Julius Meinl history and logo development

The Julius Meinl Story: A Legacy of Coffee Innovation Since 1862 It all started in 1862, when Julius Meinl I opened a small grocery shop in Vienna, Austria, selling spices and unroasted green coffee. But he didn't stop there—he revolutionized the coffee experience by becoming the first to roast the beans himself, sparing customers the risk of burning them at home. This bold move ensured consistent quality and set a new standard for how coffee should be enjoyed. The people of Vienna embraced this idea with open arms, laying the foundation for a brand that would become a global icon. By 1891, Julius Meinl had opened a state-of-the-art roasting plant on historic ground—where the retreating Ottoman army had left behind sacks of green coffee more than 300 years earlier. Five generations later, Julius Meinl remains a symbol of quality and tradition. For over 160 years, the company has been crafting some of the world's finest coffees and teas, now enjoyed in 70 countries across five continents. From Vienna to the world—Julius Meinl continues to brew history, one cup at a time.

Julius Meinl roasting plant 1891 in Vienna

Julius Meinl Logo

Legend claims coffee originated in the Ethiopian province of Kaffa in 850 AD. Both Arabia and the East Coast of Africa were regions owing allegiance to the Turkish Ottoman Sultan. Coffee was brought to Vienna in 1683 by a besieging Ottoman Turkish army. The Fez, a red head-dress with tassel, was worn widely by men in the Turkish lands. When developing the Julius Meinl Logo the Ottoman Fez was combined with the baroque angel widely used in Central European architecture. In 1924 the Viennese artist Josef Binder designed this coffee boy logo. Over the years our logo has been modernized. The coffee boy with Fez is now the international trademark of the Julius Meinl Group.

Julius Meinl Values

We value our heritage, expertise and coffee house culture. These are the mainstays of our business. As a family company, our actions are motivated by the entrepreneurial spirit, personal commitment to supply coffees with a consistent taste and quality. More than 160 years of experience and know-how influence the coffee process. Our expertise in purchasing, sampling, roasting and packaging shows itself in each and every cup of Meinl coffee.

Julius Meinl Mission

We live our mission each and every day. Over 160 years of experience and expertise have offered our customers constant quality of product and services. We seek continuous improvement and drive change. We value our co-workers and encourage their aspirations and diversity. We strive to provide an environment that offers inspiration and personal growth.

Julius Meinl Coffee

Julius Meinl stands for premium coffee quality. Wherever possible we purchase organic green coffees, most of which come directly from coffee farms in their country of origin. We traditionally blend our coffees from highland Arabica beans and quality Robustas grown in the world’s leading coffee growing areas: Central and South America, East Africa, Ethiopia, India, and Papua New Guinea. Our coffee buyers and cupping experts apply highest quality standards. Our roasting and blending specialists in Vienna, Austria and Vicenza, Italy apply their know-how and expertise to meet the demand for ecological production and environmental packaging.

What makes Julius Meinl coffees special is their typical Viennese roasts:

Julius Meinl Light Roast
Intense aroma, more acidity, more body – Ideal for filter and drip coffee.
Julius Meinl Medium Roast
Brings out the bean's subtleties, aromatic, caramelized, slightly less acidic – Ideal for Viennese coffee recipes.
Julius Meinl Dark Roast
Somewhat caramelized, stronger and more intense taste – Ideal for espresso.

Julius Meinl Environment and Sustainability

At Julius Meinl, we feel a strong sense of responsibility for our planet as well as those involved at every stage of our coffee and tea journey as we work together to bring premium quality to every cup. As a fifth-generation family business, it is up to us to take an active role in creating positive impact along our entire value chain. At the heart of our mission is a focus on sustainability, centered around three key pillars: responsible sourcing of coffee, minimizing environmental impact, and strengthening employee engagement. These pillars drive our commitment to a lasting, positive impact. Enjoying a cup of Julius Meinl coffee is about more than just taste; it's knowing that the coffee you’re drinking comes from one of our responsibly selected partners who are committed to fostering a more sustainable coffee industry. ‘Responsibly Selected Coffee’ means our coffee is sourced through sustainability schemes that align with the Global Coffee Platform’s (GCP) standards. By the end of 2025, we aim to have all coffee purchased globally and roasted in our Vienna and Vicenza plants to meet this standard. In 2024 71% of our coffee was responsibly selected, and we are steadily increasing this proportion.

"The Moving Finger writes, and having writ,
Moves on; nor all your Piety nor Wit,
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it."

 Omar Khayyam
Persian Mathematician, Astronomer, Poet, 1048-1131