Stooker Coffee Academy

Specialty coffee feels within reach in Amsterdam-Oost. Stooker Coffee Academy demonstrates how craftsmanship and education reinforce one another. The space at Kastanjeplein 2, 1092 CJ, is intentionally not a café. Instead, it is a roastery and training lab with open doors for the local community.

Stooker was founded in 2014 by Florian Hessel and Onno van Zanten. From day one, the concept focused on a specific niche: roasting, teaching, and tasting, rather than running a hospitality business. The mission is clear: specialty coffee should become the norm. This choice provided the space for sourcing, custom roast profiles, and education without distraction. In 2018, production grew and the packaging was refreshed, while the training base remained centered in Oost.

The assortment changes with the seasons and harvests. Rotating single origins sit alongside accessible blends. An example is “Ethiopia – Yetera Tulu”, natural processed at 2242 m above sea level, with notes of blueberry, cherry, and lavender. Other staples include Brazil Daterra, Kenya Ngandu AA, and Colombia Jhon Samboni. Each coffee is given its own roast profile for filter or espresso, with grinding options ranging from whole bean to method-specific.

There is certainly no shortage of choice. There are decaf options, tasting packs, and “Super Specials” micro-lots when available. The Academy emphasizes filter coffee as an affordable path to high quality. This preference aligns with their workshops and the daily brew culture within the space.

– Rotating single origins and seasonal blends with clear tasting notes
– “Ethiopia – Yetera Tulu”: natural, 2242 m, blueberry, cherry, lavender
– Brazil Daterra, Kenya Ngandu AA, Colombia Jhon Samboni as recognizable origin coffees
– Tailored roast profiles for both filter and espresso, with corresponding grind settings
– Decaf, tasting boxes, and micro-lots under “Super Specials”

The Academy offers both SCA and non-SCA training for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Standard course materials cover the V60, Kalita, Origami, and Aeropress, alongside cuppings and extraction theory. Open cuppings make the experience of quality tangible for the local community. During Roasting & Sensory Workshops, participants use a professional sample roaster and taste the results together. In partnership with Oatly, plant-based latte art sessions have been established, focusing on oat milk technique and texture.

– SCA-certified courses and accessible introductory workshops
– A focus on filter coffee as a quality-driven brewing method
– Hands-on roasting on a sample roaster, followed by a communal cupping
– Plant-based latte art sessions in collaboration with Oatly

Stooker is a visible presence at the Amsterdam Coffee Festival, featuring hands-on activations such as a hand grinder contest. In the hospitality sector, they maintain a long-term partnership with The Dylan Amsterdam, where their coffee enhances various guest touchpoints. For packaging, Stooker partners with Dutch Coffee Pack, linking brand consistency and freshness with a reduction in environmental impact. Additionally, the roastery distributes its coffee through partner cafés both within and outside Amsterdam.

– Amsterdam Coffee Festival: presentations and interactive competitions
– The Dylan Amsterdam: brand experience across multiple touchpoints
– Dutch Coffee Pack: branded packaging and community reach via partners

Since March 2022, Stooker has been certified as a B Corporation, with a B Impact Score of 85.4. Their sourcing strategy pays an average of 45% above the Fairtrade price and focuses on freshly harvested coffees. Specialized importers support farmers with expertise and investments in machinery. Packaging lists the producer, washing station, and importer, ensuring the origin and story remain clear. CO₂-compensated bags limit the carbon footprint without compromising freshness. At Yetera Tulu, for example, regenerative farming practices and composting are utilized.

– B Corp since March 2022, B Impact Score 85.4
– Sourcing average +45% above Fairtrade price
– Focus on fresh harvests, partnering with importers who invest directly in farms
– Transparent labeling featuring both producers and washing stations
– CO₂-compensated packaging, optimized for freshness
– Case study: regenerative agriculture and composting at Yetera Tulu

The Academy is an SCA-certified training location within a select group of Amsterdam's top coffee specialists. Media coverage has come from Sprudge and the Amsterdam Coffee Festival journal, while European visibility is bolstered by inclusion in roaster directories. Furthermore, their B Corp status underscores a commitment to governance, transparency, and customer impact. Together, these elements create a recognizable profile of quality within the European specialty community.

– SCA-certified training in Amsterdam-Oost
– Featured in Sprudge and the ACF journal
– Included in European roaster directories
– B Corp certification for social and environmental performance

A training-first model can be scalable even without a full-scale café. Using filter coffee as a spearhead lowers the barrier to entry, increases consistency, and helps communicate flavor profiles more clearly. Transparent labels build trust and justify premium pricing. CO₂-compensated packaging proves that sustainability and freshness can go hand in hand. In short, focus and openness create value at every link in the chain, from bean to cup.

– Invest in educational modules alongside sales, and keep group sizes small
– Make filter coffee the starting point for both quality and efficiency
– Producer, station, and importer labels clearly visible on every bag
– Implement a sourcing policy with premiums above Fairtrade wherever possible
– Use CO₂-compensated packaging that guarantees freshness
– Organize public cuppings and short sensory sessions
– Offer plant-based latte art training for baristas
– Communicate tasting notes simply, including origin and process

Stooker Coffee Academy proves that roasting, learning, and sharing are stronger together. Amsterdam-Oost now has a sustainable, transparent engine for quality coffee. This benefits farmers, bars, and guests, both today and tomorrow.