Case Study: Blum Kaffee – From Zero to 600k in Yearly Wholesale Revenues with the Remote Barista Model

Blum Kaffee GmbH, a coffee roasting business in Switzerland, pioneered the Remote Barista approach, propelling them from humble beginnings to remarkable success. This innovative model, born out of a unique blend of skills within the team, has catalyzed their remarkable growth journey. What’s even more astonishing is that they achieved this without external investment, an established network, a strong brand, or a dedicated marketing and sales force.

Fortunately, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel; you can leverage their expertise and tools. So, take heart! You don’t need to be a genius to replicate their success.

In this article, we’ll:

• Learn about Blum Kaffee’s innovative Remote Barista approach and its origin story.
• Discover how Mike addressed the root issue in the market, leveraging remote technology.
• Understand how a unique solution can lead to growth without big marketing & sales efforts.
• Explore Blum Kaffee’s remarkable growth from zero to 600k in yearly wholesale revenues.
• Find out how you can replicate their success by connecting with the Grow Your Roastery Team.

Let’s delve into their inspiring story…

The Origin

Shortly after launching their roasting facility, founder Mike encountered a harsh reality in the wholesale coffee business. Despite the allure of potential volume from clients, he faced the harsh truth: most businesses prioritized cost over quality. They sought steep discounts and cheaper alternatives, leading Mike to ponder why these potential clients overlooked the value of ethically sourced, precisely roasted specialty beans in favor of cheaper options.

The epiphany came when Mike realized that many businesses lacked the brewing skills necessary to elevate the coffee experience. Beyond great beans and equipment, skillful operation of the machines is crucial for exceptional coffee. Yet, most businesses found themselves caught between machine suppliers, roasters, and the responsibility for in-cup quality, without the necessary expertise.

This skill gap meant that clients failed to perceive the added value of specialty beans over commercial alternatives, resulting in an average coffee experience. This phenomenon wasn’t unique to Switzerland but prevailed globally, where the majority of coffee-serving businesses lacked proficient baristas.

Determined to democratize specialty coffee and unlock its potential benefits for all stakeholders in the value chain, Mike faced a pivotal choice: invest resources in traditional marketing and sales to gain volume in a low-margin business environment or tackle the root issue in the market. He chose the latter.

The Solution

Drawing on his background as a coffee machine engineer, Mike envisioned an alternative to this conundrum: leveraging remote technology in coffee machines. While such technology existed for some time, its full potential remained largely untapped due to complexity and lack of expertise among coffee businesses.

Here’s where Mike saw an opportunity: armed with his engineering acumen, he could oversee in-cup quality remotely, without physical presence. Through meticulous research and experimentation with different machine configurations, he birthed the first iteration of the Remote Barista service.

Recognizing that success hinged on the trifecta of equipment, beans, and brewing process, Mike devised a comprehensive offer, charging clients per cup instead of the individual elements. Despite initial challenges, such as clients forgetting to order beans on time, Mike’s ingenuity prevailed. He developed software to track bean consumption, streamlining bean stock management for clients while ensuring optimal roast freshness.

The Growth

Initially, the venture felt like a gamble, with significant investment and uncertainty. However, as Mike ironed out early challenges and delighted initial clients, momentum built. Armed with newfound confidence and a proven model, Mike shifted focus to client acquisition, leveraging the uniqueness of his solution.

With minimal marketing and no sales expertise, Mike capitalized on the novelty of his offering, crafting compelling communication materials. This unconventional approach not only opened doors but also generated buzz in the media and beyond his immediate network.

Through sheer determination and innovation, Blum Kaffee’s wholesale revenues soared from zero to 600k within four years, despite facing the challenges of the COVID crisis, facility upgrades, and venturing into retail and e-commerce.