Te & Kaffi

Overview

Te & Kaffi was founded in 1984 in Reykjavík by husband-and-wife Sigmundur Dýrfjörð and Berglind Guðbrandsdóttir, who set out to introduce loose-leaf tea and high-quality coffee to a country that had drunk neither seriously. It is widely cited as the brand that started the specialty coffee movement in Iceland — preceding both Kaffitár (1990) and Reykjavík Roasters / Kaffismiðja Íslands (2008) — and now operates Iceland's largest coffee roastery alongside roughly nine to twelve cafés.

Known for

• Iceland's first specialty coffee company
• Largest market share in Iceland's retail coffee category
• Methane-powered automatic roasters
• Biodegradable packaging and recyclable capsules
• Pairing tea (23+ types) and coffee programs

Why it matters

The country's largest specialty roastery and the brand most credited with launching Icelandic coffee culture beyond its old chicory-and-substitute heritage — running the country's biggest cafe chain while still pushing renewable-energy roasting.

Production

destoning

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head roaster

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color sorting

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roaster machine

Automatic roasters powered by methane (renewable, extracted from organic waste)

filter equipment

Aeropress, V60, Chemex, siphon

cupping frequency

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roastery location

Reykjavík (dedicated roastery facility, with previous in-cafe Micro Roast at Aðalstræti)

espresso equipment

Victoria Arduino Black Eagle (Aðalstræti location, historically)

annual volume tonnes

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Café

Multiple Reykjavík locations including Laugavegur and Aðalstræti, plus inside Eymundsson bookstores

Recognitions

• Iceland's pioneer specialty coffee and tea brand
• Organic production certified

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_%26_Kaffi
• https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/te-kaffi
• https://sprudge.com/the-sprudge-guide-to-coffee-in-reykjavik-253290.html
• https://allthingsiceland.com/icelandic-coffee-culture-amp-unique-cafes-to-visit-in-reykjavik/
• https://www.northbound.is/blog/275/best-coffee-shops-in-reykjavik-a-guide-to-icelandic-coffee-culture
• https://www.brodievissers.com/blog/2024/9/28/sland-kaffi-i-an-intro-to-icelandic-coffee-in-reykjavk
• https://www.doubleskinnymacchiato.com/2016/12/best-reykjavik-coffee-guide-cafes.html