Holy Beans

More About Holy Beans

Holy Beans, an artisanal roaster from Nijmegen with a distinct signature

Holy Beans has been active in Nijmegen since 2016 and roasts on-site in the Commanderie van St. Jan at Franseplaats 1. The historical setting connects production, experience, and consumption under one roof, in close collaboration with the hospitality concept De Hemel.

The brand positions itself around “Craft, Honest, Local”. The message revolves around recognizable usage moments, with “Ilfa, Coffee Master” as the public face and tone of the brand.

Location, people, and brand story

The Commanderie serves as the home base for roasting, packaging, and direct service. The open setting makes the artisanal approach visible to visitors and guests. On the official channels, “Ilfa” appears as the Coffee Master and primary voice of the brand.

Public information regarding additional executives, team size, or organizational structure is unavailable. Therefore, the origin stories focus primarily on place, product, and moments of use.

Roasting Approach and Technology

Holy Beans roasts in small batches using a Probat “Probatone 5” drum roaster. The quality process begins with sample roasts, followed by cuppings, after which the final roast profile is selected for production and packaging.

Detailed roast curves, software settings, or gas consumption are not shared publicly. The focus lies on sensory selection and consistent profiles for each occasion.

Assortment based on occasion rather than brewing method

Instead of the classic divide between espresso and filter, Holy Beans clusters its coffees by time of day and mood. This makes the choice simple at the bar and in the shop, and provides hospitality partners with a clear proposition per grinder.

The core lines and flavor profiles are concretely defined and can be quickly translated into menus and training.

“For a boost of energy, Colombia”, dark roast, notes of nuts and dark chocolate, Arabica Caturra, importer Daarnhouwer.
“To relax, Ethiopië Sidamo”, notes of lime and red berries, Arabica Heirloom, importer Daarnhouwer.
“For special occasions, Brazilië Santos”, almond and milk chocolate, Arabica Bourbon, Catuai and Caturra, importer Daarnhouwer.

Additionally, a rotating “Special edition” is released. Details change over time and are not structurally recorded in public sources.

Sourcing, certifications, and partners

The beans come from Africa and South America via “fair suppliers”, with the explicit goal of ensuring a fair price at the origin. Product pages show Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, and UTZ for the coffees offered.

Daarnhouwer is the current green coffee import partner for Colombia, Ethiopië, and Brazilië. Historically, 32cup in Belgium is also mentioned. Specific farms or washing stations are not publicly listed.

Capacity and production setup

The Probatone 5 is a 5 kg class roaster. Manufacturer specifications for this class indicate a throughput of approximately 17 kg per hour. Annual volume, green bean tonnage, and energy consumption are not made public.

The on-site installation facilitates a short supply chain, with roasting, packaging, and serving all happening at the same location.

Retail, Hospitality, and Distribution

Holy Beans sells directly to consumers via an online shop, offering subscriptions for recurring deliveries. The full range can be tasted on-site at De Hemel. Historically, they also had shelf space in several Albert Heijn stores in the Nijmegen region.

For hospitality and corporate clients, a dual-grinder setup is recommended: one grinder for “energy“ and one for “relax”. This aligns with daypart experiences and simplifies both the customer's choice and staff training behind the bar.

Partner locations where you can sample the coffee include “In de Kazerne“ and “In-Credible”.
Inquiries regarding hospitality supply and workshops are handled through the official channel.

Sustainability and Urban Logistics

Within Nijmegen, Velocity handles the last-mile delivery using cargo bikes and electric vehicles. Orders over “€50“ qualify for free delivery. Packaging is described as kraft paper and “100% recycled”.

Certifications play a visible role in their communication, with an emphasis on Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, and UTZ. Broad impact figures, CO’2 reports, or annual transparency data are not shared publicly.

Practical Identifiers

For professionals looking for a quick overview, here are the most relevant identifiers and labels.

Location: Commanderie van St. Jan, Franseplaats 1, Nijmegen.
Roaster: Probat “Probatone 5“.
Core lines: “For a boost of energy“, “To relax“, “For special occasions“.
Import partners: Daarnhouwer (current), 32cup (mentioned historically).
Certifications: Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, UTZ.
Channels: webshop with subscription, service at De Hemel, Instagram “holybeanscoffee”, website “holybeans.nl”.

Why this matters for the Dutch coffee scene

The moment-driven positioning makes choices clear for both guest and barista. A two-grinder strategy per time of day translates easily to menu cards, training scripts, and tasting notes on the grinder. Urban logistics via bicycle align with sustainable delivery expectations in Dutch city centers.

Transparency regarding certifications is prominent, while deeper supply chain figures are missing. For buyers and entrepreneurs, it is therefore logical to inquire further about volumes, energy consumption, and origin specifications per lot during tenders or audits.

Disclaimer: We do our best to keep all information in this article as accurate as possible. Have you come across something that is no longer quite correct? Send a message to the editorial team at [email protected] and we'll update it!