Capriole Café

Capriole started in 1975 as an office coffee wholesaler and grew into a brand with its own identity. In 2016, Pascal and Joyce Ultee opened Capriole Café in an old paint factory on The Hague's Fokkerhaven. That move made the family even more visible, customers could now watch live how the beans were roasted, tasted, and served. The café quickly won an audience and awards, including 2nd place in the Koffie Top 100 of 2018.

The company began as a supplier of “good coffee at work” and kept quality firmly in-house. By importing, roasting, and even maintaining machines themselves, every step stayed controllable. When the factory hall was converted into a café in 2016, guests got a bright, industrial space with five-meter-high windows. Since then, Capriole has served as a living room for coffee lovers, course participants, and professionals.

In the middle of the space stands a 6 kg Giesen roaster on a raised platform. This setup makes the entire roasting process visible and invites questions. Master Roaster Giancarlo Matarazzi roasts small batches slowly, allowing sugars to caramelize and flavors to fully develop. Baristas use the fresh beans immediately, give feedback, and see the profile adjusted that same day. This creates a unique loop of learning and refining.

Capriole works exclusively with handpicked 100% Arabicas, often Fairtrade or organic. The core range consists of three crowd favorites:

- Paso Fino: Brazilian, Guatemalan, Honduran, and Peruvian beans, chocolate flavor with a hint of peach.
- Flores: organic mix from Peru and Sumatra, full, spicy, and earthy.
- Forte: darker blend from Brazil, Peru, and Uganda, powerful for fans of Italian espresso.

Alongside these “classics”, single origins and micro-lots rotate continuously. A recent example is the Ethiopië Sidama Bensa Shantawene, purchased directly and available in limited quantities. Through such small releases, the public discovers new terroirs, while the roasters gather feedback for further product development.

Capriole likes to celebrate milestones with special batches, such as an anniversary coffee with floral notes from Sidama. Experiments go beyond beans alone, think pulled pork marinated in coffee or an espresso with pink pepper. Workshops and cuppings double as a test kitchen, participants taste prototypes and share their verdict directly with Matarazzi. That open culture keeps the brand fresh and relevant.

The motto “Care for People, Planet, Product” guides every choice. For every cup of Capriole, the company donates via Made Blue the equivalent of two cups of clean drinking water to countries where beans grow. Fairtrade premiums and direct contracts provide more stable incomes for farmers. Transparent origin information on every bag makes the chain visible all the way back to the plantation.

Around 60 to 100 employees carry the brand. Baristas often follow SCA training at the in-house training center and regularly win professional competitions. Technical colleagues install and maintain equipment at office clients, ensuring the coffee tastes consistent everywhere. This family-based team received a The Hague entrepreneurship award in 2025 for craftsmanship and solidarity.

Since late 2023 Capriole has been part of the Belgian Miko Group. The acquisition expands its reach within the Benelux and creates room for new roasting capacity, instant-coffee lines, and perhaps capsules or ready-to-drink variants. The café was sold in 2024 so that all energy can go into branding and B2B solutions. With fifty years of experience, fresh investment, and the same passion, Capriole looks ready to reach even more coffee drinkers.

Capriole combines half a century of craftsmanship with open innovation. The visible roast stage, the care for people and planet, and a close-knit team together form a strong, future-oriented coffee brand that embraces the entire chain.