Smit & Dorlas

More About Smit & Dorlas

Smit & Dorlas traces its roots back to two separate Dutch coffee roasteries. According to the company’s history, Dorlas Koffie was established in 1822. A figure referred to only as Mr. Dorlas started a roastery with ties to Amsterdam and Gouda. The business later relocated to Amersfoort.

Smit Koffie dates back to 1825. The Smit family roasted coffee in a delicatessen shop on the Leidsestraat in Amsterdam. The company initially supplied hotels. According to historical accounts, a son of the family delivered orders by cargo bike.

The two enterprises merged in 1980. The first jointly branded coffee was the SMIT&DORLAS espresso blend. Since 2012, the company has been part of the Japanese UCC Holdings, following the acquisition of Smit & Dorlas and De Drie Mollen.

Roasting method and production location

The documented roasting method works with relatively small batches. Roasting time, temperature, heat, and airflow are adjusted to achieve the desired aroma and flavor profile. Espresso Originale receives a longer roast. Caffè Delicato is also roasted slowly, but for a shorter duration.

The company purchased its first Probat coffee roaster in 1933. According to their own information, this machine is still in use today. No public data has been found regarding the current production machines, including models, capacity, annual volume, or software used.

Official information cites two different roasting locations. A coffee overview mentions Bolsward, while the frequently asked questions refer to a proprietary roastery in Mijdrecht. As a result, the current production location cannot be definitively determined based on the available data.

The assortment consists primarily of blends

The range includes, among others, Espresso Originale, Caffè Delicato, Espresso Intenso, Caffè Decaffeinato, and Lungo Passionato. For consumers, Classic Roast and Dark Roast are also available as coffee beans and capsules. These products have indicated strengths of 5/10 and 7/10, respectively.

Caffè Decaffeinato is a blend of Arabica from Colombia and Brazil. The coffee is decaffeinated using a CO₂ process and contains less than 0.1 percent caffeine, according to the product information. Ground variants include, among others, Excellent, Banqueting, and Cafeïne arm, packaged in 250-gram and one-kilogram sizes.

The origin varies by blend. Espresso Originale features Arabica from Brazil, Colombia, and East Africa. Caffè Delicato combines coffees from Brazil, Colombia, Central America, and East Africa. Espresso Intenso includes Brazilian natural Arabica, washed Arabica from Central America, and a small proportion of polished Robusta.

For Lungo Passionato, different compositions are listed on a single official page, leaving the current formula unclear. Furthermore, no specific plantations, farmers, producers, or cooperatives are named for the core range. A clearly defined series of single-origin or single-farm coffees has not been publicly documented.

Certification and sustainability policy

Smit & Dorlas states that it works with the Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade Max Havelaar, and organically certified suppliers. The type of certification varies by product. On May 11, 2026, the Rainforest Alliance listed the company for certified coffee and cocoa products in eight countries.

For packaging, the company mentions mono-PE coffee bags, boxes made from FSC-certified cardboard, and natural inks for tea packaging. The COFFEE WORKS program focuses on reducing waste, shorter machine usage times, and regular maintenance. Additionally, the company names 2040 as its target year for fully CO₂-neutral operations. For implementation, it refers to the sustainability reports of UCC Coffee.

Hospitality, retail, and vocational training

Historically, the company focused primarily on hotels, restaurants, and other professional clients. Its business offerings include coffee, machines, technical maintenance, training, cleaning supplies, and barista accessories. Consumers can purchase products through a webshop. Since 2022, part of the assortment has also been available at Jumbo.

There is no publicly documented café with fixed opening hours or a regular menu. However, a showroom has been located in Mijdrecht since 1999. The Coffee Academy offers classes on espresso machines, grinder settings, cupping, latte art, drink preparation, and hospitality.

The academy lists eight training categories, including three SCA levels and SVH Barista. The SVH training lasts one to two days and consists of equal parts theory and practice. A tour of the roastery is part of this training.

Events and public information

Smit & Dorlas served as the host venue for the finals of the Shell Barista Cup in 2024 and 2026. In the 2024 edition, forty Shell locations participated. Additionally, the company supported Dutch latte art competitors in their preparation for international competitions by distributing Thermoplan equipment.

Recent prices for coffee products or roasted coffee are not documented. There is also no public list of current executives, roasters, coffee buyers, or academy staff. The available information primarily mentions account managers, service technicians, certified baristas, and trainers as roles within the organization.

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