Brandsma Koffie

Brandsma Koffie from Bolsward has been roasting beans since 1893 for enthusiasts across the Netherlands. The family business grew from a Frisian grocery into a Purveyor to the Court with national recognition. Today the roastery blends tradition, high tech, and sustainability in every cup.

Gerrit Brandsma started in 1893 with coffee, tea, and spices. His descendants later even sold off supermarkets, but in the 1960s deliberately chose a pure focus on coffee. In 2021 King Willem-Alexander awarded the company the Purveyor to the Court distinction in recognition of 128 years of reliability.

The fourth generation, led by Menno Brandsma, now has around 15 specialists. They cover the entire chain, from sourcing and roast profiling to machine maintenance and barista training. That compact, wide-ranging expertise keeps communication short and quality consistent.

Brandsma roasts slowly at a lower temperature. The bean gets more time to caramelize sugars and break down bitterness. The result is a balanced aroma without harsh edges, both in espresso and in filter brewing.

For the specialty lines, the roasts are done in micro-lots. Each origin receives its own profile based on moisture, altitude, and density. Only after roasting are the components combined, so that each character remains identifiable in the blend.

– Beans from Brandsma Classic, medium roast, notes of dark chocolate, caramel, and spices.

– Beans from Brandsma Espresso, slightly darker, plus a hint of almond, an ideal base for cappuccino.

– Beans from Brandsma Lungo, gentle body, nutty aftertaste, suited to larger cups.

IJzersterk scores 84+ points with Q-graders and arrives via direct trade. Hand-picked microlots deliver complex flavors and fair premiums for farmers. Ús Kofje celebrates Frisian pride with two blends: Espresso 1893 (60% Brazil, 20% Honduras, 20% Uganda) for powerful sweet mocha; Koffie 2018 with extra Ugandan brightness and gentle chocolate.

Tradition goes hand in hand with technology. The TopBrewer tap lets guests order coffee contactlessly via an app, ideal for modern offices. Big names such as Netflix, Microsoft and Nike have already chosen this system, which pairs barista quality with convenience and hygiene.

Brandsma selects premium beans from high-altitude regions. For IJzersterk it buys directly from farms via This Side Up, creating full traceability and better prices for growers. Beans for the house line often carry a Fairtrade label, guaranteeing stable incomes in producing countries.

Each origin gets a fitting roast. A sweet Brazilian arabica stays slightly lighter, while an acid-forward Ugandan bean is roasted deeper for balance. This lets the unique terroir shine without excessive bitterness.

The roaster organizes tasting sessions, barista courses and appears annually at HorecaEvenTT Leeuwarden. Sponsorship of the Brandsma Koffie Wielerronde and local clubs ties sport and coffee together. At events the team serves its own blends in porcelain with a matching Frisian-flag sugar stick, an experience that lingers.

In the coming years Brandsma will expand the range with seasonal single origins, while new contactless machines conquer the market. Additional service technicians and regional hubs are meant to ensure fast support. Meanwhile, the fifth generation is preparing to carry the heritage forward while embracing new coffee trends.