Kintsu & Friends: trust is the first step

When we started Kintsu, we knew it would be a journey filled with hard work and, at times, uncertainty. But two things were clear from the beginning: we would always do everything in our power to keep the product good and uncompromised, and Alex’s experience would be essential to this story.

Romania has a few hundred specialty coffee shops — some part of chains, others fully independent. This places us among the most dynamic markets in Central and Eastern Europe, alongside Poland, Czechia, and Germany. In other words: there’s plenty to choose from.

That’s why we believe trust is built slowly, through consistency, through the attention we give each batch, through the way we deliver, and through the respect we show to those who choose to work with us. And we’ll keep holding onto these values.

This is a moment of appreciation: we are grateful for every coffee shop that decided to put our coffee on their shelves. Every collaboration means a lot to us. It’s not just an order – it’s a sign that our work reaches the right hands, the ones who know how to prepare it.

So here it is: Kintsu & Friends — the people and places who believed in us, made room for us on their shelves next to roasteries we deeply respect and helped us grow.

Cluj-Napoca

Konkret @ Pop-up Numma

Weekend magic. Konkret runs a coffee corner inside Numma – a studio for culinary workshops and events. With or without milk, the coffee pairs beautifully with Ema’s tarts. Keep an eye on them for the next delicious weekend.
Alex, Sorin – you’re doing an amazing job and we’re proud to work with you.

Victor Fresh to Go

A pitstop that feels like a holiday. Great energy, a clean and honest coffee, and an orange juice to die for. I always leave with a good vibe.

Eggcetera

A place everyone knows – locals and tourists alike. The kind of spot you’re willing to queue for, whether it’s breakfast or brunch. Soon they’ll open a bigger, equally cool location – and we can’t wait.

The Little Italian

Puki and Ramona are the heart of this business. Authenticity defines them. We align perfectly with their no‑compromise philosophy – a coffee made by them is always good, served with a smile and a belief that hospitality matters.

FU Coffee

A slice of Japan in an urban boutique coffee shop. Great coffee, dedicated baristas, and Vlad – always attentive to details. A place we love visiting, and where you can also buy Kintsu for home.

Brewkai

A recent addition to Cluj’s coffee scene, inspired by Japanese culture. Their goal: to bring back memories of your favorite Asian destinations. The guys selected a few origins for their brew bar. We’re rooting for you – keep up the good work.

Arad

Cafein Coffee Place

For Alexandra, community is everything. She’s involved in every detail – from choosing origins to preparation and customer experience. Cafein means cozy atmosphere, people, and connection.

Deva

Minimal

With dedication and professionalism, Adrian turned MINIMAL coffee shop into a place for coffee lovers and for those eager to discover new perspectives. MINIMAL is, at its core, about people, stories, and the aromas that bring them together.

Bucharest

Baristro

One of our long-time favorites: warm, welcoming, impossible not to love. Excellent coffee, brunch to die for (the omelette and the french toast… daaamn), Dorin and Cristi are super baristas. One of the first coffee shops that trusted us – and we’re grateful. Also kid‑friendly & pet‑friendly. We’ve melted many times at random cute scenes.

Pepper’s Coffee

A cool space with positive energy and great people. Lots of origins on the grinder and on the shelf. We recently started a great collaboration – Cătălin & Alex, thank you. You’ll find them in Militari, on Iuliu Maniu 55, with great coffee and delicious cookies.

Ototo Shops

Does it even need an introduction? Maybe not – but we’ll give one anyway. We love Ototo for the concept, the sustainable product selection, the community, and of course, the coffee. We’re present in all their Bucharest locations, both on the grinder and on the shelf. Keep up the good work & cool community. ❤️

Zissou

You go to Obor for the market, but you stay for the coffee. Robert and Flavia brought this place to life and always choose great coffees – from us and from well-known international roasteries. A vintage, relaxed space where people work with covered heads and open minds. Zissou, you have our appreciation.

We’re grateful for your trust and feedback. Chapeaux!

Alex & the team.

more coffee insights

A personal story from the Nuamos Cup, written by Alex Halchias: brewing a completely unknown coffee using a system built on water chemistry, consistency, and controlled extraction.
Kintsu at Coffeeast 2026: six Future Classic coffees, a 2nd‑place roasting award, community moments, honest espresso, and the team effort behind a festival presence that felt natural from day one.
Water is often underestimated in coffee discussions, even though it makes up almost the entire beverage and directly shapes the final taste. In specialty coffee, water isn’t a technical detail.