About us

... And the rest is history

On the heavy foundations of the now defunct Monastery of the Rich Clares, this Ghent based coffee roastery continues to build on its own artisanal tradition. Since our origins in 1864, we have guaranteed excellent coffee. For more than 150 years we have been selecting coffee beans from the world's finest plantations. From these grand crus we choose our range of single origins and create our own blends, which we roast in the traditional way. Our aim is nothing less than the creation of the perfect cup of coffee.

Ten years ago, we also started focusing on tea, a logical consequence of our passion for coffee. In the meantime, we have managed to build up a unique quality assortment. Together with the knowledge we continue to develop, our fascination for this interesting product continues to grow daily. We are happy to share this with you.

Craftmanship

Coffee roasting is a precise interplay of time and temperature during which substances (more than 800!) develop that determine the flavour and aroma character. Roasting happens at a temperature between 210°C and 225°C, which caramelises the sugars in the beans. The roasted coffee is then poured onto a sieve where cold air stops the roasting process quite abruptly.

Tastes differ, especially in the coffee world!

Certain high-quality coffees have enough aroma and body in them so they can stand alone: single origins. But oftentimes, coffee beans from different origins are blended, and this for many reasons.

We blend these coffees according to old recipes. This creates blends with their own and original aroma and flavour profile. It is part of the roaster's craft to guarantee constant quality and individual character. Coffee varieties may vary from country to country or even from region to region. Also, different coffee harvests from the same plantations may show quality differences. Therefore, the coffee roaster must always remain alert to the quality of the coffees.

Experience

Ever since 1864, we at Koffies De Draak have been fascinated by everything to do with coffee, tea and accessories. As such, we are genuinely proud to work with these beautiful products. The search for the tastiest coffees and teas, working in an environment of quality and craftsmanship on products that people truly enjoy: that's what Koffies De Draak is all about!

A coffee roaster is both an artist and a scientist. During roasting, the beans expand and change colour. If the beans are not roasted sufficiently, you get a colourless decoction with a sharp taste. If they are roasted too long, the coffee becomes bitter, hard and unpleasant. Together with the quality of the raw materials, the roasting profile guarantees stable and high quality.

The dragon, symbol of Ghent

The gilded dragon, which legend has it once graced the prow of the ship of the Norwegian crusader Sigrid Magnusson, arrived in Ghent as spoils of war. In 1382, it was placed on the Belfry, symbolising the city's freedom.

Our mission

We strive for authenticity, purity, simplicity and quality.

Koffies De Draak looks for the best coffees and teas in the world, produced fairly with respect for people and nature. They are selected with the greatest care and processed artisanally at all stages of the production process, without the addition of unnatural additives.

We aim to be a reference when it comes to knowledge around coffee and tea. We are happy to share our years of experience with our customers. This way, we give everyone the chance to get to know these products and make the right purchasing decision.

People and the environment

Within our economic activity, we give space to social and cultural engagement in the form of providing information and financial and practical support to various individual projects.

Our concern for health and the environment is translated in our focus on ecologically responsible cultivation and in our production and distribution according to the HACCP standard.

To achieve these goals, we invest in research, education and training, networking and quality infrastructure.

Thus, we try to give a meaningful dimension to our business within an economic framework.