Import Coffee Company
Import Coffee Company is a privately held Argentine specialty coffee retailer that sells own-brand IMPORT single-origin coffee and imported Illy products through a Tiendanube e-commerce site and six Buenos Aires retail locations, serving Argentine consumers seeking premium and imported coffee.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersBuenos Aires, Argentina
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Import Coffee Company does
Import Coffee Company is an Argentine specialty coffee retailer operating a direct-to-consumer model that combines a Tiendanube-powered e-commerce storefront with six physical retail locations distributed across key Buenos Aires commercial districts (Libertad, Corrientes, Tribunales, DOT shopping mall, Av. de Mayo, and Esmeralda). The product portfolio centers on an own-brand "IMPORT" line of single-origin specialty coffee (beans, ground, and Nespresso-compatible aluminum capsules) sourced from Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, and Brazil, complemented by imported Illy Italian coffee (in whole bean, ground, Nespresso-compatible, Iperespresso, and Mitaca formats), Bialetti and Bodum coffee equipment, and European gourmet adjacencies (Tony's Chocolonely and Caffarel chocolates, Loacker wafers, Twinings and Inti Tea). The company emphasizes origin transparency, publishing altitude, varietal, processing method, and tasting notes on each SKU.
The business model is straightforward transactional retail: unit-priced pay-as-you-go sales with installment payment options and tiered free-shipping thresholds that vary by delivery zone (CABA from ARS 30,000, AMBA from ARS 40,000, nationwide from ARS 50,000). The company does not operate a subscription, B2B, wholesale, or enterprise channel, and no external investors, parent company, or funding rounds are disclosed. Customer acquisition runs through Instagram (organic social), an email newsletter, and WhatsApp for consultation and delivery coordination. With 17 employees and no management team publicly disclosed, Import Coffee Company appears to be a privately held, founder- or small-group-owned specialty retail operator focused on the Argentine domestic market, with no current evidence of cross-border expansion or institutional capital.
Import Coffee Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Import Coffee Company
- Legal name
- Import Coffee Company
- Website
- https://import.com.ar
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Import Coffee Company is a privately held Argentine specialty coffee retailer that sells own-brand IMPORT single-origin coffee and imported Illy products through a Tiendanube e-commerce site and six Buenos Aires retail locations, serving Argentine consumers seeking premium and imported coffee.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Import Coffee Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee Retail
- NAICS
- Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Single-Serve Coffee (Pods, Capsules) (CRADAHAH), Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAD), Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA)
Keywords
Where Import Coffee Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buenos Aires
- HQ country
- Argentina
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Import Coffee Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- E-commerce Retail Sales: Direct retail sales of specialty coffee, capsules, coffee makers, and gourmet food products through the company's e-commerce website. Customers purchase products at listed prices with options for installment payments.
- Physical Retail Store Sales: Sales through 6 brick-and-mortar retail locations in Buenos Aires offering the same product catalog with digital menus available.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coffee beans and ground - Specialty (250gr) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coffee beans and ground - Specialty (3kg) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Illy Coffee (125gr-3kg) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Nespresso-compatible capsules |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coffee makers and accessories |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gourmet products (chocolates, wafers) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Import Coffee Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Import Coffee Company is an Argentine specialty coffee and gourmet food retailer that sells imported premium whole bean and ground coffees (including its own IMPORT single-origin brand and Illy), Nespresso-compatible aluminum capsules (IMPORT house brand plus Illy and other compatible lines), Illy Iperespresso and Mitaca capsules, instant coffee, premium coffee makers (Bialetti, Bodum), European gourmet chocolates and wafers, and teas. Products are sold direct-to-consumer through an e-commerce website with nationwide delivery and through 6 physical retail showrooms in Buenos Aires.
Product overview
Import Coffee Company is an Argentine e-commerce retailer specializing in premium coffee products and gourmet foods. The product portfolio centers on: (1) Whole bean and ground specialty coffees under the IMPORT brand from origins including Colombia, Brazil, and Peru, featuring varietals like Pink Bourbon, Castillo, Catuaí and Tabi; (2) Branded Illy Italian coffee in whole bean, ground, and capsule formats (Nespresso-compatible, Iperespresso, and Mitaca systems); (3) IMPORT brand Nespresso-compatible aluminum capsules featuring single-origin specialty coffees; (4) Instant coffee (Illy Instant Classico and Intenso); (5) Gourmet products including Tony's Chocolonely and Caffarel chocolates from Europe, and Loacker wafer snacks from Italy; (6) Coffee equipment from Bialetti and Bodum brands; and (7) Tea products including Twinings and Inti Tea. The company operates physical retail locations across Buenos Aires (Libertad, Corrientes, Tribunales, DOT, Av. de Mayo, and Esmeralda) and offers nationwide e-commerce delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- IMPORT: House brand of specialty coffee capsules and beans compatible with Nespresso, sourced from various origins including Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, and Brazil.
