Gladius Koffiebranders

More About Gladius Koffiebranders

Gladius Koffiebranders is a coffee brand based in Nijmegen. Available public information first brings the brand into view in 2021. On September 13, 2021, local reports appeared regarding Gladius Koffie, mentioning the address Kerkenbos 1041, 6546 BB Nijmegen. Less is known about the formal establishment; the names of the legal founders are not publicly documented in available sources.

Name, background, and positioning

The name Gladius refers to a Roman sword. This choice aligns with the Roman history of Nijmegen and its ancient name, Noviomagus. Thus, the brand name connects local history with coffee. This background forms a significant part of the brand’s public narrative. Available information focuses primarily on this cultural link rather than the legal structure of the company.

Wouter Ruikes publicly stated that he worked with a marketing team on the launch of GLADIUS KOFFIE. In this context, he mentioned Daan Paul, Olaf Langens of Beeldfanaat, and Daan Goudzwaard. Available data describes their roles primarily in terms of brand development. A publicly named owner, head roaster, green coffee buyer, or quality manager has not been documented.

Roasting style and production information

Limited information is available regarding the roasting method. Gladius mentioned that the beans were selected and roasted in a traditional manner. It was also described that the coffee was roasted lighter, with the goal of preserving acidity and bitterness. In March 2022, Gladius described coffee roasting as a precise process that directly influences the flavor profile.

Concrete technical data is missing from public documentation. No information was found regarding the type of roaster, batch size, software used, production capacity, or roast profiles. Additionally, no head roaster has been documented by name. Consequently, it remains difficult to compare the production methods of Gladius with other roasteries based on measurable data.

Coffee Selection

The most concretely documented product is the Gladius Trajanus blend. Additionally, Gladius publicly referred to developing their own coffee after cupping various single origins and blends. A Gladius Koffie subscription was also mentioned, offering monthly deliveries of specialty coffee beans with options for three, six, or twelve months.

Full public information regarding the current assortment is unavailable. Names of current single origins, a potential decaf line, capsules, grind options, and bag sizes are not publicly documented. The most specific product information dates back to 2021 and 2022. For 2026, the current availability of the assortment has not been established in the researched information.

Origin and supply chain

In December 2021, Gladius stated that it worked with Direct Trading, mentioning direct contact with coffee farmers. A YouTube result involving Zwager Koffie and Gladius mentioned Brazil and Ethiopia in connection with the coffee beans. However, more detailed origin information is missing from public documentation.

No names of farms, cooperatives, exporters, or importers are publicly documented. Harvest years, FOB prices, farm-gate prices, and current lot information are also missing. Therefore, the level of traceability cannot be further determined based on available data. In this case, the term Direct Trading remains primarily a public claim by the brand.

Sustainability and Certification

The primary documented sustainability claim is a reference to Direct Trading. No further substantiation via certifications or measurable goals was found in the public domain. There is no documentation regarding Fairtrade, organic, Rainforest Alliance, B Corp, SCA scores, or other formal quality marks. Data regarding packaging, waste streams, coffee cherries/cascara, transport, or CO2 accounting are also missing.

Distribution and Points of Sale

Gladius was linked to several local points of sale and partnerships. Mentions include Pastry Palace in Beuningen, SPAR Looijschelder at Reiner van Ooiplein 23 in Ooij, and Coop te Plate Nijmegen at Van 't Santstraat 380. While these details indicate local distribution, they do not provide a complete picture of current availability.

Gladius was also associated with Zwager Koffie. Zwager Koffie B.V. was declared bankrupt on September 24, 2025. Consequently, the current status of any Zwager-related distribution is not publicly documented. For the location at Kerkenbos 1041, opening hours were listed as Monday through Friday, 08:30 to 17:00. No café menu, tasting room program, or cupping schedule has been documented.

Public visibility and activities

The public visibility of Gladius consists primarily of local news, social media, and retail notifications. In May 2021, an aftermovie of a launch event in the Gladiusstraat was released. A goodie bag promotion was mentioned around International Coffee Day. Beyond this, no publicly documented recurring cuppings, barista workshops, SCA courses, festival appearances, or national coffee awards were found.

Overview based on available information

Based on the available data, Gladius emerges as a Nijmegen-based coffee brand with a clear reference to the city's Roman history. Public documentation provides some facts regarding the name, address, product names, local distribution, and communication regarding Direct Trading. At the same time, much of the information remains limited or non-public. Verifiable details are particularly lacking regarding ownership, production, current product lines, traceability, and sustainability.

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