Lykke

Getting to know Lars Pilengrim - Co-founder of Lykke.

How did the journey of Lykke begin?

Lykke Coffee Farms is a big life and coffee project that challenges an outdated coffee industry often made up of many middlemen who do not always add value. Farmers often do not benefit from this industry.

Instead, we have established small role model farms and processing stations in excellent coffee-producing regions. We can experiment and develop techniques that we can offer to our coffee farming neighbours to help them process their already great coffee into amazing coffee. This allows us to bring the specialty coffee to the market that we know. Our business helps us to vertically integrate and cut out middlemen, so we can better control what is going into our coffee. We are committed to organic farming, avoiding monocultures, and working in harmony with people and the environment. Our goal is to enjoy a good cup of coffee without harming anyone or anything.

Can you share more about Lykke's approach to sourcing and roasting coffee?

We are dedicated to growing coffee and doing so in the face of global warming. We call this cultivating happiness. Through our unique business model, we believe we can have a long-lasting impact on producing communities by investing in them and helping to mitigate risk.

We strongly believe that as we grow and reach further, we can create an even greater impact. This is reflected in our roasting and packaging methods, which are accessible, inviting, and bring joy (Lykke is an old Nordic word for happiness).

What was the inspiration for Lykke to decide to put coffees into the convenient capsule format?

Lykke is focused on making good coffee with a positive impact accessible to everyone. As we read reports that capsules can be more energy-efficient and not as harmful to the environment as they have been portrayed, we felt motivated to get involved in this aspect of the coffee industry. We chose to use compostable materials and produce our capsules in small batches frequently for the freshest experience.

Coffee is fuel to get us moving throughout the day, especially in the morning. What is your daily morning ritual like?

I am a filter coffee drinker and usually begin my day early by using an AeroPress to brew something tasty before taking my dog out for a walk. Nowadays, when I get to the office, I have the Morning Machine waiting for me to get a second cup and try something different. It's a great routine!

What are you most excited about right now and for the future of Lykke as a brand/business?

Being born in March 2020 and taking our first steps in the midst of a global pandemic has definitely been challenging. However, I am very happy to say that our projects are now moving in the right direction. For example, we only started processing coffee at our own washing station in western Uganda last month, and as I type this, I am sipping the first sample from it! Lykke is becoming more and more established as a brand, and people seem to love what we do. Therefore, we want to keep doing more and reach even further!