MAME Coffee
Sources: MAME Coffee (website)
MAME is a Swiss specialty coffee roaster and café group founded in 2016 in Zurich by Emi Fukahori and Mathieu Theis. The name comes from the Japanese word for “beans,” reflecting Emi’s Japanese heritage and a philosophy of dedicated, continuous improvement. Legal entity: MAME Roastery GmbH, Uetlibergstrasse 65/67, 8045 Zürich.
MAME occupies the pinnacle of the Swiss specialty coffee scene, driven by an exceptional competition record and a curated micro-lot sourcing programme. In 2020, MAME began sourcing and roasting its own coffees.
Founders
| Name | Background | Competition highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Emi Fukahori | Born Japan, based Zurich | Swiss Barista Champion 2015; Swiss Brewers Cup Champion 2018; World Brewers Cup Champion 2018 |
| Mathieu Theis | Born France, based Zurich | Swiss Barista Champion 2016, 2018, 2019, 2026; WBC 3rd 2018; WBC 6th 2019; WBC 8th 2024 |
MAME also coaches international competitors. Notable MAME-associated baristas: Daniele Ricci (Italian Barista Champion, WBC runner-up 2023), Taka Ishitani (Japanese Barista Champion, WBC 3rd 2024), Suki Hiu Yeung Ma (Swiss Brewers Cup Champion 2024, 2025).
Mathieu won the 2026 Swiss Barista Championship, which means he will compete at WBC 2026 — hosted at World of Coffee Brussels, June 25–27, 2026.
Locations
| Location | Opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MAME Josef, Josefstrasse 160, Zürich | Oct 2016 | First shop, Kreis 5; former laundry space |
| MAME Seefeld, Seefeldstrasse 19, Zürich | Jul 2018 | Largest shop, lakeside |
| MAME Roastery, Uetlibergstrasse 65/67, Zürich | Nov 2019 | Warehouse; training area; not open to public |
| MAME Plainpalais, Rue des Voisins 8, Geneva | Sep 2023 | |
| MAME Bahnhofstrasse, Zürich | Oct 2023 | |
| MAME Saint-Gervais, Bd James-Fazy 8, Geneva | Dec 2023 | |
| MAME Thalwil, Gotthardstrasse 12 | Oct 2024 | |
| KURO MAME, Toranomon 5-3-3 1F, Tokyo | Jun 2025 | No menu; curated tasting room; reservations recommended |
| MAME Getrud, Zürich | Feb 2026 |
9 total locations (8 in Switzerland, 1 in Tokyo).
Coffee programme
MAME has offered two tiers of coffee since starting its own roasting programme:
Daily coffees (as of May 2026)
| Name | Country | Farm/Region | Variety | Process | Price (250g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bombe Washed | Ethiopia | Sidama, Bombe | Heirloom | Washed | CHF 23 |
| Pink Bourbon | Colombia | — | Pink Bourbon | — | CHF 30 |
| UBA Niu | Colombia | Finca Milan | Caturra | Co-fermentation | CHF 32 |
| Full Bloom | Brazil | Daterra, Minas Gerais | Yellow Catuai | Natural | CHF 19 |
| Pearl | Brazil | — | Peaberry | — | CHF 18 |
| Decaf Omni | Brazil | Santos, Comercio | — | Swiss Water Decaf | CHF 19 |
All daily coffees available as espresso roast and filter roast. Also in 1kg bags.
