Accademia Vergnano opens at EHL: Coca-Cola HBC Switzerland, Caffè Vergnano and EHL launch a center of excellence for coffee expertise

Today marks the opening of Accademia Vergnano at Hospitality Business School (EHL) – the first of its kind outside Italy and a milestone in promoting coffee expertise in Switzerland. With this initiative, Coca-Cola HBC Switzerland, Caffè Vergnano 1882 and EHL, the hospitality and business education group are creating a new center of excellence for coffee. The Accademia combines traditional coffee craftsmanship with innovation and sets a new, practice-oriented standard in training future hospitality leaders.

Accademia Vergnano is part of a collaboration between Coca-Cola HBC Switzerland, Caffè Vergnano 1882 and EHL. It positions coffee as a strategic element in hospitality, blending academic insight, practical training and global expertise, to create a dynamic learning environment.  Students will learn about every stage of the  coffee value chain – from where it’s grown how it’s roasted, to how it tastes and brewed.   In addition, the space brings together a coffee shop, training center and boutique, creating a vibrant hub where students, professionals and coffee experts can meet, share ideas and drive innovation in coffee quality.

Markus Venzin, CEO of EHL, says: “Accademia Vergnano strengthens our educational offering in the field of coffee. It combines scientific foundations with practical application and reflects our commitment to preparing students for future leadership roles through real-world industry experience. Coffee is a symbol of hospitality and excellence – and therefore central to our curriculum.”
 

Coffee as a strategic factor in hospitality

In Switzerland, annual consumption averages around eight kilograms of green coffee per person – equivalent to about three cups a day, among the highest rates worldwide. Coffee is therefore an integral part of the Swiss culture and the hospitality industry. Growing demand for quality, sustainability and transparency of origin makes it an important differentiator in gastronomy and hotels.

Carolina Vergnano, CEO of Caffè Vergnano 1882, explains: “With the Accademia, we bring our 140-year coffee heritage to Switzerland and create opportunities to share and enrich Italian coffee culture in an international environment.”

Alain Mettler, Coffee Business Manager at Coca-Cola HBC Switzerland and EHL alumnus, adds: “The Accademia creates a space where expertise is at the heart. This allows us to contribute to the professionalization of the coffee market and foster exchange between education and practice. For our customers, it means a new dimension of quality and consistency.”
 

Looking ahead

Together, EHL, Caffè Vergnano and Coca-Cola HBC Switzerland are setting a benchmark for quality, sustainability and the next generation of hospitality leaders. Accademia Vergnano is more than just a training center – it is a platform that unites knowledge, practice and a shared passion for coffee. These efforts are helping to shape the future of hospitality and coffee culture in Switzerland.

About Coca-Cola HBC Switzerland SA
Coca-Cola HBC Switzerland is the country’s largest beverage producer. Since 1936, the company has produced beverages locally for the Swiss market and offers a 24/7 portfolio tailored to every occasion and time of day. 

About Caffè Vergnano 1882 
Founded in 1882 and still family-owned, Caffè Vergnano is one of Italy’s oldest coffee roasters. For over 140 years, the company has been telling the story of authentic Italian espresso, bringing aromas and flavors from around the world to every cup. The secret lies in the careful selection of origins, traditional slow roasting techniques, and the creation of exclusive blends that highlight the coffee’s unique taste.

Caffè Vergnano products are available in major retail chains, top cafés, and more than 180 Caffè Vergnano 1882 coffee shops across the globe. Since 2021, its partnership with Coca-Cola HBC has strengthened its international expansion (excluding Italy), further fueling its global growth.

Since 2018, the company has also combined coffee culture with social commitment through its “Women in Coffee” initiative, originally supporting female coffee farmers and now expanded to include broader inclusion and women’s empowerment efforts

About EHL
EHL – originally founded as Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne – is a hospitality management and business education group and recognized as the global leader in hospitality. EHL welcomes a student body of 4,000 from more than 120 nationalities across 3 campuses in Switzerland and Singapore. 

Our holistic approach to education, a hallmark of the Swiss system, seamlessly integrates academic rigor with hands-on experience and a deep commitment to human connection. At EHL, we educate hearts, hands, and minds. Within our two institutions we shape confident, versatile, and resilient leaders for careers in hospitality and wider experience-driven sectors: 

• EHL Hospitality Business School, accredited by AACSB, NECHE and consistently ranked at the top of its field, offering undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs that deliver practical leadership, strategy, and operational insights.
  
  
• EHL School of Practical Arts, providing vocational programs in hospitality, boasting expertise from 6 “Meilleurs Ouvriers de France” and an awarded and Michelin-starred academic restaurant. 

For more than 130 years, we have been committed to leading innovation in the hospitality and services industry with a focus on emotional intelligence and business acumen. At EHL, education is more than knowledge – it’s a transformative experience shared by a community of 30,000 passionate Alumni, who redefine excellence wherever they go. #EHLFamily