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Good coffee in Amsterdam

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Discussions > Regional > Western Europe > Good coffee in...

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flimbag
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Joined: 24 Nov 2003
Posts: 174
Location: Liverpool
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: Euro2000 Jr.
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Posted Mon Jan 5, 2004, 10:22pm Subject: Good coffee in Amsterdam

I'm off to Amsterdam at the end of this month, and while it's hard to find a lousy cup of coffee in that great city (though most of the 'other' type of coffeeshop do a pretty good job), I'd be very interested to hear of people's recommendations as to where I'd find a 'great' cup of coffee. Tips for places to buy cups and other espresso paraphernalia would also be welcome.

MrFollies
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Oct 2003
Posts: 98
Location: Amsterdam
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Isomac Tea
Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Roaster: Prima Popper

Posted Tue Jan 6, 2004, 6:40am Subject: Re: Good coffee in Amsterdam

Ok, I'm your man... I have lived in Amsterdam for the last 3 years. This year I gave up and bought myself an isomac tea and a Mazzer. There are some good places tho... Although I have only seen a grind-per-shot place once. These are my fav's for coffee. Coffee Connection - Nieuwezijds Kolk 33 1012PV (just down from the Carlton Crest I think). Take any of the west trams (1, 5, 17 and some others) from central station and get off two stops (Nieuwezijds Kolk)... It's walking distance from central station if you have a map or know the city. This place is REALLY small, but the owner (Leigh) is from seattle and aims to sell good quality product. In my opinion, she has lost a few good Barista's lately but I hope that situation will improve. Plantage - Utrechtsestraat 130 1017VT. This is harder to find, but the utrechtsestraat runs from Rembrandplein to nearby the Heineken Brewery, if you are a tourist, then there is a good chance you will be near one of these at some time or another. It's ok, but coffee connection is better if you get an old hat behind the counter. There is a place in The Hague which is also really good (worth mentioning if you are going down to the Hague at all).. I do not know what it is called but it's on the Noordeinde (a popular street but small). You would know it by the La Marzocco in there... It's next door to an irish pub. If you want gear, then I can suggest Duikelman (Ferdinand Bolstraat 68 1072LM) which is on the little plein at the crossings of Ferdinand Bol straat and Albert Cuyp straat (Albert Cuyp is a very popular market, once again, a tourist will probably find it). Duikelman is a huge kitchen store. It's for the professionals and they have a heap of stuff. Not that much coffee stuff especially but worth a look if you are in the area. About 100 meters down from The Coffee Connection (towards the shopping centre called Magna Plaza), there is a dedicated espresso shop. I have only been there once, but he has what I think is a kees van der western (http://www.keesvanderwesten.com) modified La Marzocco in the window. He also has an original Faema e61 single group machine in there as well. Apparently he does sometimes make espresso for people comming into the shop and I am told it is good but I have not tried it. I intend to spend some more time there because the guy is passionate and friendly. Bauman BV are on the centuurbaan, not far from Duikelman... They are a huge shop with lots of machines (some elektras et al). I found them not very helpful tho, and quite expensive... But they do have one or two sets of illy.... One more.... Espresso World are a few doors up from Bauman, but they are a small shop and more into the yuppie crowd (all flash in the pan, no substance). If you visit two places go to Coffee Connection for the coffee and then to the dedicated shop with the e61 for machine envy.... They are both small but serious. That's about it for Amsterdam (and the Hague)... For the places that I gave a postal code (4 numbers followed by two letters) you can get a good street map at www.routenet.nl Plug the postcode into the first box (under "Ik wil naar") and click on "Toon Kaart". Well, I hope this helps...

MrFollies
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Oct 2003
Posts: 98
Location: Amsterdam
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Isomac Tea
Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Roaster: Prima Popper

Posted Tue Jan 6, 2004, 6:58am Subject: Re: Good coffee in Amsterdam

Forgot to mention... Some of amsterdams coffeeshops do try and make decent coffee. Unfortunatly, they rarely succeed. Still, they are ususally much better than the cafe's. I dont have the tolerance for drugs in general so take my next recommendation with a grain. If you are looking for a coffeeshop, check out the Rokerij just off from Leidseplein.... Steer clear of the Bulldog, it's an expensive chain.... P.s. where are you staying...?

Posted Tue Jan 6, 2004, 11:03am Subject: Re: Good coffee in Amsterdam

Thanks for your tips, Mr.Follies. The person that I'm travelling with is an architecture freak who keeps threatening to drag me out to Den Hague, so perhaps I'll get to check that one out as well, but I'll definitely seek out all of the others. I actually get over a few times a year and almost always stay in the same place -- the Bridge Hotel, on the Amstel (just across the Magere Brug). Although last time I went I stayed in Die Filosoof -- the hotel where all of the rooms are decorated on a philosophical theme. It was nice but I still prefer The Bridge because it is wonderful value, is perfectly located and has a really nice staff. I'd recommend it to anyone. http://www.thebridgehotel.nl And it's just around the corner from The Greenhouse. Like you, I also have a low tolerance for drugs, but you know what we English are like when we get to Holland. Even if we don't do these things the rest of the time, you can still see us gawking and throwing up in the Red Light district and then later in the toilets at Schipol, rummaging through our pockets desperately trying to remember what we did with the end of that 10 euro bag -- of which we've smoked about 2 euro's worth before we go back through customs. It isn't so much that we actually want to do it, it's more that we feel that not to do so would somehow be wrong. Like going to Belgium and not drinking the beer... So it seems I'm well located for this visit. The Bridge is just on the border of Plantage and I generally do get along to the Albert Cuyp Market while I'm there -- it's a pleasant walk down the Amstel and a great way to spend a few hours. I'm printing out your post as we speak, and I'll get along to all of the places you mention. I believe I've actually seen a couple when I've been there in the past. Last time I was in Amsterdam was when I was first toying with buying a machine and I wandered into one trendy kitchen shop that had perhaps 20 machines, many of which were very high end. I remember being staggered at the fact that these little one group machines cost in excess of 1000 euros. Anyway, I'll visit them all and post an account of my field trip. Thanks again for the help.

