The Underdog

Michal Stec and Jan Spalek left Gill's Coffee roastery in 2013 to start Rebelbean in Brno, launching with nothing but a Brew Bike serving exclusively filter coffee and growing the business on cash flow without traditional advertising. By 2017 they had moved into a 100 square meter dedicated roastery, where they now roast on a Giesen W15A and a Huky 500 sample roaster for limited editions, with two time Czech Barista Champion Denis Kramar heading up the coffee program. The rebellious spirit is real, not just branding: the team members have worn every hat from plumber to electrician to driver to accountant on the way to building three full cafes and a pop up in Brno. Sourcing comes through Falcon Specialty, Panama Varietals, and Santa Cristina Specialty Coffees, and the tasting notes lean proudly Czech with references to dandelion honey and plum jam. Their MY DAILY MIX blend even comes with an accompanying Spotify playlist, and The Underdog project pushes innovative sourcing from origin countries. Named European Coffee Trip Roaster of the Month in April 2017, Rebelbean backs up its motto of "Be a Rebel" with a creative, lifestyle driven approach that avoids coffee snobbery while never compromising on quality.