The four founders of baristina They share a passion for first-class espresso. Therefore, they developed a disposable beverage can that delivers espresso anytime, anywhere.
1. Who are you and what do you do? Please briefly introduce yourself and your product/service!
We are Julius (34, Dipl.-Ing. Mechanical Engineering), Moritz (33, Dipl.-Ing. Mechanical Engineering), Johannes (36, Dipl. Business Administration) and Martin (34, Dipl. Industrial Engineer) and we have one mission: to make the enjoyment of excellent espresso possible anywhere and at any time.
The idea for the baristina came about—as so often happens—in a roundabout way. Julius and Moritz first met at the Startup Weekend 2013 in Munich. As a team, they then tinkered with the idea of fitting the portafilter machine into a small disposable beverage can.
Oh yes, a business model…
The idea was born, and the technical implementation seemed only a matter of time. Oh yes, a business model was still needed. Moritz also met Johannes at Startup Weekend—and so he joined the team shortly thereafter, bringing his business expertise with him. The team needed to be further strengthened to achieve a prototype more quickly. Martin and Julius play volleyball together—Martin immediately recognized the potential and technical appeal and rounded out our team.
So how does the espresso can really work?
But what exactly is the baristina? A single-use beverage can that contains not only water and the highest quality espresso grounds, but also all the ingredients necessary for brewing. The brewing unit is completely self-contained, allowing brewing to take place anytime, anywhere – regardless of the time and place of purchase.
The process is activated by turning a knob on top of the can. Once the water temperature reaches approximately 90-95°C, the water is forced through the espresso grounds at a pressure of 9 bar. The finished espresso exits the sieve and flows into the cup.
2. But that's been around for a long time!
Honestly? It would be nice, yes. Unfortunately—from a personal perspective—or rather fortunately—from a business perspective—there is no comparable product yet.
Customers currently have a choice: freshly brewed coffee specialties, which must be enjoyed immediately (on-the-go or in a restaurant, café, etc.), or cold coffee drinks, usually with a generous portion of sugar and other additives. While the first mobile solutions for brewing coffee beverages exist (Handpresso, Minipresso), they require either carrying hot water separately in a thermos flask or having a power outlet nearby. A mobile and self-sufficient solution comparable to our product simply doesn't exist yet. But that's what we at baristina are here for!
Always keep the actual goal in mind
3. What has been your biggest challenge so far?
From a technical perspective, there were many individual challenges. The main challenge, however, was mental: not sticking to a technical concept, but always keeping the actual goal in mind—this opens up a variety of possibilities for achieving the goal.
From a business perspective, raising capital is certainly our biggest challenge. The majority of potential VCs and investors are currently focused on digital business models. We're developing a hardware product in a market that hasn't been characterized by real innovation in the recent past. But that's about to change.
Prototype is ready, patents are pending…
4. Let’s get down to business: How is business going?
We're currently still in the seed phase. While we have a working prototype and registered patents, it will be some time before we can develop a product that can be produced in large quantities. But then, the sky's the limit.
We are operating in one of the largest markets in the world with a highly innovative product.
5. What does Munich mean to you?
Munich, or 'Monaco': Italy's northernmost city offers us ideal conditions, both personally and professionally. We all love the city for its relaxed and cozy atmosphere. This fits well with Italian coffee culture. Espresso is simply part of the Munich lifestyle—and soon you'll be able to enjoy it right down by the Isar River.
Munich's flair is one of the reasons it attracts hordes of highly qualified workers—including those in the startup world. Along with Berlin, Munich has developed into a startup metropolis. This also provides us, as an employer, with ideal conditions for bringing top talent on board.
Billions of espresso fans…
6. How will your startup become the next unicorn? Or will we see you soon at Epic Fail Night?
Unicorn, of course! The appeal of our product is that we're not revolutionizing the beverage itself, but rather the way we access it. What ends up in the cup at the end of the brewing process is known and loved by millions, or rather billions, of people. Each of them is a potential user of the baristina technology. That can be considered a considerable market potential...
7. Schwabinger 7 or Bob Beaman?
Bob Beaman
