What La Caféothèque does

La Caféothèque is a Paris-based specialty coffee roastery, café, and training center founded in 2005 by Gloria Montenegro, a former Guatemalan ambassador to France. The company operates a single flagship location at 52 rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville in the 4th arrondissement, combining on-site roasting visible to customers, a tasting bar serving single-origin coffees from approximately 70 producing countries, and the École de Caféologie, which delivers introductory workshops and 35–50 hour professional barista training programs. Revenue is generated through five streams: retail sale of roasted single-origin coffee beans (€11.90–€55 per unit), in-store consumption, third-party coffee accessories (Hario, CHEMEX), professional barista training (€60–€180 per workshop), and B2B supply to restaurants, hotels, and cafés.

The company's core differentiator is the proprietary 'caféologie' concept, a gastronomic framework for visual, olfactory, and gustatory coffee tasting modeled on wine oenology, codified by the founder and her daughter in a 2017 book and reinforced through the founder's association 'Connaissance du café', which has awarded 70 international prizes to coffee plantations. La Caféothèque's product portfolio centers on eight single-origin Arabica coffees from Guatemala, Burundi, Rwanda, and Kenya, plus seven brewing accessories and three structured training offerings. Distribution is multi-channel: physical retail at the Paris flagship, a global e-commerce storefront at lacafeotheque.com with international shipping, and a domestic B2B sales channel for professional establishments. The company has received recognition from The New York Times, Le Figaro, The Telegraph UK, TripExpert, and GoEuro, and operates without external institutional investment under family ownership.

Name

La Caféothèque

Legal name

La Caféothèque SAS

Website

https://lacafeotheque.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

La Caféothèque is a Paris-based specialty coffee roastery, café, and training center founded in 2005, serving individual coffee enthusiasts, hospitality professionals, and aspiring baristas through a single flagship store, e-commerce, and B2B channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Roastery and Café

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roasting
• Single-origin coffee
• Barista training
• Coffee accessories retail
• Caféologie education

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Coffee Sales (Roasted Beans): Sale of roasted specialty coffee beans in various quantities (250g, 500g, 1kg) and grind types (whole bean, espresso, filter, Italian, piston). This is the core product line featuring single-origin coffees from around the world.
2. Coffee Shop / In-store Tasting: In-store consumption of specialty coffees with on-site roasting visible to customers. The café offers a unique tasting experience with coffees from approximately 70 producing countries displayed and roasted on-site.
3. Training and Workshops: École de Caféologie offers professional barista training (35h to 50h programs) and introductory workshops (Caféologie & Espressologie, Caféologie & Méthodes douces 2h30) for coffee enthusiasts and professionals.
4. Coffee Accessories: Sale of brewing equipment including CHEMEX, Hario V60 drippers, filters, and manual grinders (Hario Skerton+).
5. Professional/B2B Coffee Sales: Sales to professionals including restaurants, hotels, and businesses seeking specialty coffee supply.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

La Caféothèque operates a specialty coffee roastery, coffee shop, and training center in Paris. The company roasts and sells single-origin Arabica coffees sourced from approximately 70 producing countries (with prominent offerings from Guatemala, Burundi, Rwanda, and Kenya), sells manual brewing equipment and accessories (Hario, CHEMEX), operates an in-store tasting café with on-site visible roasting, and runs the École de Caféologie offering introductory workshops and professional barista training programs.

