Coffee Like
Coffee Like is a Russian coffee-to-go chain built primarily through franchised coffee bars.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Coffee Like is a Russian coffee-to-go coffee-bar chain founded in Izhevsk in 2013 by Ayaz Shabutdinov and Zufar Garipov. The business began with a small first location on Universitetskaya Street and quickly adopted franchising as its main expansion mechanism. Its model combined compact takeaway-oriented coffee bars, standardized operating procedures, partner training, centralized supplies, and recurring franchise and royalty income. The first franchise partner opened in Yekaterinburg in December 2013, only weeks after the original bar began operating. The chain’s early expansion was unusually rapid. Nine locations were operating by the end of 2013, and 164 bars were opened during the first year, although 44 subsequently closed. Many early franchisees were young followers of Shabutdinov’s VKontakte blog, often between 19 and 25 years old and without prior business-management experience. The company responded to partner-selection and execution challenges by developing a more formal selection process, a Coffee Like academy, an enterprise resource-planning system, and an internal knowledge base covering operating procedures, case studies, and practical franchisee guidance. Coffee Like also developed infrastructure around its franchise network. Coffee Like Logistics supplied partners with items such as coffee beans, cups, straws, and other consumables, allowing the management company to earn revenue not only from directly operated outlets but also from franchise sales, royalties, and supply-chain activity. In 2015, the company introduced a quality-control system and began using mystery shoppers to inspect bars. This was part of an effort to make a large and geographically dispersed network more consistent. The format initially emphasized small takeaway outlets, but Coffee Like later added larger coffee-house locations with seating. The first full-scale coffee house opened in Izhevsk in March 2017. By 2016, the network had reached 238 bars in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, while the company retained a leading position in Russia’s coffee-to-go segment by outlet count. The network was reported to have more than 300 locations at the beginning of 2018, 297 operating bars in 73 cities during 2017, and 431 bars in 105 cities by October 2018. The business expanded alongside substantial reported growth in management-company and chain revenue. Reported figures included 2015 revenue of 11.2 million rubles for Coffee Like LLC and 34.6 million rubles for Logistics Coffee LLC, while a broader group-company figure was reported at 346 million rubles. The chain’s reported revenue reached 800 million rubles in 2017 and 987 million rubles by October 2018. These figures refer to particular legal entities or reporting scopes and should not be treated as a single consistently defined measure of consolidated brand sales. Ownership changed in 2017 when Garipov left the founders’ board and Shabutdinov became the principal owner, with a reported share exceeding 50 percent. On August 27, 2018, Shabutdinov sold the Coffee Like company for 200 million rubles; the buyer was not identified in the cited material. Later public figures indicated continued network growth: Coffee Like reported 825 coffee bars in Russia by July 2021, while Forbes reported that the number of opened coffee bars had reached 1,021 by October 2023, including 1,014 franchisee-operated outlets. The identity of the current owner, the precise present operating status, and the current corporate structure are not established by the supplied sources.
History
Coffee Like was established in Izhevsk in 2013 by Ayaz Shabutdinov and Zufar Garipov. Its first bar opened on November 13, 2013, on Universitetskaya Street. The location was later designated as a museum. According to Shabutdinov, the initial project required approximately 100,000 rubles, while a coffee supplier provided equipment without charge. The company moved quickly into franchising. Its first franchisee opened in Yekaterinburg on December 1, 2013, and nine bars were operating by the end of that year. Coffee Like also created Coffee Like Logistics to supply its partners with consumables, including cups and straws. The earliest franchise partners were often young followers of Shabutdinov’s VKontakte blog, many of whom had little or no previous management experience. Although 164 bars opened during the first year, 44 later closed, demonstrating the operational difficulty of rapid franchise growth. To improve partner quality, Coffee Like developed a selection and training system. The company used an academy, an ERP system, and an internal knowledge base containing operational methods, case examples, and franchisee-generated practices. The reported franchise price rose to 300,000 rubles by 2016, serving in part as an additional screening mechanism for prospective partners. In 2015, the company added a quality-control program supported by mystery shoppers. The brand’s original format consisted largely of small coffee-to-go outlets. In March 2017, it opened its first full-scale coffee house with seating in Izhevsk. This expanded the possible customer experience while leaving the compact takeaway model at the center of network growth. Coffee Like expanded across Russia and the CIS. By 2016, it reportedly had 238 bars and was the largest Russian coffee-to-go chain by outlet count among the competitors cited in the source material. In 2017, the network reached 297 operating bars in 73 cities, while reported chain revenue was 800 million rubles. By October 2018, the network had 431 operating bars in 105 cities and reported chain revenue of 987 million rubles. The company had planned to reach 400 bars by the end of 2018 and to pursue international expansion. The management company’s revenue model had several components: company-operated bars, franchise sales and royalties, and the supply of coffee beans and consumables to franchise partners. Reported 2015 figures differentiated between Coffee Like LLC, Logistics Coffee LLC, and an aggregate group-company figure, so the numbers are not directly interchangeable. The cited reports also described outlet-level average revenue and average checks, but these measures reflected particular periods and operating scopes. In July 2017, Garipov left the board of founders, and Shabutdinov became the main owner, reportedly holding more than half of the company’s capital. On August 27, 2018, Shabutdinov sold Coffee Like for 200 million rubles. The buyer was not named in the available source. Subsequent public indicators suggest further expansion: the company’s website stated that it had 825 bars in Russia by July 2021, and Forbes reported 1,021 opened bars by October 2023, of which 1,014 were opened by franchisees. Current ownership, management, legal structure, and whether the brand remains active under the same corporate entity require verification.
