A special video at SosyalKafa. “The Story of Espressolab with Esat Kocadağ”

The video is in Turkish, but here are key timestamps linked to significant moments in the video:

1. 00:00:01 – Introduction to Esat Kocadağ and the Origin of Espressolab
2. 00:00:32 – Esat’s Early Journey and Connection to Coffee
3. 00:01:35 – Opening the First Espressolab Store
4. 00:04:30 – Transition from Hobby to Business Expansion
5. 00:06:20 – International Expansion and Challenges
6. 00:08:12 – Strategic Growth in Coffee Quality and Sourcing
7. 00:10:15 – The Third Wave Coffee Movement and Cultural Impact
8. 00:12:30 – Sustainable Practices in Coffee Sourcing
9. 00:16:40 – Global Coffee Consumption Trends and Espressolab’s Vision
10. 00:20:45 – Esat’s Advice to Young Entrepreneurs and Future Plans

Who is Esat Kocadağ?

Esat Kocadağ is a Turkish entrepreneur and businessman, born in 1985, who has made a significant impact in the coffee industry[1][2]. He is best known as the founder of Espressolab, a rapidly growing coffee chain in Turkey[3].

Background and Family Business

Kocadağ comes from a family with a strong business background. He is the third-generation representative of the well-established Sütiş brand, a dairy products company[1][2]. This entrepreneurial spirit from his family has clearly influenced his career path.

Espressolab: A Success Story

Kocadağ founded Espressolab in September 2014, turning his passion for coffee into a successful business venture[3]. The company has experienced remarkable growth:

• Initially started with a $30,000 investment[2]
• By 2018, it had 36 branches, including 6 international locations[2]
• In 2024, Kocadağ reported opening a new branch every 3 days[1][2]

Major Achievements

1. Espressolab Roastery: In 2022, Kocadağ invested about $2 million to transform an old paper factory in Istanbul’s Merter district into Europe’s largest coffee experience center[1][2].

2. Rapid Expansion: The company has grown to employ around 300 people in Espressolab alone, with a total of 1,700 employees including the Sütiş brand[2].

3. Target Audience: Espressolab has successfully captured the youth market, with 70% of its customers aged 18-23[2].

Education and Other Roles

Kocadağ studied Economics at Istanbul Bilgi University from 2004 to 2009[3]. In addition to his role at Espressolab, he has been serving as a Board Member at Emirgan Sutis since October 2004[3].

Esat Kocadağ’s journey from a family business background to creating one of Turkey’s most successful local coffee brands showcases his entrepreneurial skills and vision in the competitive coffee industry.

Citations:

1. Espressolab’ın Kurucusu Esat Kocadağ Kimdir? Espressolab Nasıl Kuruldu? – Sanayi Gazetesi
2. Espressolab’in Sahibi Kimdir? Esat Kocadağ Kim? Sütiş Kimin? – Odatv
3. Esat Kocadağ – LinkedIn
4. Esat Kocadağ – Ekşi Sözlük