INTERVIEW WITH PANAGIOTIS KONSTANTINOPOULOS, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF COFFEE ISLAND, IN THE BEST MAGAZINE
Panagiotis Konstantinopoulos, Managing Director, shares his personal journey in the world of coffee
Now an international coffee chain, Coffee Island, 25 years after opening its first café in Patras, is loved by consumers around the world. Its expansion across four continents is the result of persistence and teamwork. Behind this success lies a story of passion, innovation, and dedication to quality. Through its direct collaboration with coffee producers and its commitment to sustainability, Coffee Island stands as an example for all who believe that the business world can have a positive impact on society.
Direct Trade
Since 2012, when alongside his career as a Civil Engineer he also began working with coffee, Panagiotis has traveled to more than 25 coffee-producing regions in over 8 countries. His trips to farms around the world provided life-changing experiences, ultimately leading him to dedicate himself exclusively to coffee.
“I wasn’t just traveling to buy coffee,” he says. “I went there to meet people, hear their stories, see the conditions under which this precious fruit is produced. To learn as much as possible from the growers and to choose the best beans for Coffee Island.”
Meeting coffee farmers, many of whom live in extremely poor regions, sparked the creation of Coffee Island’s Direct Trade program. “It’s much more than a business or commercial choice. It is a promise of solidarity and fairness. That means working with small producers and local cooperatives to support sustainable farming and to pay a fair price for coffee,” emphasizes Panagiotis.
Today, Coffee Island works with 26 farms in 12 countries, strengthening the income of local producers and promoting responsible practices. By linking coffee sourcing from specific farms with sustainable development initiatives, the company collaborated, for example, with the international organization Water to Thrive to build a well in Ethiopia, providing fresh drinking water to 500 residents. From the small farms of this region comes the Single Estate “Ethiopia Guji Watercare” coffee, roasted in Coffee Island’s coffee roasteries. Meanwhile, in Rwanda’s central plateau, in the Mbuye region, Coffee Island collaborated with women farmers to source the unique Single Estate “Rwanda Women’s Blossom”, creating more opportunities and ensuring a better quality of life for them and their families.
Coffee as a bridge and expansion abroad
For Panagiotis, coffee is not just a product. It is a means of connecting with people, creating communities, and sharing experiences and ideas that make everyday life more beautiful and meaningful.
“We wanted to create moments where people could meet, talk, create, laugh. Coffee is awakening, it’s fuel—but it’s also companionship.”
Today, Coffee Island stores can be found in 97 cities across 50 prefectures in Greece, making high-quality, flavorful specialty coffee accessible to more and more people. This has always been the company’s mission—from its beginnings as a group of friends passionate about good coffee—to make quality coffee accessible to everyone.
“The secret of our success is the love for what we do and the constant pursuit of quality,” says Panagiotis. “With this recipe, we crossed Greek borders, expanded to 60 locations abroad, and recently reached as far as India. Our international expansion proves that great coffee and strong teams know no borders.”
Among the top 3 coffee chains in Europe
The 25 years of Coffee Island’s history are a story of continuous evolution. “The world of coffee is constantly changing, and issues such as climate change are shaping a completely fluid landscape,” explains Panagiotis. “We strive to always be one step ahead, searching for new varieties, new processing techniques, new taste experiences. For us, coffee is a source of inspiration and creativity.”
He continues: “Recently, we were recognized as one of the three best coffee chains in Europe at the Best Coffee Chain in Europe, Allegra European Coffee Awards, competing against many historic and globally recognized brands. This is proof that we have made significant strides in expertise and brand development in the international market.”
Sustainable Development and Fair Business
Coffee Island recently published its first ESG Report for the years 2022–2023, becoming the first Greek coffee chain to release a Sustainability Report. With a true commitment to ethical business practices and dedication to continuous actions for People, the Environment, and the Product, the company steadily invests in social contribution, in implementing innovative circular economy practices, and, of course, in ensuring the quality of its products.
“The perception of specialty coffee as a fair and resilient economic activity for our entire chain—from growers, partners, and employees to end consumers—is what adds sustainable value to our work,” stresses Panagiotis. “Despite challenges at every level, we continue with even more energy to work and promote everything that, in our way, makes the world a better place.”
