Where do you drink the best flat white, doppio or cortado?

  • Waar drink je de beste flat white

Where do you drink the best flat white, doppio or cortado?

They seem to be popping up everywhere in Amsterdam nowadays: specialty coffee shops. Every week a new hot spot selling coffee opens its doors in Amsterdam. It’s not hard to understand why young entrepreneurs decide to go into the coffee business when you know that coffee is the most popular beverage in the Netherlands. And with an average of 4.4 cups a day per person, the Dutch even drink more coffee than the Italians do.

Contents

One flat white to go, please!

It was only ten years ago that we in the Netherlands preferred our home brewed filter coffee over any other possible coffee variation. Maybe we ordered a cappuccino in a café every now and then, topped off with come cocoa powder. Today, that has changed considerably. Coffee shops now offer doppio’s, cortado’s, soy latte’s and flat white’s and we all order it daily. Even filter coffee is slowly making a comeback, but always hand made and only from the best Ethiopian roasted beans, of course. We drink our coffee of choice on the spot or take it to go.

Unfortunately, it is very easy to call yourself a barista, but making a decent cup of coffee really does require some serious skills. To prevent you from having to drink a not so nice cappuccino, we from Best of Amsterdam decided to do some research to make sure that your coffee experience in Amsterdam will be as good as it can – and should – be.

Best of Amsterdam presents – in random order – the best specialty coffee shops in Amsterdam!

Sweet Cup

Sweet Cup Amsterdam

The first shop on our list shows that standards are high in Amsterdam. Paul and Lisa own this little shop right next to the busy Leidseplein and they have created a real save haven from all the activity that this area of the city is known for. Sweet Cup differentiates itself from your average coffee shop thanks to their home roasting of beans.

This ensures the quality of the beans is always high and that Paul and Lisa always have a fresh supply on offer. The same goes for all the sweet treats they sell: Lisa bakes them herself. Some people even say Sweet Cup makes the best flat white of the city. O, and don’t forget to say hello to Sjefke, Paul and Lisa’s dog that calls the shop his home.

Sweet Cup
Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 101
1017 NJ Amsterdam
Weteringschans

Monday: 08.30 – 18.30
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 08.30 – 18.30
Thursday: 08.30 – 18.30
Friday: 08.30 – 18.30
Saturday: 09.00 – 18.30
Sunday: 11.00 – 18.00

Scandinavian Embassy

Scandinavian Embassy

Calling the Scandinavian Embassy a coffee shop is not really doing it justice. Next to excellent coffee, there is also very delicious food on the menu here and they sell carefully curated design from Sweden. Barista Nicolas Castagno has won the 2013 Brewers Cup of Sweden and chef Rikard Andersson used to cook at Christophe in Amsterdam, a Michelin star awarded restaurant.

 Now they work together in their shop in the Pijp where they try to make the best combinations possible with coffee and food. All the beans are imported from micro roasters from Scandinavia. The Scandinavian Embassy is a must visit if you are interested in following everything that is happening in the world of specialty coffee.

Scandinavian Embassy
Sarphatipark 34
1072 AB Amsterdam
The Pijp

Monday: 08.00 – 18.00
Tuesday: 08.00 – 18.00
Wednesday: 08.00 – 18.00
Thursday: 08.00 – 18.00
Friday: 08.00 – 18.00
Saturday: 10.00 – 17.00
Sunday: 10.00 – 17.00

Lot Sixty One Coffee Roasters

Lot Sixty One Coffee Roasters

At Lot Sixty One you drink good coffee. Not just taste wise, but also because of the way they choose to import their green beans: straight from the farmers without any other parties interfering, making sure farmers get an honest price for their produce. Owners Adam Craig and Paul Jenner are originally from Australia, but they first started working together in New York.

There they were responsible for the success of several coffee shops, all listed in the New York Times list of ‘Top Ten All Time Great Coffee Shop in Manhattan/Brooklyn’. In Amsterdam, they opened shop in the Kinkerstraat. Here, they not only sell their delicious coffees, they also roast their beans to perfection. They sell their beans to several other coffee shops in town and you can also buy a package to take home.

