About Eckhardt Coffee
Our Story: From a German Family Crest to a Coffee Revolution in China
The Eckhardt name carries centuries of history. In 17th-century Germany, the Eckhardt family was raised to nobility, earning a crest that has been passed down through generations. That legacy of craftsmanship and honor remains at the heart of everything we do today.
The modern chapter began with Eckhard Goessl, a German mechanical engineering graduate who arrived in Ningbo, China, in 2002. What was meant to be a temporary stay became a home. Over the years, Eckhard immersed himself in the local community—teaching German, organizing gatherings, practicing Tai Chi, and building deep friendships. Ningbo embraced him as family, and he never left.
But Eckhard had a dream. Germany is a nation of coffee lovers, where adults consume roughly two liters of coffee daily. He wanted to bring that authentic European coffee culture to China—not through traditional cafés, but through intelligent, robotic technology. In partnership with his friend Zheng Ning, a mechanical technology expert, Eckhardt Coffee was born.
Our Mission
To bring the unique experience of European life to coffee lovers through a fair, enthusiastic, and innovative business model.
We are committed to:
Preserving Authentic Coffee Art: Our robotic systems are engineered to replicate the techniques of senior European baristas—every detail, from milk texturing to extraction timing, is calibrated for excellence.
Making Quality Accessible: Through automation, we deliver high-quality, affordable coffee to offices, hospitals, universities, shopping centers, and transport hubs where traditional cafés cannot operate economically.
Creating Meaningful Experiences: Every cup is more than a beverage. It is a moment of delight, delivered with the warmth and precision that defines ECKHARDT COFFEE ART®.
Giving Back: For every cup served, we donate one yuan to charity, supporting impoverished students and community programs in China—a promise Eckhard made to the country that welcomed him.
Our Vision
To become a top global coffee chain brand with European heritage and Chinese innovation.
We envision a world where:
Robotic coffee stations are as commonplace as ATMs, bringing freshly ground, barista-quality coffee to every corner of society.
ECKHARDT COFFEE ART® is recognized worldwide as the bridge between old-world coffee craftsmanship and new-world technology.
Our global community of coffee lovers connects through shared experiences, social events, and a membership club that celebrates the joy of a perfect cup.
Every machine we deploy extends service availability, reduces staffing burdens, and creates memorable customer moments—whether in a cinema lobby, a hospital waiting area, or a corporate office.
What We Do
Eckhardt Coffee designs and deploys intelligent robotic coffee stations that combine six-axis collaborative robot arms, commercial-grade coffee equipment, refrigerated ingredient storage, and automated cleaning systems. Our portfolio ranges from compact units for offices and cinemas to dual-arm systems capable of offering more than 40 beverage choices and holding up to 300 cups—including latte-art printing capabilities.
Beyond coffee, our machines prepare milk tea, juice, ice cream, and other refreshments. A connected cloud platform allows operators to monitor sales, inventory, machine status, and fault notifications remotely, while customers order through touchscreens, mobile apps, or mini-programs.
Our Values
| Passion for People | We foster a harmonious team environment built on mutual respect. |
| Passion for Service | We deliver integrity, quality, and service with every smile. |
| Passion for Learning | We stay ahead of the market through continuous innovation. |
| Passion for Work | We create the best value for society in everything we do. |
The Eckhardt Promise
Every cup that leaves an Eckhardt machine carries the weight of a family name and the warmth of an adopted homeland. It is German precision, Chinese innovation, and a simple belief: that a great cup of coffee has the power to brighten a day, connect a community, and honor a legacy.
ECKHARDT COFFEE ART® — European Tradition. Intelligent Craft. Every Cup.