NL The Bean Specialists
The Bean Specialists is a Utrecht-based coffee roastery where patients gain work experience, develop barista skills, and contribute to coffee with a social impact.
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More About The Bean Specialists
The Origin: Coffee with a Mission
The unique concept of The Bean Specialists was born in 2020.
Founder Rogier ter Hall was working as a prevention officer at De Forensische Zorgspecialisten at the time.
He read an article about the successful prison roastery Zuivere Koffie and immediately saw new opportunities.
He then translated this unique model into the daily practice of the Van der Hoeven Kliniek.
Kartal Uçar immediately supported this innovative plan within the Utrecht treatment location De Wierde.
In May 2022, the clinic announced the arrival of the new coffee roastery.
The official unveiling of the new brand name followed on September 30, 2022.
The very first coffee from the Utrecht roastery was given the fitting name “de Wierdse Blend”.
Employees and patients of the clinic chose this specific name together through careful consultation.
On March 23, 2023, Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma officially opened the roastery and its accompanying webshop.
Production and Philosophy Behind the Scenes
The entire production process takes place at the clinic location on the Oudlaan in Utrecht.
Patients and professional supervisors work together here daily as one fully integrated and entrepreneurial team.
Workmaster Mariska Verheul leads the daily operations on the roastery floor.
The roastery explicitly does not strive for financial profit, but for maximum social impact.
A better and more secure future for the participating patients is always the central focus.
Roasting coffee provides these patients with an essential daily rhythm and important new responsibilities.
From the very beginning, the clinic actively involved the team in the flavor development process.
They organized special tasting sessions to select the right coffee beans for production.
The brand utilizes top-quality equipment to execute the complex roasting process.
However, specific details regarding the roasters or daily capacity are not available in public communications.
The Flavor Profile: Two Core Blends
The brand’s current webshop focuses heavily on two consistent and flavorful coffees.
The current offering for both consumers and businesses consists of the blends Strongly and Friendly.
Strongly: A blend of robust beans from North Sumatra and India. This coffee is characterized by a strikingly full body. Drinkers will experience clear notes of wood, clove, nuts, spices, and a hint of dark cocoa.
Friendly: A decaffeinated 100 percent Arabica coffee sourced entirely from Guatemala. This smooth variant offers accessible flavor notes of chocolate, crisp apple, and sweet caramel.
Customers can purchase both coffees in convenient packages of 250 grams, 500 grams, or one kilo.
The Utrecht-based roastery delivers the fresh beans as whole beans or as a practical filter grind.
Transparency regarding the sourcing of the green beans currently only extends to the country level.
The coffee brand does not mention specific farms, certifications, or direct trade relationships in its public documentation.
Impact on the Labor Market and Training
The roastery functions as a professional workshop for vocational training and successful resocialization.
Patients with a significant distance to the labor market develop essential practical skills here.
They learn to be punctual, collaborate effectively, and maintain professional contact with customers.
During this trajectory, participants can earn a recognized barista certificate, significantly improving their employment prospects.
In early 2025, two more participants earned this valuable diploma thanks to the training provided by Liesbeth Sleijster.
Additionally, patients visited the Amsterdam Coffee Festival for extra inspiration and broader professional knowledge.
From its inception, the project received highly practical support from partner Zuivere Koffie.
This partner played an active role in setting up the business, selecting suppliers, and designing an efficient workspace.
Growth, Reach, and Collaborations
The brand started with internal deliveries, but has since expanded its reach to a much broader corporate audience.
During its first anniversary, the roastery reported several impressive and measurable production figures.
The roasting team processed no less than 3,520 kilos of coffee and served over 15,200 fresh cups.
A major milestone in their growth was the successful launch of a specialized mobile coffee trailer in 2024.
Health insurer Zilveren Kruis funded this trailer as part of the annual Social Run.
Participants now confidently serve coffee at De Utrechtse Uitdaging and ProRail office locations.
This external work helps patients build their self-confidence in live, public settings.
The Bean Specialists is also officially registered within the Social Enterprise NL network.
In doing so, the company demonstrates the immense social value of labor participation within today’s coffee sector.
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