Scaling hybrid coffee. From validation to industrial readiness

Feb 9
2 min read

Over the past months, we have been talking about vision.

In February 2026, we are talking about execution.

We recently announced a major milestone for Koppie.

We completed our first successful 4-ton industrial trial run.

That might sound technical. But for a foodtech company, this is the moment where theory meets reality.

It means:

our fermentation and roasting process performs at industrial level
production economics hold
quality remains consistent at scale

We are now comfortable supporting up to 1000 tons of capacity in 2026.

That gives confidence to launch partners. To retailers. To roasters. And to investors who want to see more than prototypes.

Scaling food is hard. Industrial validation matters.

A portfolio built for integration

Koppie is no longer a single proof-of-concept bean.

We now offer a full B2B portfolio tailored to different applications:

Koppie Beans with varying flavour profiles
Espresso and filter blends
Koppie Concentrate for RTD, ice cream and bakery

This breadth reflects that hybrid coffee is an ingredient strategy.

Our model allows partners to:

roast Koppie themselves
integrate into existing production lines
reduce exposure to volatile green coffee markets
maintain flavour and ritual

That integration logic is what makes this scalable.

Commercial traction is building

We are currently in active discussions with coffee majors, retailers and ingredient companies across Europe.

The shared ambition is clear: Bring hybrid coffee products to market before the end of the year.

In a recent consumer test conducted with a commercial partner, 80% of participants rated an Arabica-blended product at least as good as regular coffee. 40% preferred the hybrid outright. That kind of feedback matters. Because taste remains the gatekeeper.

We were also honoured to win “Best Innovative Food or Beverage Ingredient” at Fi Europe 2025 in Paris. Recognition from within the ingredient ecosystem reinforces that our approach is both novel and relevant.

Strengthening the capital base

To accelerate commercial rollout and product development, we secured additional funding. DOEN Ventures joined as an investor, bringing total funding to more than €2 million. DOEN is known for backing impact-driven companies across consumer value chains. Their support reflects confidence in our product and in the structural need for more sustainable coffee solutions.

This investment is complemented by support from the Food Pioneer Accelerator Programme, helping us navigate the cost-intensive phase of industrial scale-up.

Capital at this stage is about enabling speed.

Why this moment matters

Coffee remains the second most consumed beverage globally. Demand continues to grow.

At the same time:

climate volatility is affecting yields
green coffee prices have seen triple-digit increases in recent years
production contributes significantly to deforestation and emissions

A recent life-cycle assessment confirmed that producing 1 kg of roasted Koppie results in 1.19 kg of CO₂ emissions. Substantially lower than most conventional coffees.

Hybrid models offer a hedge. Not against coffee itself. But against instability.

February 2026 marks a transition for Koppie: From concept to capacity. From conversation to contracts. From validation to scale.

We are proud of the progress. But even more excited about what comes next.