Competition coffees (as of May 2026)
| Name | Country | Farm | Variety | Process | Price (150g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Lot 3210 Geisha Washed Omni | Panama | Abu | Geisha | Washed | CHF 100 |
| Janson Lot 985 Geisha Washed Omni | Panama | Janson | Geisha | Washed | CHF 100 |
| Janson Lot 1047 Geisha Natural Omni | Panama | Janson | Geisha | Natural | CHF 100 |
| Lérida Lot 439 Geisha Natural Omni | Panama | Lérida | Geisha | Natural | CHF 78 |
| La Mula Lot 29 Geisha Natural Omni | Panama | La Mula | Geisha | Natural | CHF 121 |
| Altieri Lot ALE Geisha Natural Omni | Panama | Altieri | Geisha | Natural | CHF 100 |
| Lamastus Elida Geisha Anaerobic Omni | Panama | Lamastus Elida | Geisha | Anaerobic | CHF 100 |
| La Negrita Sidra Anaerobic Omni | Colombia | Finca La Negrita | Sidra | Anaerobic | CHF 100 |
Competition coffees are sold as 150g tubes (omni roast, usable for espresso or filter).
No El Salvador appears in the current or historical catalogue. Subscription history (2023–2026) shows: Colombia (multiple farms), Brazil (Daterra, UBA), Panama (Finca Deborah, Hartmann, Janson, Auromar, Adaura, Momoto) — all with zero Salvadoran representation.
Competition subscription
CHF 50/month for 150g filter coffee curated by Emi Fukahori. Origin is hidden until after the customer tastes. Includes AQUACODE brewing water (Taiwan; ionic minerals for 0 ppm water) and Emi’s recipe. Available as monthly, 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month subscription.
Green coffee sourcing
MAME’s supply chain is not publicly documented. Competition coffees are sourced from named Panamanian farms (Abu, Janson, Lérida, La Mula, Altieri, Lamastus Elida); which importers supply these lots is not confirmed from the website.
Wholesale
MAME offers wholesale to cafés and retail businesses:
- All coffees are single origins; espresso and filter roasts sold separately
- Formats: 150g tubes (competition), 250g bags (daily), 1kg bags
- Minimum order: 18 × 250g or 32 × 150g or 5 kg bags (can mix across types)
- Ships next day after roasting (Monday or Wednesday roast days → Tuesday or Thursday ship)
- Wholesale contact: orders@mame.coffee
Organic certification
No organic certification requirement is stated anywhere on the MAME website. Their sourcing is competition- and quality-driven, not certification-driven. No certification barrier for Kaiserblick.
Fit for Kaiserblick
HIGH fit. Key factors:
- No El Salvador in portfolio — zero Salvadoran coffee in MAME’s current or historical catalogue across all subscription history. Kaiserblick would be the first Salvadoran supplier; clear first-mover advantage.
- Competition-tier micro-lots — MAME’s subscription model is built around exceptional competition-quality lots at CHF 50/month for 150g. Kaiserblick’s rare varieties (Bernardina, Pacamara, Sudan Rume, Bourbon Elite, Pink Bourbon from Los Pirineos) are exactly the profile that fits this tier. Washed and honey processing aligns with Emi’s filter-focused curation.
- WBC at WoC Brussels 2026 — Mathieu Theis is the 2026 Swiss Barista Champion; WBC 2026 is at World of Coffee Brussels (June 25–27). Mathieu will be on-site as a competitor, making WoC the single best meeting opportunity.
- Swiss export geography — Switzerland is within Kaiserblick’s export focus (DE/FR/BE/NL/AT/CH).
- No organic cert barrier — sourcing is quality-driven, not certification-driven.
- Differentiation path — MAME’s competition coffees are overwhelmingly Panamanian Geisha. El Salvador’s Bernardina (Gesha relative, ~70% DNA), Pacamara (large bean, wine-like complexity), and Sudan Rume (wild Ethiopian, extreme rarity) offer a credible exotic alternative to Panama Geisha with a compelling origin story.
- Japanese cultural alignment — MAME’s Japanese roots (Emi, KURO MAME Tokyo, JA-language site) create an opening for a narrative around El Salvador’s craft-quality coffees reaching a globally-minded Swiss roaster.
WoC Brussels 2026 (June 25–27): Mathieu Theis will compete at WBC 2026 at this event. Contact for green coffee sourcing: orders@mame.coffee / info@mame.coffee.
Contact
- Website: mame.coffee
- General: info@mame.coffee
- Wholesale / orders: orders@mame.coffee