NL In fifteen years Rum Baba has grown into a colorful roastery, bakery, and coffee laboratory where sustainable direct‑trade beans, experimental fermentations, and rotating single origins converge. Workshops and community events connect neighbors through flavor, craftsmanship, and the joy of coffee adventures.
Coffee roaster in Rum Baba East
Coffee beans in Rum Baba East
About Rum Baba East
Introduction
For years, Amsterdam East has been a breeding ground for quirky coffee bars. Rum Baba, located at Pretoriusstraat 15, towers head and shoulders above the crowd. In fifteen years the company has grown from a small espresso bar into a colourful roastery, bakery, and meeting place. Enthusiasts find fresh flavours, playful branding, and an open approach that brings specialty coffee close to everyday life.
From espresso bar to flavour laboratory
Founder Jeroen Keyzer, once co‑founder of Coffee Bru, started Rum Baba together with Lusan Drost to make quality coffee accessible and fun. The mantra “sustainably sourced, thoughtfully roasted and playfully packaged” points the way. Every bag of beans features vibrant illustrations, while the space combines bulging jute sacks, filter stations, and cake tins. The result is a café that feels like a candy shop for coffee fans, artisanal yet unpretentious.
The playful menu: coffee with character
Rum Baba roasts a wide range of single origins and experimental micro‑lots. An Ethiopian Keramo surprises with florals, sweet orange, and apricot. Decafé from Colombia tastes of caramel and ripe plum. The house blend from Finca Guayabina, Honduras, gives cappuccinos a bright citrus sweetness and remains elegant as a straight espresso. Baristas rotate the lineup often, so returning guests discover new flavours each time.
- “M & M Juicy” from Las Nubes, Costa Rica, gets an extra kick from the juice of another fermentation
- Thermal shock processes and co‑fermentations yield limited editions with tropical fruit aroma
– The Rum Baba Coffee Candy Box offers three indulgent sample sachets for curious tasters
- Thermal shock processes and co‑fermentations yield limited editions with tropical fruit aroma
– The Rum Baba Coffee Candy Box offers three indulgent sample sachets for curious tasters
Craftsmanship in every brewing method
Every bean can be brewed as espresso or filter, according to preference. Brewing methods range from V60 and AeroPress to precisely dialled in espresso shots. This flexibility lets tasters experience the same coffee in two ways. Workshops demonstrate step by step how grind size, water temperature and brew time steer flavour. This builds confidence to brew a balanced cup at home.
Sustainability as a common thread
Rum Baba chooses only direct‑trade beans and maintains long‑term relationships with farmers in Ethiopia, Colombia and beyond. Fair prices and support for experimental processing methods strengthen both quality and living conditions at origin. In Amsterdam the team promotes bulk sales in 1 kg bags. That saves packaging, cuts up to twenty percent per gram and reduces shipping flows. Recyclable cups lie on the bar, while local deliveries are made by bicycle whenever possible.
A vibrant community
Every Wednesday afternoon neighbours drop in for free workshops: cupping, AeroPress tips or perfecting a V60. During the Amsterdam Coffee Festival 2025 Rum Baba presented six new roasts and hosted public tasting sessions at its stand. Collaborations with Coffee Bru and patisserie l’Abeille, such as the coffee‑chocolate panettone, show how the bar strengthens neighbourhood networks and connects flavours.
Awards and recognitions
European Coffee Trip placed Rum Baba among the top ten Dutch specialty cafés in 2024. Iamsterdam praises the friendly baristas and traceable beans, while international outlets such as Roadbook call the roastery a “coffee cultural centre”. These accolades confirm that colourful branding and serious quality go hand in hand.
Final Thoughts
Rum Baba proves that playfulness and craftsmanship reinforce each other. From aromatic single origins to sustainable bulk bags, the brand offers a clear example for the coffee industry. A visit to Pretoriusstraat 15 or the location at Elandsgracht 134 shows how colourful presentation, transparent sourcing and a vibrant community together create a forward‑looking coffee culture. Step inside, taste something new and be inspired.