The history of Rizopoulos Coffee roastery

The story of the Rizopoulos family’s involvement with coffee dates back to the early 20th century, precisely to the distant year of 1901.

During that time, Andreas Rizopoulos left Aigialeia and settled in Athens, where he roamed the narrow streets, squares, and markets of the city with his bicycle, grinding coffee beans with a small hand-cranked mill for passersby and patrons of the traditional coffeehouses of the era.

The pursuit of quality and the traditional preparation of Greek coffee (in the hovoli) were the main criteria for our customers’ selection. Andreas Rizopoulos’ dedication to the traditional method of preparing Greek coffee won the love and appreciation of our customers, which led to the growth of our business.

Grandfather Charalambos

Over time, the business grew and passed into the hands of his brother, Charalambos Rizopoulos.

Grandfather Charalambos continued the family tradition and took control of the business, expanding it to new areas of the city.

With the love and care he showed for his profession, he brought new innovations to the company, such as the preparation of new coffees (French and espresso) and their introduction to the Greek market.

A few years after taking over the operations, the business expanded to more areas of Athens and the provinces.

The expansion of the Rizopoulos Family Coffee Business

Grandfather Charalambos felt the need to preserve the family tradition of crafting high-quality coffee, and thus, his business became renowned for its exceptional product. Over time, the Rizopoulos family established itself in the coffee industry, and their trade even reached international borders.

The evolution of the business and the opening of the new store on 1 Strait Street in 1958 provided the opportunity for further growth and expansion into wholesale trade. This led to a significant increase in the penetration of “Rizopoulos" coffee in the market, first in Athens and then throughout Greece.

The traditional preparation of Greek coffee and the quality of its blend made customers choose the Rizopoulos family’s coffee and love it for its flavor and excellence. As a result, the business continued to thrive and remains today as the oldest Greek family-owned coffee enterprise in Athens!

The Present and the Future

Today, the Rizopoulos family’s legacy in the art of coffee continues with great pride, carried on by the grandchildren of Charalampos Rizopoulos. The traditional recipe of our grandfather Charalampos’ Greek coffee, which we still use in our coffeehouse, hails from those bygone days when the beloved, authentic Greek coffee was prepared in the hovoli, releasing its rich aroma and distinctive texture.

With dedication to preserving the essence of the past, we continue to serve the genuine double Greek coffee, using the same time-honored method that has been passed down through generations. As we look to the future, our commitment to maintaining the family tradition and the quality of our coffee remains unwavering. Embracing the knowledge and passion inherited from our ancestors, we endeavor to offer you an extraordinary coffee experience that transcends time and captures the essence of tradition and excellence.

Our traditional blend is the distillation of three generations’ worth of experience and heritage, bringing to your cup the unique flavor and rich aroma that you have been savoring for over a century.

Our coffee continues to be crafted by a family-owned business that cherishes its roots and remains committed to the art of preparing the authentic Greek coffee. We maintain a genuine, personal connection with our customers, both in Athens and throughout Greece, ensuring that the tradition of our coffee-making is upheld with utmost care and dedication.