NL Rum Baba West blends quirky branding with top‑quality coffee and a homey atmosphere in Amsterdam. Fresh beans arrive every week for espresso and filter. Workshops, tasting packs and sustainable direct trade showcase their playfulness, craftsmanship and social engagement. The local community provides inspiration.
Coffee roaster at Rum Baba West
Coffee beans at Rum Baba West
About Rum Baba West
Introduction
Rum Baba West on the Elandsgracht shows that playfulness and top quality can go hand in hand. The Amsterdam micro‑roaster offers a candy‑shop experience where every bean surprises and inspires. This article explores the concept, the coffees, the community and the sustainable choices behind this beloved spot.
Origins and Philosophy
Founders Jeroen Keyzer and Lusan began in 2011 with Coffee Bru, one of the city’s first specialty bars. The desire to roast themselves soon grew, so that every step from bean to cup was under their own control. Rum Baba became the result: a colorful brand that takes coffee seriously while keeping the experience light‑hearted. Visitors feel like they’re in a living room filled with aromatic beans and fresh pastries.
The original concept pairs espresso and filter coffee with homemade treats. A slice of cake alongside a flat white was a given, because "just coffee felt a little too little". Although the bakery was later scaled back, the idea remained that good coffee tastes better with something sweet.
Coffee and Brewing Methods
Every roasted bean is offered both as espresso and as filter. This makes tasting flavor nuances simple and fun. The bar features V60, Kalita Wave, AeroPress and a modern espresso machine. It hardly gets fresher, because new roasts arrive once a week.
Rum Baba is known for bold varieties and experimental processes, such as Amsterdam's first 'thermal shock' coffee. Yet familiar profiles remain, for example a Colombian decaf with caramel notes, available for those who seek milder flavors.
Special tasting sets are regularly assembled for curious drinkers. The latest Rum Baba Coffee Candy Box contains three 'wild & experimental' coffees that together make for a playful comparison round.
- Ethiopian Keramo: jasmine, sweet orange, apricot
- Peruvian Los Coronados: floral, light citrus, elegant body
- Seasonal blend Timeless: milk chocolate, red currant, nutty finish
- Peruvian Los Coronados: floral, light citrus, elegant body
- Seasonal blend Timeless: milk chocolate, red currant, nutty finish
Community and Events
Rum Baba sees coffee as social glue. Every month there is at least one free workshop, ranging from Espresso 101 to cupping sessions. Wednesday evening is the favorite; passers-by may drop in as long as there is space.
The team is active beyond its own walls as well. At the Amsterdam Coffee Festival 2025, six new releases were presented, including live cuppings. Collaborations with local creators, such as the coffee-chocolate panettone with Patisserie l’Abeille, show how flavors can amplify each other.
International attention arrived through The Coffeevine subscription box, which in 2022 distributed Rum Baba’s washed Peruvian lot across Europe. In this way, the roaster’s reputation grew far beyond the canals.
Sustainable Practices
Sustainability starts with direct‑trade sourcing. By buying directly from farmers, producers receive a fair price and the chain remains transparent. All beans are roasted locally, reducing transport miles.
For production, Rum Baba invested in an energy‑efficient IMF roaster, comparable to the well‑known Loring technology. The system recirculates hot air and lowers gas use and emissions.
Customers are encouraged to choose one‑kilogram bags. That saves up to four small bags, cuts the price by twenty percent and shrinks the waste pile. Several plant‑based milk options are also on hand, because oat or soy milk carries a lower CO₂ footprint than cow’s milk.
Awards and Recognition
The Coffeevine named Rum Baba Amsterdam’s most exciting roaster in 2022. City platform iAmsterdam calls the bar a candy store for coffee nerds.
Head trainer Maru Mallee won the Dutch AeroPress title in 2022 and took silver on the world stage in 2021. These achievements prove the craftsmanship behind the bar.
Local blogs such as Barts Boekje and Roadbook consistently place Rum Baba high on their best coffee lists. Steady praise from trade media and tourist guides underscores its lasting impact.
Closing thought
Rum Baba shows that specialty coffee can be accessible, sustainable and, above all, fun. The combination of colorful branding, serious quality and an open community makes the bar an inspiring example for the entire sector. A visit proves that every day tastes a little better with a good espresso or filter in hand.