Haags Bakkie

Haags Bakkie is a coffee blend from Capriole Coffee in The Hague, specially developed for local coffee lovers. This blend of 100% arabica beans is known for its full, sweet taste and mild acidity. In addition, every bag sold contributes to a local good cause in The Hague, which makes this coffee extra special.

Haags Bakkie is composed of arabica coffee from four countries, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, and Peru. The beans grow at elevations of about 1,200–1,650 meters in these regions, which contributes to their quality. Each origin adds something to the blend, Brazil and Peru deliver the characteristic chocolate-like flavors, Guatemala provides a touch of fruit, stone fruits, and Honduras brings a nutty accent. By combining beans from different estates, Capriole achieves a stable, rich flavor balance in this coffee.

The beans for Haags Bakkie are locally roasted by Capriole extra slowly to a medium roast. This very slow roastmethod, roasting slowly and at a lower temperature, ensures the flavors develop optimally and the coffee gains a delicate, rounded taste. The roast targets low acidity and a sweet undertone, which enhances accessibility. Haags Bakkie has an intensity score of 8 out of 10, powerful in flavor without being overly bitter.

This coffee has a full body and pronounced sweetness, with notably low acidity. Expect clear notes of milk chocolate, caramel, and hazelnut in every sip. Despite the sweetness, the coffee remains nicely balanced, with no single flavor dominating. The aroma also carries a subtle fruitiness, think hints of apricot or peach, originating from the Guatemalan beans in the blend. Pulled as an espresso, Haags Bakkie is sweet and full-flavored, with the milk chocolate and hazelnut notes standing out in particular.

All coffees in this blend are washed processed (washed). That means that after the harvest, the beans are removed from the coffee cherries, the sticky mucilage is soaked off, and then they are thoroughly rinsed with water. This traditional processing method is labor-intensive, but it typically yields a clean, pure coffee flavor without the wild fermentation notes you taste in unwashed coffees (natural process). The washed method thus contributes to the balanced and clear flavor profile of Haags Bakkie.

Haags Bakkie consists exclusively of ArabicaArabica coffee beans. No Robusta has been added to this blend, which benefits the soft, refined taste. Arabica is known for a more diverse and nuanced flavor profile than Robusta. In addition, Arabica contains on average less caffeine, about 1.5% versus ~2.5% in Robusta, making arabica coffee taste less bitter and drink more smoothly. For illustration, Robusta beans deliver almost twice as much caffeine as Arabica; where Arabica naturally tastes sweeter, Robusta is considerably more bitter.

Capriole Haags Bakkie is both Fairtrade-certified and produced climate-neutrally. Fairtrade certification means that coffee farmers in the countries of origin receive a fair price and that investments are made in their community. Producing climate-neutrally means that Capriole offsets the CO₂ emissions from cultivation, transport, and roasting, so the environment is not additionally burdened. Haags Bakkie also makes a social impact: €1 from every bag sold goes to a local The Hague charity. In 2025, for example, that is Stichting Lotje, which supports vulnerable children in The Hague. Since this initiative launched in 2022, an impressive amount has already been raised, in the first year €3,825 was donated to the Haagse Dierenambulance.

Thanks to its low acidity and rich flavor, Haags Bakkie is particularly well suited for pulling espresso and making milk drinks. For optimal results, the following ratio is recommended:

Haags Bakkie can, incidentally, be brewed effortlessly with both a portafilter machine and a fully automatic espresso machine. Thanks to the balanced roast and flavor, the coffee also remains pleasant in longer preparations (such as an americano or lungo) without turning bitter.

Haags Bakkie has not (yet) won any official coffee awards, but it does enjoy an excellent reputation among coffee drinkers. The The Hague–based Capriole itself labels this blend as one of their favorites, which shows how proud they are of it. Local customers especially appreciate the approachable, full-bodied flavor; many residents of The Hague specifically ask for this “Haagse bakkie” at Capriole café and other points of sale. The initiative has not gone unnoticed either, the first donation drive immediately raised €3,825 for charity, which shows the community’s engagement. The combination of tasty coffee and social commitment clearly appeals to the public.

The packaging of Haags Bakkie underscores the local character of this coffee. The design is inspired by The Hague: the bag features accents in the city colors green and yellow, hence the motto “coffee with a green-yellow heart”. The packaging also lists all key details, such as the countries of origin (Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru) and the fact that it is a 100% Arabica blend. In addition, there is a flavor indication and an intensity score (8/10), so the coffee drinker knows what to expect. Naturally, the quality marks are present: the Fairtrade logo and the climate-neutral emblem are clearly visible, to emphasize the sustainable and fair background of Haags Bakkie. The whole is packed in a handy 250 gram bag (with a freshness valve), which is also available in a larger 1 kg variant for heavy users.

Capriole Haags Bakkie is readily available both online and offline. Consumers can easily order these coffee beans via the platform Koffie.nl, which offers delivery throughout the Netherlands. Prefer to buy in person? Haags Bakkie can also be found at The Hague Info Store (Den Haag Central Station), where local products are sold, both in-store and through their web shop. A 250 gram bag costs around €10.50, while the kilo pack is priced at about €34. For companies and hospitality businesses that want to contribute, Capriole offers the option to serve Haags Bakkie at work: for every bag consumed at the office, one euro also goes to charity. This way, people can not only enjoy delicious coffee at work, but at the same time give something back to the The Hague community.