Coffeeshop Company
An Austrian Viennese-coffeehouse concept where the brand roasts its own coffee and builds its own espresso machines — “coffee under one roof”.
Coffeeshop Company is a chain of Viennese-style coffeehouses from the Austrian Schärf group. It runs on the idea of “coffee under one roof” — the parent company roasts its own coffee and also manufactures espresso machines, so it controls the whole experience from bean to cup. It differs from ordinary chains precisely through this vertical integration and its focus on the classic coffeehouse atmosphere rather than a quick to-go window.
As a franchisee you get a license to the brand, a proven concept, the group's own coffee and machines, store architecture, marketing assets, operating software, and training at the Austrian academy. What stays on you is the premises and its fit-out, hiring and leading the team, daily operations, and local promotion. It's “turn-key” in what makes the coffee (bean, equipment, recipes), but the people and the operation are your responsibility.
The main revenue is beverage sales, joined by food (breakfast, pastries, light menu) and retail sales of beans and accessories. Traffic follows a daily rhythm — morning and lunch peaks, quieter late afternoons. The main costs are rent in a good location, floor-staff wages, ingredients, and equipment upkeep; success hinges on the location, service quality, and regulars.
Coffee and machines from one house
The group roasts its own coffee and builds its own espresso machines. This vertical integration is rare in café franchises and gives the brand control over quality and cost that most competitors lack.
Viennese coffeehouse tradition
The concept is built on the classic Viennese café — a place to sit, not just a window for a fast coffee. That identity sets the brand apart from generic chains and the Anglo “coffee-to-go” model.
Trained at the company academy
HQ trains franchisees and baristas at its academy in Austria — from coffee preparation to running the floor. You start with know-how you'd otherwise have to piece together yourself.
Strong roots in Central Europe
The brand has an established network and awareness across Central Europe. You open where people already know the concept instead of building the name from scratch.
It smells of freshly ground coffee and the milk steamer hisses behind the counter. A couple sits by the window over cappuccinos, someone grabs a coffee to go at the bar and waves to the staff on the way out. A student in the corner opens a laptop, an older gentleman orders a second cup and a newspaper. Around noon the tables start filling with people from nearby offices grabbing a quick lunch and a coffee for the walk back.
What operators value
Repeat footfall. Coffee is a daily ritual — loyal customers come back again and again, so you get predictable daily traffic rather than one-off visits.
Multiple revenue streams. Beyond drinks you earn from food and from retailing beans and accessories, so you're not standing on a single source of income.
Flexible space format. The concept fits a shopping mall, a busy street, or a transit hub, so you have a wider choice of viable locations.
What to watch out for
A crowded coffee market. Cafés are everywhere — from global brands to independents — so location and service quality decide success, not the name alone.
Location decides. Without strong foot traffic a café is hard to fill; a poorly chosen spot is a bigger problem here than in many other fields.
Higher fit-out investment. Professional espresso machines and a proper fit-out cost more than launching a simple café, so the entry cost isn't the lowest.
This isn't a franchise for a passive investor. It fits best someone who loves coffee and people and wants to be on the floor in person — ideally with hospitality or retail experience.
👤 Ideal operator
The ideal operator can lead a small team and hold service quality, has a feel for the guest and the community around the venue, and has the capital plus a reserve for the ramp-up months before the café builds a regular clientele. Hospitality, café, or retail experience helps.
📍 Ideal location
It fits a busy urban location — a quality mall, a high-traffic street, proximity to public transport or a transit hub, or a lively office district. The key is a large catchment and a mix of morning commuters, shoppers, and local regulars.
Coffeeshop Company is a vertically integrated Viennese-style café franchise with strong roots in Central Europe. It pays off most for an operator who is on the floor in person and has a good location. Its biggest asset is the own coffee, equipment, and training; its biggest risk is a crowded market and a poorly chosen site.
- Who it's for
- A hands-on operator with an affinity for coffee and ideally hospitality or retail experience.
- Where
- A busy urban location, a quality shopping mall, or a lively office district.
- Strongest point
- Own roasted coffee, own espresso machines, and academy training — all from one house.
- Biggest risk
- A crowded coffee market and success that hinges on location quality.
- How to start
- Via the official franchising portal → consultation and business plan → fit-out and launch.