Companies that use Import Coffee Company
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Import Coffee Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Import Coffee Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- NespressocoreIMPORT brand capsules are compatible with Nespresso Original machines. The company manufactures and sells aluminum capsules compatible with Nespresso systems.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Import Coffee Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Nespresso: Global single-serve coffee capsule leader. Comparable to Import Coffee Company because the company's IMPORT brand capsules are explicitly designed for Nespresso Original compatibility, putting it in direct competition with Nespresso's own machine-and-capsule ecosystem.
- Costa Coffee: UK-based specialty coffee chain with global retail and capsule presence. Comparable to Import Coffee Company as a multi-format specialty coffee retailer competing for the at-home premium coffee consumer, though Costa is significantly larger and brand-led.
- Illy: Italian premium coffee brand distributed globally across retail and foodservice. Illy is both a supplier and a competitor to Import Coffee Company: Import Coffee distributes Illy products (beans, capsules, instant) but also competes with its own IMPORT brand in the same retail aisles.
- Starbucks Argentina: Operated by Alsea in Argentina, Starbucks is the dominant global specialty coffee chain with strong brand equity. Comparable as a competing specialty coffee consumer destination in Buenos Aires, though Starbucks operates cafés rather than retail stores.
- Lavazza: Italian coffee major with capsule systems (Lavazza A Modo Mio, Espresso Point) and worldwide retail distribution. Comparable to Import Coffee Company as a multi-format coffee brand (beans, capsules, equipment) competing for the same specialty coffee consumer in retail channels.
- Blue Bottle Coffee: US specialty coffee roaster and retailer with cafés and direct-to-consumer subscription. Comparable to Import Coffee Company as a premium-origin specialty coffee retailer targeting discerning home consumers, though Blue Bottle operates at much larger scale and is geographically distinct.
- L'OR Coffee: JDE Peet's premium capsule and coffee brand with Nespresso-compatible lines. Comparable to Import Coffee Company because both compete in the Nespresso-compatible capsule category and broader specialty coffee retail space.
Regional players
- Juan Valdez Café: Colombian-owned specialty coffee brand and café chain with presence in Latin America. Comparable to Import Coffee Company as a Latin American origin-rooted specialty coffee retailer, though geographically anchored to Colombia-driven markets rather than Argentina.
Direct peers
- Havanna: Iconic Argentine coffee and alfajor brand with proprietary cafés and retail outlets selling packaged coffee, capsules, and gourmet accompaniments. Comparable to Import Coffee Company in its Argentina-centric specialty coffee retail model with owned brand plus café-style consumer touchpoints.
- Café Martínez: Argentina's largest domestic specialty coffee chain, with cafés and retail channels selling whole-bean and ground coffee alongside food. Directly comparable to Import Coffee Company as a local specialty coffee retailer targeting Argentine consumers with both physical retail and brand presence.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Import Coffee Company social profiles
Digital presenceImport Coffee Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Import Coffee Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Import Coffee Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Import Coffee Company 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 Import Coffee Company
What does Import Coffee Company do?
Import Coffee Company is an Argentine specialty coffee and gourmet food retailer that sells imported premium whole bean and ground coffees (including its own IMPORT single-origin brand and Illy), Nespresso-compatible aluminum capsules (IMPORT house brand plus Illy and other compatible lines), Illy Iperespresso and Mitaca capsules, instant coffee, premium coffee makers (Bialetti, Bodum), European gourmet chocolates and wafers, and teas. Products are sold direct-to-consumer through an e-commerce website with nationwide delivery and through 6 physical retail showrooms in Buenos Aires.
Is Import Coffee Company a public or private company?
Import Coffee Company is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Import Coffee Company founded?
Import Coffee Company was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Import Coffee Company based?
Import Coffee Company is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the Latin America region.
How does Import Coffee Company make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. E-commerce Retail Sales are the primary driver. The others are physical Retail Store Sales.
Who are Import Coffee Company's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Nespresso, Costa Coffee, Illy, Starbucks Argentina, Lavazza, Blue Bottle Coffee and L'OR Coffee. Juan Valdez Café is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Havanna and Café Martínez.
Does Import Coffee Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for Import Coffee Company.
What industry is Import Coffee Company in?
Import Coffee Company's product category is Specialty Coffee Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAGAI, Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories), with a secondary code of CRADAHAH, Single-Serve Coffee (Pods, Capsules). Its NAICS code is 44529 and its SIC code is 5810.