- 2023
More than 1,000 bars reported
[1]Forbes reports 1,021 opened Coffee Like bars, including 1,014 opened by franchisees.
- 2021
Reported network reaches 825 bars
[1]Coffee Like states on its website that it operates or supports 825 coffee bars in Russia.
- 2018
Ownership transfer
[1]Ayaz Shabutdinov reportedly sells the company for 200 million rubles; the purchaser is unidentified in the cited material.
- 2017
First seating-oriented coffee house opens
[1]Coffee Like opens its first full-scale coffee house with seating in Izhevsk.
- 2016
Network reaches 238 coffee bars
[1]The chain reaches 238 locations across Russia and CIS countries.
- 2015
Quality-control program is introduced
[1]Coffee Like begins using a formal quality-control system and mystery shoppers to inspect outlets.
- 2013
Coffee Like is founded in Izhevsk
[1]Ayaz Shabutdinov and Zufar Garipov establish Coffee Like and open the first bar on Universitetskaya Street on November 13.
- 2013
Franchise expansion begins
[1]The first franchise partner opens in Yekaterinburg on December 1, and nine bars are operating by the end of the year.
Products and positioning
A scalable, accessible coffee-to-go franchise offering focused on compact formats, standardized operations, partner training, and broad geographic coverage.
Coffee retail · 2013
Coffee-to-go bars
Coffee Like’s core product is a compact takeaway-oriented coffee bar. These outlets are designed for relatively small footprints and standardized preparation, allowing franchisees to open in many urban locations. The format centers on espresso-based beverages and other hot or cold drinks served for immediate takeaway.
Café · 2017
Full-scale coffee houses
Beginning with the Izhevsk location opened in March 2017, Coffee Like also developed larger coffee-house formats with customer seating. These locations broadened the brand beyond the strictly takeaway model while remaining part of the same standardized franchise network.
Supply-chain offering · 2013
Coffee beans and café consumables
Through its logistics operation, the Coffee Like group supplied franchise partners with coffee beans and operating consumables such as cups and straws. This supported network consistency and created a business line connected to, but distinct from, the customer-facing coffee bars.
Brand decisions
2018
Sell Coffee LikeM&ABackground
After several years of rapid franchise expansion, Shabutdinov decided to transfer ownership of the company.
Action taken
The company was reportedly sold on August 27, 2018, for 200 million rubles to an unidentified buyer.
Aftermath
Later sources indicate that the network continued expanding, but the post-sale ownership and corporate structure are not identified in the supplied material.
Reported sale price. 200 million rubles (August 27, 2018)
2017
Add full-scale coffee-house locationsProduct launchBackground
The brand had primarily operated compact takeaway bars but sought to broaden its physical format.
Action taken
Coffee Like opened its first full-scale coffee house with seating in Izhevsk.
Aftermath
The move expanded the brand’s format portfolio while the takeaway model remained central to network growth.
2017
Consolidation of founder ownershipOtherBackground
Zufar Garipov left the board of founders in July 2017.
Action taken
Ayaz Shabutdinov became the principal owner, with a reported share exceeding 50 percent.
Aftermath
Shabutdinov remained the dominant founder-owner until the reported sale of the company in 2018.
2015
Standardize franchise operationsStrategyBackground
Rapid growth and uneven franchisee experience created a need for stronger operating controls.
Action taken
The company introduced formal quality checks, mystery shoppers, structured training through its academy, and an internal knowledge base.
Aftermath
These systems were intended to improve consistency across a geographically dispersed network.
2013
Adopt a franchise-led expansion modelStrategyBackground
The founders sought to expand beyond the first Izhevsk bar and attract partners, including young followers of Shabutdinov’s online blog.
Action taken
Coffee Like began selling franchises within weeks of opening and established a logistics company to support partners with supplies.
Aftermath
The model produced rapid geographic expansion but also significant early closures among inexperienced franchisees.
Recent events
- 2023
Coffee Like network exceeds 1,000 opened bars[1]
Other
Forbes reported that the number of Coffee Like bars opened had reached 1,021 by October 2023, with 1,014 operated by franchisees.
- 2018
Coffee Like is sold for 200 million rubles[1]
M&A
Ayaz Shabutdinov reportedly sold the Coffee Like company on August 27, 2018. The buyer was not identified in the cited material.
- 2017
First full-scale Coffee Like coffee house opens[1]
Product launch
The brand opened its first larger coffee house with seating in Izhevsk, broadening its format beyond compact takeaway bars.
- 2017
Shabutdinov becomes principal owner[1]
Leadership change
Zufar Garipov left the founders’ board, after which Ayaz Shabutdinov became the principal owner with a reported controlling share.
- 2016
Coffee Like network reaches 238 bars[1]
Other
The network was reported to have 238 coffee bars across Russia and CIS countries, placing it ahead of several named competitors by outlet count.
- 2015
Coffee Like introduces formal quality controls[1]
Other
The chain adopted a quality-control system and introduced mystery-shopper checks for its coffee bars.
- 2013
Coffee Like opens its first coffee bar in Izhevsk[1]
Other
The first Coffee Like location opened on Universitetskaya Street in Izhevsk on November 13, establishing the brand’s initial coffee-to-go format.
- 2013
Coffee Like begins franchising[1]
Other
The company began selling franchises shortly after opening its first bar; the first franchise partner opened in Yekaterinburg on December 1.
Sources1 sources
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