ONCE UPON A TIME
2009
Athens.
A random walk. A small café on Benaki Street. The aroma of freshly roasted coffee in the air.
And a new idea: Specialty Coffee.
A few sips were all it took. This had to come to Crete.
In September 2009, at the height of the Greek financial crisis, Nikos Zervos opened one of Greece's very first specialty coffee cafés in Heraklion.
Soon after, Giorgos Kontorinis joined the journey, bringing technical expertise, passion and a deep understanding of espresso.
Together, they introduced the city to a completely new coffee culture.
Specialty coffee. Single origin. Latte art.
At first, people were sceptical.
Before long, our first customers became our biggest supporters.
That's how the Hacienda story began.
2011
The first major milestone soon followed.
Giorgos Kontorinis earned 3rd Place at the Hellenic Barista Championship, proving that passion, dedication and craftsmanship belong among the very best.
Not bad for a guy with a tamper, an espresso machine and a big dream.
2012
We had something worth sharing. So we built the Coffee Studio.
Part workshop. Part classroom. Entirely dedicated to specialty coffee.
Workshops, barista training, latte art seminars and hands-on education laid the foundations of Heraklion's growing coffee culture.
Soon after, we moved into our new training space on Andrea Papandreou Avenue, where hundreds of professionals and coffee enthusiasts learned to dial in espresso and pour their very first latte art heart.
It wasn't just education.
2013
And that's how Hacienda was born.
A small neighbourhood café built on three simple values:
Quality. Knowledge. Community.
From day one, we never tried to impress anyone.
We simply wanted to serve exceptional coffee, work with people who cared about great ingredients and create a place where everyone felt at home.
No gimmicks.
No unnecessary fuss.
Just real coffee, genuine hospitality and a team that loved what they did.
The response was immediate.
And that relationship continues to grow today.
2013 — Hellenic Barista Championship
Giorgos Kontorinis returned to the podium with another 3rd Place, reinforcing our commitment to craftsmanship, education and quality.
2015
We introduced Nitro Cold Brew to Greece.
In the middle of the Cretan summer, we served a coffee that was cold, creamy, naturally sweet and unbelievably smooth.
It was unlike anything people had tasted before.
They loved it from the very first sip.
2016
Knowledge deserves to be shared.
From the Coffee Studio to Greece's biggest coffee stages, Giorgos travelled across the country as a trainer and speaker at HORECA, the Athens Coffee Festival and numerous professional seminars, helping spread the culture of specialty coffee to a new generation of baristas.
2017
Hacienda keeps growing.
With the opening of our second store came the birth of the Hacienda Bakehouse.
For the first time, we began producing our own breads, viennoiserie, pastries and desserts every single day, with the same care and dedication we had always given our coffee.
We didn't just want to serve great food.
We wanted to create it.
2018
Soon after came our Panastasiou location.
Our very first Bakeaway concept, designed for people who wanted the same Hacienda quality with even greater speed and convenience.
Bakehouse had officially become part of Hacienda's DNA.
2019
Florence. The birthplace of espresso.
We visited La Marzocco, the company behind some of the world's most iconic espresso machines.
Because when you love coffee, you respect the tools that make it possible.
That same year, we became proudly Dog Friendly.
Because sometimes our best customers don't order anything.
They simply wag their tails.
Our four-legged friends have always been, and always will be, welcome.
2020
A year that changed everything.
We opened our fourth Hacienda in Agia Aikaterini Square, in the historic heart of Heraklion.
At the same time, our brand evolved.
New colours.
New textures.
The same philosophy.
That same year, the Hacienda Bakehouse moved into its new home on Mavsolou Street.
A modern bakery and pastry production facility built to support the daily creation of our breads, viennoiserie, desserts and pastries.
We grew.
But the smell of warm croissants coming out of the oven every morning never changed.
2021
A year full of new beginnings.
While the world slowed down, we invested in what came next.
We expanded our delivery service, bringing the Hacienda experience into thousands of homes.
That same year, we travelled to Costa Rica to meet one of our coffee producers in person.
Because behind every exceptional cup of coffee is a farmer, a family and a story.
Then came the Brewhouse.
A dedicated space where we craft our own Cold Brew, handcrafted soft drinks, lemonades, teas and fresh juices.
The year closed with another milestone.
Our loyalty community grew to more than 6,000 members.
For us, it was never just a loyalty card.
It was proof that thousands of people kept choosing Hacienda, again and again.
2022
Hacienda went beyond our cafés.
We launched our first collection of Hacienda Merchandise.
Because some people never wanted to leave.
So we found a way for Hacienda to go wherever they do.
2023
We continued to grow.
Our fifth Hacienda opened its doors.
Another Bakeaway, this time on Christomichali Xylouri Street, created for people who wanted Hacienda quality, fast.
Fast. Fresh. 100% Hacienda.
That same year, our team competed with three entries at the Hellenic Barista Championship, returning home with important distinctions.
For us, competitions have never been about trophies.
They're reminders that there's always room to grow.
2024
The next chapter begins.
Our sixth Hacienda opens in Koroni Magara, one of Heraklion's fastest-growing neighbourhoods.
A new destination that represents the most complete expression of Hacienda yet: creative cuisine, specialty coffee, Bakehouse, Brewhouse and all-day hospitality under one roof.
2026
The next chapter is just beginning.
Hacienda continues to grow with purpose through our structured and award-winning Franchise model.
From a chance stop at a small café in Athens...
to an idea that became part of everyday life for thousands of people in Crete.
The Hacienda story is still being written.
And we're only getting started.
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