About us
Kaldi Koffie & Thee
The origin of Kaldi
It all started with a weekday game of indoor soccer. One of those games of which hundreds are played night after night in all kinds of sports halls. With a drink afterwards and a chat in the canteen. That's how it goes. That's how it was with Hans Tietema and his friend Jeppe in the mid-1990s. They talked about their work, was this it? The answer was no. They were going to start for themselves. In what? No idea, a chain of specialty coffee and tea stores was initially just one of many ideas to radically change course...
Coffee with a story
Via-via they ended up in the coffee world and before they knew it, a unique hospitality-retail concept was born. Indeed, the “you can taste, drink and smell coffee, but also buy it right away” was completely new! In one fell swoop, coffee had lost its time-honored brown image. Yellow copper became stainless steel. Black gold had been given a totally new, ultra-modern look. Now, 25 years on, the Kaldi franchise formula has 25 stores and 6 mobile espresso bars, spread throughout the Netherlands. This places Kaldi in the top 5 of the largest providers of quality coffee and tea in the Netherlands. Kaldi also has a number of branches abroad. Where previously coffee and tea were always sold in a traditional, artisan environment, Kaldi has given a new impetus by placing these products in a modern, stylish ambience.
After more than two decades as the founder and driving force behind Kaldi Koffie en Thee, Hans Tietema has handed over the baton to Martijn Bas, who will assume daily management, and Guus Groeneveld, who will be responsible for quality assurance within the franchise formula. This transfer marks a new chapter for Kaldi, which under Hans' leadership grew into an iconic name in the Dutch coffee industry.
Enjoy coffee and tea anywhere
Besides buying coffee, tea and all related items in our Kaldi stores, you can also easily order our products in a wider range online in the webshop. Are you interested in a particular espresso machine? Or totally fan of that particular coffee but want to try something new? You can always order in the webshop, but for full advice and also for tasting our coffee and tea we are of course happy to refer you to one of our branches, where you will be expertly assisted.
The name Kaldi
The coffee legend tells of the goatherd Kaldi, who herded his flock on the high plains of Ethiopia. Kaldi discovered one early morning that his herd had not returned home. Anxious, he went looking and after hours of walking, he found his goats dancing and jumping. Kaldi saw that his goats were eating red berries. He took them to a nearby monastery, where the abbot experimented with them. He dried them and made them into a drink. Thus was discovered a flavorful drink that was later called coffee with us.
The Kaldi formula
Our motto is “Kaldi, the shortest way to the perfect cup of coffee or tea.” We would therefore like you to enjoy the whole world around coffee and tea. You come into Kaldi Koffie & Thee and get to know our coffee and tea.
Come enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, brewed with the best brewing systems. We are happy to advise you in the espresso machine or coffee maker that suits you. We can also provide you with cleaning and maintenance products for your machine, because did you know that this is very important for the quality of your cup of coffee or tea?
Speaking of a “cup” of coffee or tea... We've thought of that too! Coffee or tea, of course, has to be drunk from somewhere. And then, last but not least, what's a cup of coffee or tea without goodies? We have a wide range of delicious chocolate, cookies, cake and lunches. Think freshly baked apple pie or cheesecake or a sandwich with a local touch, meaning bread from the local baker, jam made by grandma and butter from the farmer around the corner. Simple, but high-quality.
The future of Kaldi
For the future, we have a clear vision in mind: Let everyone enjoy 'good' coffee and tea. We would therefore like to take you into the world of coffee and tea, come taste and experience it! And above all: enjoy!
Have you become so enthusiastic about our formula and do you envision your future at Kaldi, where you yourself will make everyone enjoy themselves? We would love to make use of your passion! Ask for a information package about franchising at Kaldi and maybe we'll talk soon! Of course over a delicious cup of coffee or tea.
See you soon at Kaldi!