The high degree of spatial coherence and extreme pulse energies available at x-ray free electron laser (XFEL) sources naturally support coherent diffractive imaging applications. In order to optimally exploit these unique properties, the optical systems at XFELs must be highly transmissive, focus to appropriate sizes matched to the scale of samples to be investigated and must minimally perturb the wavefront of the XFEL beam. We present the design and simulated performance of two state-of-the-art Kirkpatrik–Baez mirror systems that form the primary foci of the single particles, clusters and biomolecules and serial femtosecond crystallography (SPB/SFX) instrument of the European XFEL. The two systems, presently under construction, will produce 1 μm and 100 nm scale foci across a 3–16 keV photon energy range. Targeted applications include coherent imaging of weakly scattering, often biological, specimens.