ViCAFE, a Swiss specialty coffee roastery and espresso bar brand, was founded in 2010 in Eglisau, Switzerland.

ViCAFE was founded in 2010 in Eglisau by Christian Forrer, whose vision and passion for specialty coffee laid the foundation for the brand. Together with co-founder Kurt Lambert, he built ViCAFE into one of Switzerland’s leading coffee companies.

ViCOLLECTIVE, the company behind ViCAFE and Vivi (Vivi Kola), is led by current CEO Ramon Schalch, who took on the role in 2023 after nearly a decade directing core operations alongside founding CEO Christian Forrer. The company’s Board of Directors is chaired by Christian Forrer, and the management team includes Pascal Herzog.

ViCAFE’s home base is located at the SBB Werkstatt Areal in Zurich, Switzerland. This hub includes the modern roastery, bakery, flagship coffee shop, coffee academy, and company offices – a place where visitors can experience the full ViCAFE brand.

As of September 2025, ViCAFE operates 18 espresso bars in Zurich, Basel, and Eglisau. These are neighborhood favorites and high-footfall city locations that have shaped Swiss coffee culture with quick, high-quality coffee served at iconic street windows.

Yes. ViCAFE is a proud B Corp® certified company, meeting the highest standards of sustainability, transparency, and social responsibility in the coffee industry.

• Coffee for home: Freshly roasted beans from our ViCAFE Online Shop delivered directly to your door.
• Office solutions: coffee machines, beans, barista training, and full service for workplaces across Switzerland.
• Retail: Available in over 800 supermarkets across Switzerland, including many Coop and Migros locations.
• Espresso bars: A full menu of specialty coffee prepared by trained baristas; from espresso and flat white to filter coffee, matcha lattes, and refreshing iced coffee beverages.

You can visit ViCAFE espresso bars in Zurich, Basel, and Eglisau. Popular locations include Goldbrunnenplatz in Zurich, our very first espresso bar in the city and the Marktplatz in Basel. Find your nearest VICAFE Espresso bar here.

Yes. Through our ViCAFE Online Shop, you can set up a coffee subscription to receive freshly roasted beans delivered straight to your home or office on a regular basis. This ensures you’ll never run out of your favorite specialty coffee.

Our roastery in Zurich is led by two qualified Q Graders, professional coffee tasters certified by the Coffee Quality Institute. They evaluate and grade coffee to international standards, ensuring that every bean we roast delivers exceptional flavor and quality.

ViCAFE’s commitment to sustainability extends well beyond ethical coffee sourcing. We donate CHF 0.50 from every kilogram of coffee sold to the ViFOUNDATION, an independent Swiss foundation dedicated to improving living conditions in coffee farming communities. The Foundation supports transformative agroecological projects such as composting facilities, financial inclusion programs, digital farming tools, and afforestation initiatives. Operating autonomously under Swiss law, it prioritizes community resilience and shared economic growth, including farmers not directly tied to ViCAFE’s supply chain.

In addition, ViCAFE co-founded Gutsch, a Swiss organic oat drink cooperative created «by baristas, for baristas.» This plant-based milk alternative is made entirely with locally sourced organic ingredients (including Swiss-grown oats, sunflower oil, red algae, and water), designed to foam effortlessly with coffee and harmonize with espresso – aligning perfectly with our sustainability and quality values.