Lot Sixty One Coffee Roasters
Kinkerstraat 112
1053 ED Amsterdam
Old West

Monday: 08.00 – 17.00
Tuesday: 08.00 – 17.00
Wednesday: 08.00 – 17.00
Thursday: 08.00 – 17.00
Friday: 08.00 – 17.00
Saturday: 09.00 – 17.00
Sunday: 10.00 – 17.00

Headfirst Coffee Roasters

Headfirst Coffee Roasters

Jonatan Scheeper en Lex Wenneker from Amsterdam met when they were both working as barista trainers for Dutch franchise Coffee Company. Now, they are the proud owners of their own coffee shop right in the middle of popular neighborhood the Jordaan. They roast their beans themselves and they do it in the back of the shop so you can actually smell it when you have your cappuccino.

It is lovely to be so aware of all the steps needed to get your coffee tasting the way it does. On the menu you’ll find different espresso-with-milk based coffees, but also filter coffee and iced coffees. Have a freshly baked croissant for breakfast or some homemade carrot cake when you fancy something sweet.

Headfirst Coffee Roasters
Westerstraat 150
1015 MP Amsterdam
Canal Belt (West)

Monday: 08.00 – 18.00
Tuesday: 08.00 – 18.00
Wednesday: 08.00 – 18.00
Thursday: 08.00 – 18.00
Friday: 08.00 – 18.00
Saturday: 09.00 – 18.00
Sunday: 09.00 – 18.00

Coffee Bru

Coffee Bru

The eastern part of Amsterdam has been getting more and more popular, which is best illustrated by all the young entrepreneurs starting their business in this area. Coffee Bru were one of the first. They opened the doors of their colorful café in 2011 and it has been a hot spot ever since. Coffee beans here are from Bocca, a Dutch roasting company founded by brothers Menno and Tewis Simons.

Bocca buys directly from the farmers and all aspects from roasting to packaging are done in-house. Coffee Bru has a nice lunch menu with freshly made sandwiches and home made lemonades. You can also safely order tea at Coffee Bru. One of the four owners founded his own tea brand called Monkey Chief and it is very good and of course sold at Coffee Bru.

Coffee Bru
Beukenplein 14
1091 KG Amsterdam
Oosterparkbuurt

Monday: 08.00 – 18.00
Tuesday: 08.00 – 18.00
Wednesday: 08.00 – 18.00
Thursday: 08.00 – 18.00
Friday: 08.00 – 18.00
Saturday: 09.00 – 18.00
Sunday: 09.00 – 18.00

Quartier Putain

Quartier Putain

If your French is any good, you know that ‘quartier putain’ refers to the Red Light district. Weird name for a coffee shop, right? Not really when you know where this little coffee shop is located: right in the middle of Amsterdam’s lively Red Light district. This shop opened in 2013 and it offers a perfect escape from all the tourist traps and madness that this area of the city is known for. Quartier Putain is a collaboration between Erik de Kok, son of the founder of Dutch franchise Coffee Company, and urban music label Top Notch.

Order your coffee on the ground floor and get introduced to young creative talents on the first floor that serves as a sort of gallery or creative platform. Besides various types of coffee, there are sweet treats and soup on the menu. Everything is best enjoyed outside, on the cozy terrace in the shade of the old church.

Quartier Putain
Oudekerksplein 4
1012 GZ Amsterdam
The Red Light District

Monday: 08.00 – 18.00
Tuesday: 08.00 – 18.00
Wednesday: 08.00 – 18.00
Thursday: 08.00 – 18.00
Friday: 08.00 – 18.00
Saturday: 10.00 – 18.00
Sunday: 10.00 – 18.00

Caffènation

Caffenation

If you have ever been to Antwerp, this next spot on our list might ring a little bell. Caffènation has been serving the best coffees to the people of Antwerp for many years now and in the beginning of 2015 they opened their first shop across the border, in Amsterdam. Barista Bert van Wassenhove moved here for his girlfriend and decided to bring his coffee with him.

After working at Caffènation for years, he opened his rock‘n roll coffee shop where he uses beans roasted in Antwerp by his former colleagues. If you like your coffee a bit sweet, we recommend you try the Ginger Spice, a cappuccino with white chocolate, ginger and honey!

