Kontakt: lapcoffeescheisse@riseup.net
Within a short period of time, various stores of the company “LAP Coffee” have opened in alternative districts in Berlin and Munich in recent weeks, and Hamburg is soon to follow. Why is “LAP Coffee” a big pile of shit and it would be a good thing to drive them into bankruptcy?
LAP Coffee is not just a new cafe chain. Behind LAP Coffee are disgusting founders and equally disgusting tech capital.
Who is behind LAP Coffee?
The founders of LAP Coffee are Tonalli Arreola and Ralph Hage. Both have made a lot of money, especially with exploitative delivery services.
Arreola was previously with the delivery service Flink. This company is known for the severe exploitation of employes and various attempts, using legal tricks and harassment, to prevent the establishment of works councils. In addition to Flink, Arreola was or is involved with the company Lime. They have cheap scooters produced, which then stand around everyplace and are annoying, and the batteries also represent a significant environmental burden. Lime is also known for the exploitation of its employes.
Hage was previously at Delivero Hero, nationally known for the exploitation of riders (who are increasingly fighting back) and attempts to sabotage the formation of works councils. Hage was also involved with the delivery service Yababa, which went bankrupt in 2023.
Behind the founders Arreola and Hage at LAP Coffee are billion-dollar investment funds from the tech sector. Of particular interest here is AV Capital, a leading investor in the military drone manufacturer Quantum Systems, together with Thiel Capital (an investment firm of the far-right asshole Peter Thiel, known among other things for the surveillance company Palantir). The investment fund Insight Partners, which is also involved with LAP Coffee, is also driving military rearmament, including in the development of AI-supported weapon systems.
What is the concept of LAP Coffee?
Unlike other cafe chains, LAP Coffee explicitly focuses on locations in (formerly) alternative neighborhoods with strong gentrification.
In Berlin, there are branches mainly in Prenzlauer Berg (Oderberger Str. 53, Schönhauser Allee 75, Schönhauser Allee 176, Rykestr. 11, Raumerstr. 35, Kastanienallee 47) and Kreuzberg (Falkensteinstr. 5, Adalbertstr. 91, Graefestr. 19). There are further branches in Friedrichshain (Krossener Str. 21), Neukölln (Karl Marx Str. 101), Mitte (Rosentaler Str. 62), Schöneberg (Akazienstr. 3a), Charlottenburg (Kantstr. 23) and Wilmersdorf (Uhlandstr. 30).
Thanks to billion-dollar investors, high rents and significant initial investments are, of course, not a problem for LAP Coffee. By focusing on technically optimized processes, staff is to be saved in order to offer coffee and other products at relatively low prices despite high rents.
LAP Coffee targets a young, internet-savvy audience. Orders can generally be placed online. Various events are held in the respective branches, often in collaboration with partners from the fashion or music industry.
The investor-funded café chain of the exploitation founders advertizes with “Kiez” and culture: “Belong Here, Live the Culture.” We are creating small spaces where everyone can enjoy life among people. The things that add color to life, fueling our curiosity and creativity. Coffee – Culture – Neighborhood.
Of course, it’s complete nonsense. LAP Coffee is the tech industry’s aggressive attempt to take over another part of our lives, to push out local independent cafes, and to make big profits for founders and investors. And these profits can then be funneled back into the arms industry, for example.
We have nothing against cheap coffee, on the contrary, as long as it is ensured that workers are fairly compensated and producers receive a fair price, and of course, that transactions are conducted in collective structures as much as possible at all levels.
LAP Coffee is the stinking cherry on top of the tech capital’s gentrification, which has already displaced many people and small businesses from our neighborhoods. Do we want to accept this? That the drinks are sold in stupid plastic cups doesn’t make it any better.
We want to live, dwell, and work in solidarity, without exploitation, coercion, and high rents. The tech and arms industry will not be our partner in this.
Therefore: Drive LAP Coffee into bankruptcy!
What can we do?
LAP Coffees are often located right near the places where we live, hang out, and work. So why not stop by there sometime – during the day or at nite?
Distributing fliers to potential customers would be one thing that could be done, for example. Or hang it on the shop window, or redesign it right away. Go into the stores, talk to the employes (they are NOT our enemies, just like the riders at Lieferando, for example), or see what they have for free…
Social media is, of course, also a field where a lot could be done, for example on Instagram, if people are into it.
And of course the events… just look around, hand out fliers, and really get on people’s nerves…
