Koffie & Ik

More About Koffie & Ik

Koffie & Ik opened its doors in 2012. Owner Robbie van Luijn started with an espresso bar in Utrecht-West. More than twelve years later, the company has grown significantly. Today, it consists of two physical locations, combining the coffee bar in Utrecht with a micro-roastery in Amersfoort. According to public data, the company now employs between eleven and fifty staff members. Well-known names within the team include Martijn V., Kirsten Gaasenbeek, and Annelot van der Teems.

Two Locations, One Clear Vision

The headquarters and café are located at Vleutenseweg 169 in the Lombok neighborhood. This spacious, bright bar is situated near Utrecht Centraal. The building stands out due to its three large front windows. Inside, you’ll find art by local creators and air conditioning. Outside, guests can enjoy a sunny terrace. The coffee roastery is located at Heliumweg 40, situated in the Fabriek aan de Eem in Amersfoort. The café is open seven days a week from 08:00 to 17:00. Guests can only pay by card, and advance reservations are not possible.

Artisanal Roasting and Quality

Koffie & Ik positions itself strongly as a specialty coffee roastery. The beans are freshly roasted every week in Amersfoort, both for their own espresso bar and for the B2B market. Quality is clearly the priority here. Owner Robbie van Luijn holds SCAE Level 1, Level 2, and Brewmaster certifications. In 2014, the bar utilized an impressive Mirage espresso machine, a renowned high-end machine from builder Kees van der Westen.

The Current Coffee Offering

The webshop assortment currently features four permanent coffees. These beans are sold in convenient 200-gram packages, with a clean distinction made between espresso and filter coffee.

Espresso Brazil, Paraná & Sao Paolo: Sourced from the Capricornio cooperative, these beans are grown at altitudes between 450 and 1200 meters. The varieties include Bourbon, Catuai, and Mundo Novo. Processed using ‘Natural & Pulped Natural’ methods, this coffee offers classic notes of dark chocolate and hazelnut.
Filter Myanmar, Hopong: From the Hti Kham cooperative, grown at altitudes of 1100 to 1600 meters. This ‘Natural’ coffee consists of Catimor, Caturra, and Catuai varieties. The flavor profile is rich with tropical fruit and forest berries.
Filter Nicaragua, Santa Lucia: Washed coffee from the Cafe Vidita farmer group. The beans grow at altitudes between 600 and 1700 meters, specifically the Caturra and Villassarchi varieties. This coffee tastes bright, with notes of red apple, blackberry, and caramel.
Decaf Brazil, Cerrado Mineiro: A decaffeinated bean via Coffee Quest Brasil, grown at 900 to 1100 meters. The safe CO2 method is used for decaffeination. Its mild notes of chocolate and nuts make it a perfect fit for both espresso and filter coffee.

Transparency and Sustainability in the Supply Chain

The roastery makes a conscious choice for a transparent trade chain, ensuring that the coffee farmer always receives a fair price. Additionally, the sourcing process must contribute directly to nature conservation in the producing countries. These ethical choices are also central to the café experience; the menu is composed of organic and local ingredients as much as possible. Alongside fair-trade coffee, the bar serves hearty lunches and homemade sweets. In March 2014, the establishment was awarded the “Duurzaam Gastvrij” certificate by the municipality.

Retail, Wholesale, and Flexible Working

The physical location also functions as a concept store, where customers can find coffee, tea, delicacies, and bean-to-bar chocolate. In addition to coffee beans, the online webshop offers three types of gift cards and six specific coffee accessories, including the AeroPress, Chemex, and Hario V60 filters. The business branch delivers fresh coffee weekly via mail to companies, with well-known clients including De Katoenfabriek, Run2Day, Besselings’ Deli, and SB Gym. At the café in Utrecht, the company also caters to flexible workers. Laptop users pay a service fee of “€2.50 per hour per laptop” in exchange for direct access to workstations, fast wifi, and power outlets.

Broad Recognition in the Media

Since its launch, the brand has received significant positive media attention. In the 2013 AD Koffietest, the establishment scored an impressive 8.5, with the jury praising the simple formula and high quality of the coffee. This resulted in a third-place ranking in Utrecht and twentieth place nationally. In the 2014 Misset Horeca Koffie Top 100, the bar reached 65th place. Media outlets such as Esquire, Petite Passport, The Coffee Vine, Libelle, and MacFan have written extensively about the coffee brand. Today, respected platforms like European Coffee Trip and Koffietje consistently feature the establishment in their city guides for specialty coffee.

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