Monocle's Global Coffee Brands Roundup: WatchHouse, Luckin, Blue Bottle Lead
Monocle's June issue features a global survey of 25 leading coffee brands, highlighting expansion strategies, funding rounds, and market trends. UK chain WatchHouse, founded in 2014 by Roland Horne, has over 20 London sites and US outposts in the Chrysler Building and Fifth Avenue, backed by $6m from Mark Bezos and HighPost Capital. Horne aims for 500 outlets by 2033 after a record £7.2m crowdfunding raise in 2024. China's Luckin Coffee, founded in 2017, operates 30,000+ outlets with 98 million monthly customers, opening 8,000 stores in 2023 alone, and expanding to Singapore, Malaysia, and the US. Its backer Centurium Capital acquired Blue Bottle Coffee from Nestlé for under $400m in March 2026. Blue Bottle, founded by James Freeman in 2002, now has 100+ locations across the US, China, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. Other notable brands include Delta Cafés (Portugal, founded 1961, present in 40+ countries), Kafeterija Magazin 1907 (Serbia, 60+ branches, backed by BlackPeak Capital), Half Million (Saudi Arabia, 70+ locations, founded by Abdullah Al Rajhi), and Kopi Kenangan (Indonesia, 1,000+ outlets, backed by Li Ka-shing). The article also covers coffee equipment makers like La Marzocco (Italy, founded 1927) and Morning (Singapore), as well as beanless coffee innovator Atomo (Seattle, founded 2019). Historical context includes the first London coffee house by Pasqua Rosée in 1652 and the role of Lloyd's Coffee House in founding Lloyd's Insurance.
Key facts
- WatchHouse founded 2014 in London by Roland Horne, now 20+ UK sites and US expansion.
- WatchHouse raised $6m from Mark Bezos and HighPost Capital; crowdfunded £7.2m in 2024.
- Luckin Coffee founded 2017, has 30,000+ outlets and 98 million monthly customers.
- Luckin opened 8,000 outlets in 2023; expanding to Singapore, Malaysia, US.
- Centurium Capital acquired Blue Bottle Coffee from Nestlé for under $400m in March 2026.
- Blue Bottle founded 2002 by James Freeman, now 100+ locations globally.
- Kafeterija Magazin 1907 founded 2014 in Serbia, now 60+ branches, backed by BlackPeak Capital.
- Half Million founded 2018 by Abdullah Al Rajhi, 70+ locations in Saudi Arabia and abroad.
Entities
Artists
- Roland Horne
- Mark Bezos
- James Freeman
- Abdullah Al Rajhi
- David Thai
- Edward Tirtanata
- Kenneth Shoji
- Gildas Loaëc
- Masaya Kuroki
- Paul Geshos
- Andy Kleitsch
- Jarret Stopforth
- Ritesh Doshi
- Oksana Vitynska
- Kenean Assefa Dukamo
- Roberta Girani
- Giuseppe Girani
- Zoran Stanojevic
- Marko Vukomanovic
- Joaqúin Parra
- Dani Sanchez
- David Sanchez
- Pasqua Rosée
- Daniel Edwards
- Giuseppe Bambi
- Bruno Bambi
Institutions
- Monocle
- WatchHouse
- HighPost Capital
- Luckin Coffee
- Centurium Capital
- Blue Bottle Coffee
- Nestlé
- Delta Cafés
- Kafeterija Magazin 1907
- BlackPeak Capital
- Half Million
- Kopi Kenangan
- Café Amazon
- PTT
- Highlands Coffee
- Jollibee Foods
- Compose Coffee
- BaseSGN
- % Arabica
- Café Kitsuné
- Maison Kitsuné
- Ralph Lauren
- Mecca Coffee
- Tim Hortons
- 3G Capital
- Burger King
- Popeye's
- Atomo Coffee
- La Marzocco
- Morning
- Nuova Simonelli
- Sanremo
- Cimbali
- Slayer
- Synesso
- Monmouth Coffee Company
- Illy
- Lavazza
- Cotti Coffee
- Lloyd's Coffee House
- Lloyd's Insurance
- London Stock Exchange
- Jonathan's Coffee House
- Oxford English Dictionary
- Cup of Excellence
- Daye Bensa Coffee
- Mare Terra
- Right Side Coffee
- Miró
- Black Honey
- Spring Valley Coffee
- Dukamo Coffee
- Caffè Girani
- Edo Construction
- The Monocle Café
Locations
- London
- UK
- New York
- USA
- Chrysler Building
- Fifth Avenue
- Dubai
- UAE
- Marsa Boulevard
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- China
- Qingdao
- Japan
- Kyoto
- Tokyo
- Okayama
- Paris
- France
- Zürich
- Switzerland
- Portugal
- Porto
- Lisbon
- Spain
- Barcelona
- Castelldefels
- Italy
- Trieste
- Florence
- Venice
- Turin
- Serbia
- Belgrade
- Montenegro
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Hungary
- Ukraine
- Lviv
- Ethiopia
- Addis Ababa
- Hawassa
- Kenya
- Nairobi
- Islington
- Saudi Arabia
- Baghdad
- Thailand
- Bangkok
- Ari
- Vietnam
- Indonesia
- Australia
- Sydney
- Canada
- Hamilton
- Ontario
- Oakland
- California
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- South Korea
- Iraq
- Kazakhstan
- Hawaii
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Izmir
- Turkey
Sources
- Monocle —