Overview
- LAP Coffee locations in Berlin were defaced with paint over the weekend, and police have opened property-damage investigations.
- An Indymedia post under the name 'LAPCoffeeScheiße' claimed the actions, but a campaign spokesperson said no proven link exists.
- An open letter from the campaign demands that founder Ralph Hage donate 80% of his wealth to build worker representation and keep shops only with resident approval.
- The startup operates a low-cost, to-go model with no seating, counts roughly 13 Berlin sites, is backed by venture investors including HV Capital, and has expressed ambitions to scale to about 100 stores.
- Hage has signaled openness to talks, while commentary and coverage split between framing the incidents as criminal vandalism or political protest, with some outlets defending LAP as offering affordable coffee.