Koppie targets 1,000-ton capacity as coffee alternative moves toward commercial launch

Koppie has advanced toward commercial launch of its coffee alternative platform, announcing progress in industrial scale-up, commercial validation and additional funding as it targets up to 1,000 tons of production capacity in 2026.

• Koppie completed a 4-ton industrial trial run and said it can support up to 1,000 tons of production capacity in 2026.

• The company secured follow-on investment from DOEN Ventures, bringing total funding to more than €2 million (US$2.2 million).

• Consumer testing found 80% rated an Arabica-blended hybrid at least as good as regular coffee, with 40% preferring the hybrid product.

The Ghent-based company is developing a coffee alternative designed for “hybrid” applications, blending conventional coffee with Koppie’s ingredient to reduce reliance on traditional supply while maintaining taste and lowering emissions.

Koppie said it has finalized product development and now offers a full B2B portfolio tailored to match different coffee origins, taste profiles and use cases. The range includes multiple variants of Koppie beans, espresso and filter blends, and a Koppie Concentrate designed for ready-to-drink beverages, ice cream and bakery applications.

The company recently completed what it described as a successful 4-ton industrial trial run, validating production economics and scalability. It said the business is comfortable it can support up to 1,000 tons of capacity in 2026 to meet anticipated launch partner demand.

“Seeing the results of this industrial trial gives us confidence in cost, scalability, and sustainability and therefore a real sense of pride,” said Pascal Mertens, Chief Product Officer & Co-founder of Koppie. “Our focus now is on further cost optimisation and scaling all product variants.”

Koppie said it is engaged in discussions with coffee majors, retailers and ingredient companies to bring hybrid coffee products to market before the end of the year. The discussions span multiple applications, formats and brand strategies.

The company reported that its product has gained validation through both consumer testing and industry recognition. In a consumer test conducted with a commercial partner, 80% of participants rated an Arabica-blended hybrid product at least as good as regular coffee, while 40% preferred the hybrid outright.

Koppie also won 'Best Innovative Food or Beverage Ingredient' at Fi Europe 2025 in Paris.

The company said partners have responded positively to the flavor match and the ability to roast Koppie beans within existing infrastructure, positioning the product as compatible with current production processes.

To accelerate commercial expansion and product development, Koppie attracted additional funding, bringing total capital raised to more than €2 million (approximately US$2.2 million). The company secured a follow-on investment from DOEN Ventures, an impact investor with investments across consumer value chains including Fairphone, Seepje, Chocolatemakers and Orbisk.

The investment was complemented by a subsidy from the Food Pioneer Accelerators programme, designed to help start-ups offset the costs associated with industrial scaling.

Tom Doornik, Impact Investment Associate at DOEN Ventures, said, “If we want to be able to meet the demand without maintaining existing harmful practices, we need a radically more sustainable alternative, without compromising on taste, affordability, or compatibility in existing production processes. That is exactly what Koppie has brought to market!”

Global coffee markets have faced significant pressure from climate volatility, contributing to supply disruption and price instability in recent years. Koppie positioned its hybrid approach as a means of hedging against these constraints while preserving the sensory experience of conventional coffee.

The company cited a recent life-cycle assessment indicating that producing 1kg of roasted Koppie generates 1.19kg of CO2 emissions, which it described as substantially lower than most coffees.

With industrial trials completed, funding secured and commercial discussions underway, Koppie is moving from development toward scaled market entry as it seeks to establish hybrid coffee as a viable complement to conventional supply.