We asked Christo König a few questions about their history and success after König Coffee was awarded multiple times at the 2021 Coffee Awards.
Christo König, I started my working life as an accountant but soon realised that I need to be creative. We tried the life of a restaurateur for a while, then ERP Consultant/Project manager for ten years, and then I “found coffee” where I could live my creative dream.
“The Coffee Co” was founded in 2001. I bought it in 2003, after many years of drinking bad coffee in the corporate offices where I worked. The idea to rent bean-to-cup machines to the workspace and then sell great coffee was born. Over time I wanted to find new solutions for clients ranging from the coffee machine through freshly roasted coffee and all the related soluble and consumables to service and support through our Franchise Network. König Coffee as a Brand was launched in 2016, and we are COVID survivors...so far.
Coffee is “personal” for everyone, but we wanted to make it easy, so we started to supply coffee through super-automatic coffee machines to anyone in SA via our Franchise Network. Way back in 2003, I was told we will never build a Company with automatic machines only. I beg to differ. Today we have more than 30 Franchises, and we sold more than 7,000 fully automatic machines. Before this pandemic, König Coffee exceeded a million cups per month, mostly in the workspace.
We offer our own “König” coffee machines. We just launched our new Single Serving Coffee Bags, filled with our Gold Award Winning coffee.
What are some of the unique features of your manufacturing process and your manufacturing philosophy?
Our Philosophy is to sell smiles in cups through quality products and sustainably. We just roast coffee and blend it to be Award-Winning, Consistent, and Loved by most. König Coffee is a small private company, and we can adjust and adapt for customers and make it work for each client.
To me, this is not work. It is what I do every day because I love the result of winning a new client over with a single cup of coffee. After 18 years, it still excites me, and I cannot stop talking about great coffee. I share the experience with as many people as possible, from partners, staff, and customers. You only have one life, so do not waste a day with bad coffee.
We keep innovating and building products and systems to get our coffee to the people. We just launched coffee in a bag!
Consumer demographics is a question I get asked often, and my answer stays vague. Every person I can convince to demand great coffee and not to settle for anything less is part of our demographic.
We are a proudly South African story, but I would like to get an opportunity to export more, and our newest lines might open that door.
In which countries can your products be found?
South Africa and then small orders go to Namibia, Zambia, Mauritius.
Yes, we are looking to expand the coffee in a bag, and then we have an “award-winning coffee” infused with CBD on the close horizon.
Contact person: Christo König
Email address: christo@konigcoffee.co.za
Contact number: 082 498 0298
Website address: https://konigcoffee.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KonigCoffee/
Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/konig_coffee/?hl=en