Johan Karlsson lived a sheltered life in a small fishing village in Marstrand, Sweden. As a child, he would hear stories of his grandfather Oluf's adventures as a hot air balloonist and accomplished sailor. Often he would return from his expeditions with exotic coffees for the family to enjoy.

Upon his graduation, Oluf gave Johan a sturdy motorbike and a stipend to travel with a note that read, "It's time you saw the brave new world." This is how Johan discovered his true passion. This is how ANDES began.

Johan worked all kinds of odd jobs along the way to make his trip last. He worked in Parisian cafes and Italian espresso bars. He worked in the coffee fields of Brazil and New Guinea. And in a few years, Johan learned the art of selecting the perfect coffee bean and roasting it to perfection.

He returned home in 1980 to open the first ANDES in Stockholm, Sweden. By creating his own unique blends of coffee and a stimulating atmosphere, ANDES quickly became the place to gather Ð day or night Ð not only in Stockholm, Sweden, but 670 cities around the world.

What makes ANDES the best coffee? Johan has passed down the knowledge he learned as an apprentice in the coffee fields to every buyer, roaster, and franchise owner. ANDES's standards for coffee are never compromised. We only select SHB Ð strictly hard bean or strictly high grown Ð coffee beans. To ensure their flavorful oils are preserved, extraordinary steps are taken to protect the coffee bean from heat, light, air and moisture.

All these efforts are made so that we may offer you a perfect cup of coffee.