The great taste of Arvid Nordquist’s coffee always starts with the selection of the beans.
Great taste, quality and sustainability – all in one cup of Swedish coffee The story of the manufacturer behind one of Sweden’s most-loved coffee brands begins in a small delicacy shop on Nybrogatan in Stockholm, Sweden. It was 12 September 1884 when Arvid Nordquist himself, after several years as a clerk behind the desk, had saved enough money to buy the little shop and brand it with his own name. A lot has happened since then, but Arvid Nordquist still produces high-quality coffee with delicious taste, while ensuring that the process from bean to coffee cup is sustainable and carried out with complete commitment to both people and the environment. By Kristine Olofsson | Photos: Jesper Florbrant
Arvid kept the shop and the little family business as neat as himself — each thing in its own place, with busy personnel roaming around in newly starched shirts and dark suit jackets. This immaculacy was also clearly reflected in the quality and flavour of the products. It didn’t take long before the 26-year-old and his shop were well established, with a solid base of frequent clients. A large milestone that cemented the product excellence was reached in 1907, 40 | Issue 133 | February 2020
when Arvid Nordquist became a royal court supplier, an honourable relationship that is ongoing to this day. The passion, entrepreneurship, attention to detail and pride that go into the products haven’t changed since then. The Classic coffee launched in 1962 and is today known as Arvid Nordquist Kaffe. The company has been familyowned since day one and is now run by the third generation, led by CEO Anders Nordquist, who brings the tradition of
high quality forward, with heavy emphasis on sustainability.
Sustainable beans for a great taste experience “The great taste of Arvid Nordquist’s coffee always starts with the selection of the beans. Coffee should taste good. That’s why we only use the finest beans, with a rich and complex flavour, grown in the best conditions,” says Wilhelm Nordquist, purchasing director, coffee dept. Quality and flavour are in focus when selecting the 100 per cent topclass Arabica beans, famous for their strong, yet sweet and fruity flavour. The company was the first coffee roastery in the Nordic countries to secure a production that uses exclusively sustainably certified coffee beans. “When you buy sustainably certified coffee, you know that there are systems, training and a third party controlling that all criteria