“It’s coffee” said Tom.

“It’s coffee, but what else have you added to it?” I asked.

“Coffee!” said Tom again.

“Yes it is coffee. But this is full of flavor! Its sweet! It is tasteful!  What have you put in it?”

”Coffee!!!”, Tom insisted!

And that’s how it all started. About 10 years ago at Espresso Organica in Concord NSW.

After that day, I discovered coffee and most importantly, that coffee has taste. I started going to his shop almost every day and spend time with him, sucking in all the information he was throwing at me about coffee. We roasted and cupped coffee from all over the world. From humble Brazilian coffee, to Jamaica Blue Mountain, to Cup of Excellence.  He was sharing with me all the knowledge and experience he had gained all his life. He was talking about coffee, like he was talking about his only child. And indeed it was like that. Until it become my child too…

A few years later, I came back to Greece determined to do what Tom did to me. To spread the word. To let people know about coffee. That coffee is not bitter, it is sweet. And that is how the first coffee Dive in Petralona – Athens opened its doors in November 2014.

“coffee Dive”. It took a while to decide the name. Mainly because…

“The term dive was first used in the press in the U.S. in 1880s to describe disreputable places that were often in basements into which one “dives below”. Once considered a derogatory term, dive bar is now a coveted badge of honour bestowed by aficionados looking for authenticity in such establishments.”

… and that’s what exactly I wanted it to be. Authentic, that offers unique coffee to authentic people that wanted to learn and appreciate.

Since then, and thanks to the people of Petralona that accepted us and supported us (we thank them from the bottom of our heart), we grew to a network of 5 unique shops in Athens and one and a half coffee Dive in Bucharest Romania. Half because it’s on wheels. Nevertheless, we stay focused on our commitment, to offer the best coffee we can get our hands on, without changing anything else other than to enhance the taste buds of patrons that visit us every day.  It is just that now we are more. The coffee “Divers” group has grown and …

… we wait for you to come and join us to our relentless pursuit of quality coffee!

Andreas Stavropoulos