MrFollies
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Oct 2003
Posts: 98
Location: Amsterdam
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Isomac Tea
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Roaster: Prima Popper

Posted Tue Jan 6, 2004, 1:29pm Subject: Re: Good coffee in Amsterdam

For your mate, it's worth checking out ING's new head office... It looks like the head of DrWho's robotic dog K9... Technically, it'svery impressive with some brilliant heating/cooling system... I can send a URL with more info if needed. The Coffee house plantage is nowhere near the actual plantage, just in case you were wondering.... If you are thinking of buying, talk to the guy at the shop just down from Coffee Connection... I think he restores professional ones.. You might pick up a bargain.. Other than that, Duikelman have both the Isomac Tea and Isomac Millenium at 1075 euros... About 200 less than most, but not as cheap as the US. If I think of anything else I'll let you know... If you want to email me privatly, go for it, danny at dannysplace dot net. -D

Posted Tue Jan 6, 2004, 7:36pm Subject: Re: Good coffee in Amsterdam

It's a funny thing, but it was spending time in Amsterdam that made me decide to start doing it at home. While you might be hard pressed to find a great cup wherever you go, on my visits there, I got used to being able to get a very decent cappucino, in the traditional one third espresso, one third milk and one third foam virtually everywhere I stopped for a drink. And while they might not have been Schumer quality, they were always a lot better than anything I ever got at Starbucks -- and a damn sight cheaper as well. After the last time I came home, I just felt myself having a continuous hankering for a modest cappucino in one of those nice square Segafredo cups that they seem to sell everywhere. Eventually, I could take no more of it and about two months ago I cracked and bought my Gaggia Classic. But I'm already stricken with upgrade fever -- despite not having come close to the limits of my current machine -- and I think the Isomac/Mazzer combination is my planned upgrade strategy -- going for the Mazzer first, and then the Isomac. I do like Amsterdam though. Such a civilized city, and so habitable. The only downside is that everytime I visit, I wish I were wealthy enough to afford to live somewhere on a canal in the centre. Expect an email from me closer to my date of departure when I've thought of some more questions.

MrFollies
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Oct 2003
Posts: 98
Location: Amsterdam
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Isomac Tea
Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Roaster: Prima Popper

Posted Tue Jan 6, 2004, 11:06pm Subject: Re: Good coffee in Amsterdam

It depends on your point of reference. I am an Australian, and I believe that our coffee culture, although not as advanced as seattle's is still very good. I would think nothing of sending back a crappy espresso in Oz. When we decided to move to NL, I was excited because the Dutch have a solid reputation for coffee. Whilst I think they drink more coffee per year per head than most EU countries, it does not IMHO translate into quality product. The real coffee culture here is at the fully automatic machine in the workplace, and the drip filters in the home. That's where the consumption is. Coffeeshops I think are great, because I am against (in theory) the criminalisation of cannabis, but it's a shame that you have to go to these places (mostly) to get a hlafway decent cup. Having said that, it's getting better. The coffee culture is starting to grow here, as well as good tea. It's a damn site better than 4 years ago when we first arrived. I may even get to the stage where I feel it's not a waste of my time to send back a dodgy espresso :) Curiously, the lack of a real espresso culture, may serve me well in the end. I am looking to get a commercial 1 or 2 group machine to restore (for the hell of it). And these are certainly in abundance. I just need to find one that is not too far gone to tinker with. Amsterdam is my city. I think that this time of year it's at it's nicest since the tourists are not in town and when the weather is good, it's sooo beautiful. There are times, when I am riding home from the pub or a night's dining when the city is quiet and I think I might never want to go home.

Sunnyfield
Senior Member

Joined: 9 Jul 2002
Posts: 140
Location: Hong Kong
Expertise: I love coffee

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Posted Wed Jan 7, 2004, 9:00am Subject: Re: Good coffee in Amsterdam

I did reply to your posting in the UK forum. With some regret I moved from Amsterdam to London several years ago. I can definitely can recommend, as mentioned in my UK posting, Brandmeester's in the Van Baerlestraat and the bagel 'chain' Bagels & Beans. I think I have done Coffee Connection before and the result was very mixed and a little bit too bitter for my taste. Perhaps I should blame the barista for that. Cheers Eward www.toomuchcoffee.com

Simple_Peter
Senior Member

Joined: 22 Feb 2004
Posts: 2
Location: Netherlands
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Pavoni, Rancilio
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Roaster: There is more than coffee in...

Posted Sun Feb 22, 2004, 6:24am Subject: Re: Good coffee in Amsterdam

I moved to The Netherlands (from Copenhagen) almost 7 years ago and also have to say that the espresso coffee is (or were?) as bad as cappuccinos are thin in Copenhagen. However there are a few good places (besides my home ;) and if you're going to The Hague when look for the small coffee bar in the "Haagsche Bluf" , which is in the very centre. I had better coffee before, but this was one of the best I had The Hague, and they have a VERY beautiful machine to make their coffee on, so at least you have something beautiful to look at!

Posted Sun Feb 22, 2004, 7:30am Subject: Re: Good coffee in Amsterdam

Well, I still haven't had cause to go to Den Haag, but I'm off to Utrecht in a couple of weeks. Any tips for Utrecht?

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