Caffènation
Theophile de Bockstraat 37
1058 TX Amsterdam
Vondelpark

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 08.00 – 18.00
Wednesday: 08.00 – 18.00
Thusrday: 08.00 – 18.00
Friday: 08.00 – 18.00
Saturday: 09.00 – 18.00
Sunday: 11.00 – 18.00

White Label Coffee

White Label Coffee

Francesco Grassoti and Elmer Oomkens both started their careers in coffee at Brandmeesters, but in different cities. They eventually met while they were both working at the Espressofabriek here in Amsterdam and soon plans were made to start their own business together. White Label Coffee is the result and it is one of only a few specialty coffee bars in the Amsterdam West area.

It is located in a beautiful space with a very interesting interior. The long table in the front of the room is perfect when you have some work to do. In the back there are more seats that give a bit of privacy and comfort. Plans to get their own in-house roasting machine exist, but for now they roast their beans on their old employer’s site.

White Label Coffee
Jan Evertsestraat 136
1056 EK Amsterdam
Old West

Monday: 08.00 – 18.00
Tuesday: 08.00 – 18.00
Wednesday: 08.00 – 18.00
Thursday: 08.00 – 18.00
Friday: 08.00 – 18.00
Saturday: 09.00 – 18.00
Sunday: 09.00 – 18.00

Espressofabriek

Espressofabriek

Founder Rick Woertman started his coffee journey in Amsterdam in 2005. He gave himself the mission to provoke a change in the Dutch attitude towards coffee. With his two shops (one at the Westerpark and one in IJburg) he has done just that. The Espressofabriek at Westerpark has an airy feel to it with big windows and high ceilings. Upstairs, the beans are roasted and Woertman is very hospitable: he lets young, new roasters from Amsterdam make use of his roasting facilities.

The coffee here is excellent but it tastes especially nice when you drink it outside in the sun, overlooking all the hustle and bustle of the Westerpark area. The second branch of Espressofabriek is at IJburg. Here, you get your coffee in a different type of environment. Less industrious, more modern, but still very good coffee, of course.

Espressofabriek
Pazzanistraat 39
1014 DB Amsterdam
Westergasterrein

Location Pazzanistraat 39:

Monday: 09.00 – 18.00
Tuesday: 09.00 – 18.00
Wednesday: 09.00 – 18.00
Thursday: 09.00 – 18.00
Friday: 09.00 – 18.00
Saturday: 10.00 – 18.00
Sunday: 10.00 – 18.00

Locatie IJburglaan 1489:

Monday: 08.00 – 18.00
Tuesday: 08.00 – 18.00
Wednesday: 08.00 – 18.00
Thursday: 08.00 – 18.00
Friday: 08.00 – 18.00
Saturday: 10.00 – 18.00
Sunday: 10.00 – 18.00

The Coffee Virus

The Coffee Virus

There are several reasons why you should definitely cross the river IJ to visit the north of Amsterdam, and The Coffee Virus is high on that list. This espresso bar doubles as a canteen for all the freelancers and small businesses that work at A Lab, a creative hub. Luckily, you don’t have to work at A Lab to be able to visit The Coffee Virus, their doors are open for everyone.

The beans here come from Bocca and every now and then they have special batches of locally roasted beans for those who want something different. Because of the double function as a canteen, food here is really good and there is a lot of choice. The Coffee Virus basically is a perfect spot for those looking for good coffee, combined with an creative atmosphere and lots of locals!

The Coffee Virus
Overhoeksplein 2 (in het rode A Lab gebouw)
1031 KS Amsterdam
North

Monday: 09.00 – 16.30
Tuesday: 09.00 – 16.30
Wednesday: 09.00 – 16.30
Thursday: 09.00 – 16.30
Friday: 09.00 – 16.30
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

As mentioned above, coffee culture is getting more and more popular in Amsterdam and because of that it is a very dynamic scene. So, maybe you have found a new espresso bar that deserves a place in our list. Or your experience of one of the shops wasn’t what you expected it to be.

Either way, we would love to hear from you. Please leave your comments under this post or contact us via our contact form on the website.

2019-11-26T13:10:49+01:00

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