NL Maastricht has breathed coffee aroma since the nineteenth century, from Dael to Coffeelovers, heritage and start‑ups blend their roasts, local events celebrate flavours while sustainability grows through Fairtrade beans, circular coffee grounds and energy‑efficient roasteries such as Blanche Dael that keep inspiring future baristas.
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More about Maastricht
A city with coffee genes
Maastricht has smelled of freshly roasted beans for over a century. Already in the nineteenth century a cup of “teske coffee” awaited almost every meeting. That fragrant tradition is still alive today on terraces around the Vrijthof and in countless living‑room cafés, where a steaming cup keeps conversations flowing from early morning until the late lunchtime break.
From colonial goods to specialty roasters
In 1878 Guillaume Dael opened a shop selling colonial goods; at that time coffee was just one of many products. Only twenty years later Maastricht experienced a true roasting boom. Around 1905 some twelve roasteries were running, powered by waterwheels, gas, or early electric motors. Their experiments with heat and time gave the city an edge in mastering flavor.
By the mid‑twentieth century coffee moved definitively to center stage. Family business Blanche Dael dropped tobacco and soup to focus entirely on coffee, tea, and nuts. The pursuit of quality remained sacred, only the finest beans went into the drum. This focus laid the foundation for today’s specialty wave, in which small roasters and baristas refine even further.
Key players in the current landscape
In the city center, heritage and start‑ups stand side by side today. The names below set the tone and provide inspiration for entrepreneurs looking to enter the market.
- Blanche Dael – since 1878, roastery in the Sphinx Quarter with tasting room and shop
- Coffeelovers – five espresso bars, iconic branch in Boekhandel Dominicanen
- Fixed Gear Coffee, light roasts and cycling ambience on the Grote Gracht
- Alley Cat Bikes & Coffee, coffee, cake and an indoor bike parking
- KOFFIE bij Joost & Maartje, living‑room vibe, laptop‑friendly and homemade cake
- Coffeelovers – five espresso bars, iconic branch in Boekhandel Dominicanen
- Fixed Gear Coffee, light roasts and cycling ambience on the Grote Gracht
- Alley Cat Bikes & Coffee, coffee, cake and an indoor bike parking
- KOFFIE bij Joost & Maartje, living‑room vibe, laptop‑friendly and homemade cake
Events that celebrate coffee
In 2011 the international trade fair World of Coffee drew more than 3,000 professionals to the MECC. World titles in Latte Art, Cup Tasters and the first Brewers Cup were awarded here, briefly making Maastricht the epicentre of the coffee world.
Smaller‑scale gatherings show that coffee remains the social lubricant. Open Coffee Maastricht fills Centre Céramique with entrepreneurs each month. The 2024 ECOffee event demonstrated how coffee grounds can be transformed into new products, while workshops such as “Coffee tastes like coffee” taught residents to cup like professionals.
What does a Maastrichtenaar drink?
A slice of Limburgse vlaai with coffee remains sacred. The Burgundian lifestyle encourages sitting down, talking and tasting slowly. Take‑away cups exist, but in Maastricht ceramic cups and time still prevail.
Yet tastes are evolving quickly. Filter coffee is making a comeback among connoisseurs, while cappuccinos, flat whites and even cold brew are booming among younger audiences. Baristas note that milk drinks are ringing up the tills, although hand‑brewed pour‑over is gaining ground thanks to curious drinkers seeking more complex aromas.
Sustainability as a second shot of espresso
Since 2018 the municipality has served only Fairtrade coffee in its buildings, calling it a step towards the Global Goals. Every civil servant thus receives a daily reminder that fair supply chains are possible.
Circularity is gaining steam at the same time. Maastricht University has separated coffee grounds since 2017, cafés receive support through “Verduurzaam je MKB” to purchase energy‑efficient machines, and the ECOffee project connects consumers with apps that encourage reuse. Blanche Dael built a low‑energy roastery and won the Maastricht Award in 2017, an example that leaves everyone wanting more.