Giraffe Coffee Roasters

Giraffe Coffee Roasters from Rotterdam has been renowned since 2013 for specialty coffee with pronounced flavours. The brand owes its name to the giraffe, an animal that happily reaches for the best leaves, just as the team reaches for the finest beans. Enthusiasts spot the familiar giraffe on coffee bags nationwide. This reputation has been built over ten years through craftsmanship, openness and a healthy dose of curiosity.

Founders Maarten van der Jagt and Mark Jordaan met around 2010 during barista trainings. Two years later they rented a small roastery, and demand grew so rapidly that they opened their own facility. From day one, roasting was linked to education through the Giraffe Coffee Bar & Academy on the Hoogstraat. In 2023 the company celebrated its first decade while remaining committed to flavour and transparency.

Every Wednesday the team blind‑tastes all fresh roasts. The fixed ritual keeps flavour consistency sharp and immediately reveals any deviations. Even three seconds of extra roast time can change the profile, so curves are constantly adjusted. This approach shows how craftsmanship takes precedence over mystique and how knowledge is shared within the team.

Giraffe chooses beans with bright, recognisable aromas. Blends develop their own character, while single origins display the pure terroir. The Pacific Blend combines Brazil, Colombia and Indonesia and tastes spicy with liquorice. The Organic Blend, with Colombia and Peru, offers sweet notes of milk chocolate and madeleine. The crowd‑pleaser Original Blend mixes Brazil with Ethiopia for creamy sweetness and bergamot.

– Pacific Blend: spicy, powerful, liquorice
– Organic Blend: sweet, milk chocolate, madeleine
– Original Blend: creamy, sweet, bergamot
– Zorro Azul (Colombia): elderflower, almond as espresso; blackcurrant, vanilla, sultana as filter

The brand enjoys experimenting with new varieties such as F1 hybrids from Costa Rica. Small‑batch releases appear regularly, like the summery Guamo from Colombia with strawberry, blackcurrant and mandarin. This keeps the range fresh and sparks curiosity among coffee drinkers. Still, authenticity remains paramount, and extreme fermentations that mask origin are avoided.

Transparency runs like a common thread through the purchasing policy. The team pays above‑average prices for quality harvests and lists origin, process and roast date on every bag. Sustainable practices are rewarded, allowing farmers to invest in their plantations and communities. Thanks to regular origin trips, close bonds arise that future‑proof the supply chain.

– 100% traceability for every coffee
– Above‑market prices for quality beans
– Small purchases for maximum freshness
– Partnership instead of anonymous trade

Through the Giraffe Coffee Academy, everyone from new enthusiasts to seasoned baristas can attend workshops and SCA modules. Wholesale clients receive free training sessions to brew the beans correctly, improving the final cup. The team also hosts cuppings and latte‑art battles, helping the local scene grow. In this way the coffee bar serves as a meeting place where knowledge and passion converge.

The team spans generations of coffee pros, headed by Maarten van der Jagt, former food journalist and World Championship judge, and the younger roastmeister Mark Jordaan. Together they pair a sensitive palate with daily roasting experience. Colleagues such as managing director Leslie Vreugdenhil and quality specialist Tymen Folkerts complement that expertise with organisational strength and precise cupping. Through mentoring, young talent learns quickly, while seasoned veterans stay sharp for new trends.

The white giraffe on every bag immediately catches the eye and inspires confidence. Key information such as origin, process and roast date is clearly stated, so consumers know what they are drinking. The modern, minimalist design matches the brand’s premium position. In collaborations, such as the KINTO travel tumbler, the same stylish simplicity appears, keeping the visual identity consistent.

In the coming years Giraffe aims to deepen its partnerships with farmers and introduce more organically certified coffees. New varieties and processes will continue to attract attention, but will always be judged on flavour. The Academy is also expanding with extra modules and possibly new locations. Growth is kept under control so that quality, transparency and the familiar giraffe pride are preserved.