From roots to what’s next

Where it began

da Matteo’s story begins with Matts Johansson.

In the early 1990s, he opened Café Java on Vasagatan in Gothenburg. Two years later came Caffè Espresso in Victoriapassagen, at a time when the area looked very different from how it does today. In those early years, he was part of introducing espresso and latte culture to Gothenburg, helping shape a coffee scene that was still in its infancy.

After a period in Italy, where he came to be known as Matteo, and later working as a consultant in the café industry, the desire to build something of his own returned. In 2003, da Matteo was born in Marstrand. The name, meaning “at Matteo” in Italian, carried something personal from the beginning: the ambition to create a place with warmth, character and genuine hospitality.

 

How the foundation was built

That ambition continued to grow.

In 2007, da Matteo opened its café and coffee roastery on Vallgatan in Gothenburg. Roasting became a defining part of the company, bringing greater control over quality, deeper knowledge and a clearer expression of taste. In 2010, the opening at Magasinsgatan brought coffee roastery, sourdough bakery and café together in one place, making craftsmanship a visible part of the guest experience.

These early decisions shaped the foundation of da Matteo.

 

What da Matteo is becoming

Today, the company is no longer defined by one individual founder story. It has grown into something broader: a business built around roasting, bakery, kitchen, hospitality and retail, where each part strengthens the whole.

That next chapter is led by Christofer, principal owner of da Matteo, whose vision sets the direction for the company today.

Under Christofer’s leadership, da Matteo is being shaped with a clear belief: that the strongest guest experiences are never created by one product alone. They are built through the meeting between craft, atmosphere, food, coffee, service and culture. Not as separate disciplines, but as one complete expression.

This means continuing to raise the standard of what da Matteo can be, not by chasing trends, but by becoming more intentional in every part of the experience. More coherent. More generous. More distinctive. More grounded in the kind of quality that guests can feel, even before they put something on the table.

Our story matters not only because of where it began, but because of what it made possible.

The foundation was built early.

The direction is being shaped now.

That is da Matteo today: a company with deep roots in Gothenburg, built on craft and hospitality, and driven forward by a clear philosophy for what it can become.