History of Gevalia

As many of you know, I have been Master Taster at Gevalia for 40 years. I am honored to contribute to the company's rich history, and I thought you might be interested in learning more about our heritage.

Gevalia was founded in 1853 in Gävle, Sweden, where we still have our factory and where all coffee tastings are performed. Our founder, Victor Theodor Engwall, was a successful importer devoted to procuring the world’s best coffees for Sweden’s beverage enjoyment. Engwall’s dedication to scouring the world for the finest beans continues to be the driving philosophy at Gevalia, and his commitment to discovery, connoisseurship and perfection are values held today by every Gevalia employee.

Within a few years of establishing Gevalia, Engwall’s commitment to the world’s best coffee was rewarded when Sweden’s King Gustav stopped at Gävle and sampled Gevalia. The king was so enamored with the coffee’s perfectly-balanced taste and warm, inviting aroma that he named Gevalia coffee purveyor for the Royal Court of Sweden, an unparalleled honor it continues to hold today.

The combination of royal patronage and strong founding philosophy make Gevalia a uniquely positioned coffee. There is simply no other coffee purveyor that works with such rich history and high standards, which have been continually met and surpassed for over 150 years. Of particular importance, Engwall’s founding spirit still serves as the heart and soul of Gevalia.

It’s this commitment to perfection that has led to my years of service as Master Taster exclusively for Gevalia. Like Engwall and all Gevalia Master Tasters before me, I believe in traveling the world to attain the best coffee, and by putting each blend and bean through a series of rigorous tests and cuppings to ensure only the best coffees are offered by Gevalia. After all, it’s up to me to ensure that Gevalia remains a timeless brand that’s held in the highest esteem and signifies only the best that coffee has to offer.