Anyone who's active in the Munich startup scene and attends relevant events is probably familiar with the Munich coffee roastery's black barista cart. In addition to tried-and-tested processes, the coffee startup also uses technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and blockchain. We spoke with the founders about their company and good coffee.
How do you prefer to drink your coffee?
Black. Or with milk. Preferably warm, though. Or maybe cold? Espresso? Or perhaps a French press?
Coffee is and remains a luxury item. And it is great fun to experiment with different preparation methods. one There's simply no single, correct preparation method. However, if you want to delve deeper into the over 800 flavors coffee has to offer, we recommend using a French press or a hand filter.
Sommelier tip: Let the coffee cool slightly after brewing and simply try it without milk and sugar. This allows your taste buds to fully focus on the drink.
Coffee for Bits & Pretzels, the Munich Media Days and DLD
Who is behind the Munich coffee roastery? What's your story?
The Munich coffee roastery is a lived passion. Out of pure passion and initially outside the industry, we four founders decided in 2017 to drive the coffee industry forward with innovative ideas and approaches. As a lean startup, we explored people's needs today and how best to reach them. Our expertise in management consulting, psychology, sales, sociology, and mechanical engineering gives us a creative perspective on a traditional business area. Today, as certified coffee sommeliers and coffee connoisseurs, we offer professional knowledge transfer around our passion—good coffee.
You call yourself a coffee roastery, but in the Munich startup scene, your Barista Bar is particularly well-known from almost every major event. What do you offer, and why are you so prominent in the startup scene?
Coffee connects people. Our innovative Barista Bar stands for genuine connections, time for what matters, and progress. At trade fairs, conferences, and events, we connect guests on-site over a cup of the finest premium coffee. Only together can we solve the problems of our time. Our mobile Barista Bar creates a meeting place that brings people together, uncovers synergies, and provides the fuel for a successful event.
Many of our current partnerships have their origins in the Munich startup scene, and we still feel a close connection to it today. Today, we count formats such as Bits & Pretzels, the Munich Media Days and DLD to our partners and customers.
You're quite tech-savvy yourself and use virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and blockchain in your coffee roasting business. How exactly do you use the various technologies?
Our mission is to combine modern concepts with one of the most traditional crafts. Our goal: to motivate, inspire, and find creative solutions to real problems with coffee. So why not start in our own market?
Coffee is the world's second most important commodity. Around one in 70 people worldwide relies on coffee for their living. However, long supply chains and outdated trading structures lead to significant injustice, a lack of transparency, and corruption in the coffee trade. With our Quality First project, we want to change this: We are already using VR technology to raise awareness of quality aspects and social responsibility as a coffee product. Drinking a cappuccino shoulder to shoulder with a coffee farmer—we use VR to enable guests at our Barista Bar at many events.
We are currently working on the next step — a transparent supply chain: Blockchain technology allows us to digitally map and transparently present the coffee value chain.
The use of AI-supported sensor technology in the country of cultivation enables the validation of product quality during coffee processing. Faith becomes knowledge—the quality and fairness of the coffee becomes transparent. By reducing middlemen and optimizing bureaucratic processes, more money reaches the farmer—and, conversely, better coffee quality for the consumer.
In which Munich café can we find you when you are not at the barista bar yourself?
Munich offers many beautiful corners for a good cup of coffee. When we are not standing at the barista bar ourselves, we also enjoy a cup of coffee in our first Munich coffee embassy in Smart Village. Incidentally, our coffee seminars also take place here.