Product overview

La Caféothèque is a specialty coffee company founded in 2005, operating as a unified specialty coffee retailer and educational institution. The product portfolio centers on eight single-origin roasted coffees sourced directly from plantations across Guatemala, Burundi, Rwanda, and Kenya, complemented by seven coffee brewing accessories including Hario V60 drippers, CHEMEX brewers, and manual grinders. The company also offers educational services through its École de Caféologie, featuring three training products: introductory caféologie and espresso workshops, gentle brewing method workshops, and professional 35-50 hour training programs. All products are available through the e-commerce platform with shipping within France and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Loma Linda – Fraijanes, Guatemala (Single-Origin Roasted Coffee) Single-origin washed Arabica coffee from the Fraijanes region of Guatemala, sold in whole bean or ground format in 250g, 500g, and 1kg quantities. Intended for individual coffee enthusiasts and home brewing.
• Pampojila – Atitlán, Guatemala (Single-Origin Roasted Coffee) Single-origin Arabica coffee from the Atitlán region of Guatemala, processed using the natural (dry) method. Available in whole bean, espresso, filter, Italian, and piston grinds. Targeted at individual coffee enthusiasts and professional buyers.
• Chitul Tirol, Coban Guatemala (Single-Origin Roasted Coffee) Washed Arabica from Chitul Tirol plantation in Coban, Guatemala (Caturra, Catuai, Pache varieties at 1500m altitude). Sold as single-origin roasted beans.
• Pulcal – Antigua, Guatemala (Single-Origin Roasted Coffee) Washed Arabica from Pulcal Antigua plantation in Guatemala (Red and Yellow Bourbon, Typica varieties at 1800m altitude, sun-dried). Sold as single-origin roasted coffee beans.
• Don Gerardo – Amatitlán, Guatemala (Single-Origin Roasted Coffee) Washed Arabica from SAN GERARDO plantation in Amatitlán, Guatemala (Caturra variety at 1200m altitude, grown in pine forest). Sold as single-origin roasted coffee beans.
• M'PANGA – Kayanza, Burundi (Single-Origin Roasted Coffee) Washed Arabica from M'PANGA cooperative in Kayanza, Burundi at 2000m altitude. Available in 250g, 500g, and 1kg packages with various grind options. Targeted at individual buyers and professional establishments.
• Nyamagabe, Rwanda (Single-Origin Roasted Coffee) Washed Red Bourbon Arabica from Nyamagabe terroir in Rwanda at 1900m altitude, dried on African beds, grown in volcanic soil. Sold as single-origin roasted coffee beans.
• Massaï – Mont Kenya, Kenya (Single-Origin Roasted Coffee) Kenyan washed Arabica from the Mount Kenya region featuring distinctive African coffee profiles. Sold as single-origin roasted coffee beans.
• Coffee Brewing Accessories (Hario V60, CHEMEX, Manual Grinders, Filters) Brewing equipment line including Hario Skerton+ manual ceramic coffee grinder, Hario V60 ceramic drippers (1-2 cups and 1-4 cups), CHEMEX 6-cup coffee maker, and replacement paper filters for V60 and CHEMEX. Sold to individual home brewing enthusiasts.
• Atelier Caféologie & Espressologie Workshop Workshop introducing caféologie (visual, olfactory, and gustatory coffee tasting methodologies) and espresso fundamentals. Priced at €100–€180 depending on group size. For coffee enthusiasts and aspiring baristas.
• Atelier Caféologie & Méthodes douces 2h30 Workshop 2.5-hour workshop on caféologie and gentle brewing methods (filter, pour-over, and immersion techniques). Priced at €60. For coffee enthusiasts exploring slow brewing approaches.
• Formation professionnelle 35h à 50h (Professional Barista Training) Professional barista and coffee training program spanning 35 to 50 hours. Covers advanced coffee preparation, tasting, and professional skills. Pricing on request. Targeted at coffee professionals and aspiring baristas.
• Professional B2B Coffee Supply Direct specialty coffee supply and equipment sales to professional establishments including restaurants, hotels, and cafés, accessed via the dedicated [email protected] channel.
• In-Store Coffee Tasting and Café Experience Walk-in café service at the Paris flagship at 52 rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, where customers can taste specialty coffees from approximately 70 producing countries and observe on-site roasting. Open Mon–Fri 09:00–19:00, Sat–Sun 09:30–19:00.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Organisation Internationale du Café (OIC/ICO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe caféothèque was sponsored by the International Coffee Organization at its inauguration in September 2005. The OIC supports the specialty coffee movement and caféologie concept developed by Gloria Montenegro.
• La Cité Internationale des ArtsminorOthersLocated next to La Cité Internationale des Arts artist residence, ensuring a cosmopolitan clientele of international artists and professionals.
• Le ProcopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly coffee tasting events are held at the famous Parisian restaurant Le Procope, one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the world.
• Association 'Connaissance du café'coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Gloria Montenegro in January 2001, the association has awarded 70 international prizes to coffee plantations from Peru, Colombia, Guatemala, India, Ethiopia, and El Salvador. It promotes coffee knowledge through visual, olfactory, and gustatory education.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Workshop Coffee: London-based specialty roaster combining single-origin wholesale, barista training, and cafés. Comparable business model mixing retail, B2B supply, and education — a parallel to La Caféothèque's three-pillar approach.
• Brûlerie Caron: Long-established Parisian specialty coffee roaster and café. Comparable as a French specialty pioneer offering roasted single-origin beans alongside an in-store café, though with a broader traditional French audience.
• Télescope: Paris specialty coffee shop and micro-roaster focused on single-origin sourcing and caféologie-style tasting. Competes in the same niche Parisian specialty market, with comparable education-forward positioning.
• Coutume Café: Paris specialty coffee roaster and café chain that helped drive the French third-wave movement alongside La Caféothèque. Offers single-origin beans, professional training, and a multi-location café-retail model targeting similar enthusiast and B2B customers.
• Belleville Brûlerie: Paris-based specialty coffee roaster and café with multiple locations, founded by former barista of La Caféothèque. Directly competes in the third-wave Parisian specialty coffee market with similar single-origin offerings and café-retail model.
• Square Mile Coffee Roasters: London specialty coffee roaster with strong wholesale, training academy, and café presence. James Hoffmann (Square Mile co-founder) publicly endorsed La Caféothèque as a must-visit destination, indicating direct peer status in the European specialty scene.
• Terres de Café: Paris specialty coffee roaster and boutique chain with multiple locations, founded by a former La Caféothèque alumnus. Directly competes in single-origin retail, café, and B2B channels in the same Parisian market.

Broad incumbents

• Blue Bottle Coffee: Large US-originated specialty coffee chain with cafés, e-commerce, and B2B. Overlaps with La Caféothèque in third-wave single-origin positioning but operates at vastly greater scale with subscription and wholesale programs.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Pioneering US specialty coffee roaster with cafés, wholesale, and direct-trade sourcing. Comparable to La Caféothèque in pioneering third-wave specialty and direct-trade sourcing model, though at significantly larger scale.

Regional players

• La Brûlerie des Gobelins: Independent Parisian specialty roaster and café. Comparable in its roastery-café hybrid model and single-origin focus, though operating at a smaller scale and lacking La Caféothèque's international brand recognition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lacafeotheque
• Instagraminstagram.com/lacafeotheque
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-caf%C3%A9oth%C3%A8que-de-paris

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 La Caféothèque