Hopper Coffee

More About Hopper Coffee

Two robust Giesen coffee roasters in the roastery in Noord.
A Kees van der Westen Mirage Triplette espresso machine in the center.
A Kees van der Westen Spirit or Spirit Duette for the location in Noord.
Classic filter coffee methods, including Aeropress, Chemex, and cafetière.

Flavor Profiles and Sourcing
The roastery develops specific roast profiles based on years of experience. The team intentionally separates the beans for filter coffee, espresso, and milk-based drinks. The brand’s flagship is the Espresso Ethiopie Organic. This espresso offers a full body with fruity and floral notes, finishing with a chocolatey aftertaste. It also performs excellently in a cappuccino or latte.
Another standout product was the filter coffee Finca Nazareth from El Salvador. This was a pure Bourbon variety, grown at an altitude of over 1600 meters. The farmers processed this coffee using the natural process.
Hopper sources green coffee to transform it in Rotterdam. Karel Rietveld prefers to seek out the exact origin of the beans; he wants to know the specific plot, the farm, and the farmer. By doing so, he avoids middlemen who put pressure on small-scale growers. For further background information on specific beans, Hopper sometimes refers to specialists such as the importer Trabocca.
The Artisanal Bakery
The bakery is essential to the Hopper brand. The company traditionally bakes sourdough bread without the addition of yeast. The bakers use exclusively flour, water, salt, and their own starter. This natural process takes approximately 48 hours from feeding to fresh bread.
In its early stages, Hopper immediately installed a French deck oven next to the coffee roaster. The assortment has since expanded beyond just bread; the bakers also make their own croissants, cookies, and cakes. Local guides therefore consistently present Hopper as a combination of a specialty coffee bar and an artisanal bakery.
Sales Channels and Market Position
Hopper operates using a strong multi-channel model. The location at Schiedamse Vest is open seven days a week. The location at Zwaanshals in Noord is open from Tuesday through Sunday. Recent additions to the website also indicate activities in Zeist.
The company supplies coffee and tea to both consumers and the hospitality sector. In addition to beans, the webshop offers tea and brewing equipment. Customers can find products such as the Clever Dripper, hand grinders, and tea varieties like Jasmin Dragon Pearls and White Monkey. Workshops or tastings are not currently on the calendar.
The coffee scene has recognized Hopper’s quality for years. In 2011, the company won the award for Best Coffee Bar during the VENUEZ Awards. Platforms such as European Coffee Trip and Koffietje consistently rank Hopper among the best establishments in the region. Even international media like Sprudge gave attention to this Rotterdam micro-roastery as early as 2017.
Transparency and Sustainability
Regarding ingredients, the bakery is extremely transparent. The well-known Ethiopian espresso also carries an organic label. The company does not currently share detailed reports on sustainability, CO2 emissions, or waste management publicly. Detailed overviews of purchase prices for the farmers are also missing. Nevertheless, with its focus on direct relationships and local craftsmanship, Hopper proves itself to be a stable and conscious player in the market.

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