Wakuli Haarlemmerplein

Wakuli Haarlemmerplein is located at Haarlemmerplein 43 in Amsterdam. This address is situated in the Centrum district. The location is part of Wakuli’s network of own coffee bars. A company announcement in July 2023 reported that the brand’s third coffee bar had opened at Haarlemmerplein. The opening was marked by a festive gathering on July 22, 2023.

Wakuli was founded in 2019 by Yorick Bruins and Lukas Grosfeld. In publicly available profiles, Bruins is described as having experience with coffee cooperatives in Tanzania and East Africa, with an academic background in Food Policy. Regarding Grosfeld, it is publicly noted that he studied philosophy and economics. This combination of practical experience and policy or economic perspectives forms the foundation of the business concept.

According to the company, the name Wakuli is derived from the Swahili word “wakulima”, meaning “farmers”. Their positioning centers on a short and transparent supply chain. The company states that they work directly with groups of coffee farmers and roast the coffee themselves. In doing so, the brand connects its urban hospitality activities to a broader narrative of sourcing, processing, and origin.

The location at Haarlemmerplein fits right into this broader structure. This isn’t just a standalone café using an external roaster, but a site that is part of the same enterprise that sources, roasts, and sells the coffee. For readers following the specialty coffee sector, this is relevant as it speaks to the level of vertical integration within the company.

Official information about the bar lists espresso, cappuccino, and filter coffee as staples of the menu. This ensures the location covers both milk-based drinks and black coffee in filtered form. Wakuli also mentions that all coffee is roasted in-house, meaning the bar operates using coffee from the brand’s own roastery.

Alongside the permanent menu, Wakuli also offers seasonal variations. For Haarlemmerplein, these include the Tiramisu Latte and Chocolate Raspberry Cold Brew. Other product pages from the company feature preparations such as Nitro Cold Brew, Nitro Oat Latte, and Grapefruit Cold Brew Spritz. This indicates that cold coffee drinks hold a prominent place within their assortment.

Notably, other manual brewing methods for this specific location are not publicly documented. While the available bar information mentions filter coffee, it provides no confirmation of, for example, V60, Chemex, or similar methods. For a factual description of the business, this distinction is important, as the available source material sets a limit on what can be stated with certainty regarding the menu.

Wakuli positions its coffee bars not just as points of sale, but as hubs for activity. The workshops page states that the company organizes hands-on workshops in its bars in Amsterdam, Den Haag, and Leiden. This series begins with a coffee tasting workshop. For Haarlemmerplein, this means the location is part of a network where educational and interactive programs play a key role.

Several public collaborations surrounding this location are also known. For the opening in July 2023, Wakuli organized an event featuring a DJ and coffee cocktails. In July 2025, a collaboration with the Amsterdam-based PACKBAGS was mentioned, available in selected Wakuli bars, including Haarlemmerplein. Additionally, a collaboration titled “WAKULI x [UN]FAIR COFFEE” appeared on Instagram, linked to UNFAIR Amsterdam and a panel discussion.

A large part of Wakuli’s public communication revolves around the chain behind the coffee. The company states that it works with 13 partners across 12 countries of origin. In the same impact communication, it mentions a most recently reported average payment of 7.87 dollars per kilo to partners, compared to an average market price of 6.19 dollars. Wakuli uses these figures to explain its own pricing model.

According to the company, farmers should have access to market information, be rewarded for quality, and be able to build independent, profitable, and future-proof businesses. In this context, Wakuli describes a model that seeks to distance itself from the common commodity C-price. It states that it utilizes farmgate price information in its collaborations and maintains long-term direct relationships with producer groups.

Wakuli links this model to regenerative coffee production. In public impact texts, it mentions agroforestry, intercropping, organic fertilizer or compost, and the reduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Examples of partners include CBC in Tanzania, Ontosoroh in Indonesië, Kata Muduga in Ethiopië, Coopervass in Brazilië, and Union San Pedro in Mexico. Furthermore, the company states it became B Corp certified in 2022.

The location and the brand are also visible outside their own channels. I amsterdam included Wakuli Bar in its public agenda and guide. De Westkrant mentioned Wakuli at Haarlemmerplein 43 in November 2023 in an overview of specialty coffee addresses in the Haarlemmerbuurt. World Coffee Portal previously reported on Wakuli’s first Amsterdam store and later on investment rounds and expansion plans. Moreover, in December 2022, Wakuli was mentioned as a nominee for Coolest Dutch Brands 2022 by FONK Magazine.