Bubble Tea kiosques, ice cream machines, and complete CASSELIN/Bartscher kitchen equipment lines including cooking, refrigeration, and warewashing. The company serves coffee professionals, restaurant professionals, and hospitality businesses across France and Europe with a focus on innovation and partnerships with leading suppliers including Lavazza, Zumex, Necta, Saeco, Delonghi, Granita, Santos, and Ripple Maker.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Coffee Machines

Quantifiable outcome

• 4-hour maximum response time for service and maintenance requests (during business hours)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• LavazzacoreTechnology or IntegrationEl Café is a partner/reseller of Lavazza professional coffee products, including Lavazza Blue coffee capsules and compatible machines, offering these products to French CHR professionals through its e-commerce platform.
• ZumexcoreTechnology or IntegrationZumex is listed as a key brand partner, supplying juice extraction machines and accessories that El Café distributes to CHR professionals across France and Belgium.
• NectacoreTechnology or IntegrationNecta is a brand partner providing professional coffee machines. El Café features Necta products, including the Necta Comete automatic coffee machine, as part of its professional coffee range.
• SaecocoreTechnology or IntegrationSaeco professional espresso machines are distributed by El Café to CHR customers. Featured products include the Saeco Magic B1 and B2 automatic coffee machines.
• DelonghicoreTechnology or IntegrationDeLonghi professional and consumer coffee machines are distributed through El Café, including the DeLonghi Dinamica FEB series and accessory kits.
• GranitacoreTechnology or IntegrationGranita is a key brand partner supplying granita, slush, and ice machines as well as Bubble Tea kiosk solutions. El Café distributes the full Granita range including machines and consumables to French CHR professionals.
• Ripple MakercoreTechnology or IntegrationEl Café is an authorized distributor of Ripple Maker drink personalization systems, including the Ripple Maker II Pro and Go! machines, along with Ripple Pods (coffee, beer, cocktail/milkshake, and Glow varieties). The partnership includes an associated mobile app for drink design management.
• CASSELINcoreTechnology or IntegrationCASSELIN is a primary in-house/partner brand covering a wide range of professional kitchen equipment including refrigeration (positive/negative cabinets, back bars, display cases), warewashing (dishwashers, glasswashers), cooking/snack equipment (bain-maries, fryers, pizza ovens, grills), preparation tables, and catering accessories. CASSELIN branded products represent a significant portion of El Café's catalog.
• GaggiacoreTechnology or IntegrationGaggia Milano professional espresso machines are distributed by El Café, including the Gaggia G 100, G 300 Krea, and La Vetro series (2 and 3 groups) for professional coffee service.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lavazza Professional: Global coffee brand with a dedicated professional channel (Lavazza Pro) selling machines, capsules, and beans directly to CHR operators. Comparable as both a supplier of El Café and a competing direct sales channel for the same end customers.
• Evoca Group (Necta): Italian professional coffee machine group (Necta, Saeco, Gaggia Milano) that both supplies El Café and competes for the same professional vending/HoReCa accounts through direct and dealer networks.
• Bartscher: German manufacturer of professional kitchen equipment (refrigeration, cooking, warewashing) supplied by El Café via its distribution catalog and also selling directly across Europe to CHR operators.
• Manutan: Large pan-European B2B distributor of equipment and supplies for businesses including CHR. Comparable to El Café as a multi-category B2B equipment supplier, though with a much broader industrial/office product scope beyond CHR.
• CASSELIN: French professional kitchen equipment brand whose catalog (refrigeration, cooking, warewashing, prep) forms a major part of El Café's offering, while also selling through its own dealer and direct channels.
• DeLonghi Professional: Italian manufacturer of professional and consumer coffee machines distributed in part by El Café but also competing through its own dealer and direct channels across France and Europe.

Direct peers

• MaxiCoffee: French e-commerce retailer specializing in coffee machines, coffee beans, capsules, and bar equipment for professionals and consumers. Directly comparable to El Café as a multi-brand CHR equipment distributor operating online in France with similar breadth of catalog and B2C/B2B split.
• ProxiCoffee: French retailer offering coffee machines, capsules, and barista accessories to both professional and home customers. Comparable to El Café as a France-based multi-brand coffee equipment e-tailer with B2B advisory elements.
• Boutique-Cafe: French online retailer of professional espresso machines, grinders, and CHR accessories targeting cafés and restaurants. Closely comparable to El Café's core coffee equipment category and French professional buyer base.
• MachineACafe: France-focused online specialist in professional coffee machines and related CHR equipment. Directly comparable in product focus and target customer (CHR professionals in France) to El Café.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/elcafepro
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1cJg649oR5lB0VPXkXRD1w
• Facebookfacebook.com/elcafefr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/el-caf%C3%A9-pro
• Instagraminstagram.com/elcafe_officiel
• TikToktiktok.com/@el_cafe_officiel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 EL CAFE