Stean’s Beans

Stean’s Beans is a coffee company featuring a public coffee bar and roastery in Amsterdam-Zuid, located at Helicopterstraat 30 in the Schinkelbuurt. According to the company, the business was founded in 2016 by Stean Fasol, who is described on the official website as a certified barista and roaster. Public reports also identify Fasol as a Kenyan-born entrepreneur. The Amsterdam location officially opened its doors on November 3, 2023, though visitors were welcomed shortly before that date. This brought a new spot to the Schinkelbuurt where coffee production, hospitality, and the story of origin explicitly converge.

The company presents itself as a coffee roaster with operations in both Amsterdam and Nairobi. The Amsterdam page notes that the local roasting team is led by founder Stean, whose coffee journey began in East Africa over a decade ago. In its own communications, the company places this background at the heart of its broader mission. According to these public statements, that mission focuses on creating fairer proportions within the coffee supply chain, emphasizing direct trade in East African coffee, long-term relationships with farmers, and a future-proof sector.

This concept relies not only on serving coffee in the city but also on controlling a larger portion of the supply chain. The company states that it sources coffee directly from small-scale farmers in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania. Simultaneously, Stean’s Beans profiles itself as an Amsterdam roaster, while maintaining a second roastery in Nairobi. As a result, the company combines urban hospitality with a model where sourcing, roasting, and distribution are closely integrated into its positioning.

Publicly available information regarding the specific offerings at the Amsterdam shop is limited. A full menu for the location was not found in the consulted public sources. However, it is documented that espresso and cappuccino are served in Amsterdam. Additionally, Stean’s Beans publishes brewing information for several methods on its own site. This creates the impression of a shop that focuses on various extraction methods, even if all drinks and prices are not publicly specified.

The documented brewing methods and grind size categories are:

This information indicates that Stean’s Beans does not limit itself to a single brewing style. The public guide distinguishes between grind size and application, ranging from espresso to cold brew. For readers in the specialty coffee world, this is relevant because such instructions are typically intended to support repeatability and flavor control. At the same time, the information remains functional: public sources do not provide a complete overview of the seasonal coffees, blends, or single origins available at the Amsterdam bar at any given time.

Beyond selling coffee, the location is also described as a place for knowledge sharing. According to public city guide information, the shop organizes coffee brewing workshops for both novice and experienced baristas. Furthermore, in 2026, the company participated in The Amsterdam Coffee Festival, where, according to LinkedIn posts, small workshops were held at booth N24. This positions Stean’s Beans not just as a hospitality venue, but also as a participant in professional and public-facing events.

The training component also extends to their business activities. The hospitality page states that business customers receive complimentary barista training when purchasing coffee, focusing on espresso extraction, milk texturing, and brewing practices. For consumers, another unique element is visible in the shop: reports indicate that visitors can use QR codes to tip not only the barista but also the coffee farmer. Further collaborations or broader community projects were not clearly documented in the consulted public sources.

At the heart of the company's story are the origin of the coffee and the payment structure within the supply chain. Stean's Beans states that it works directly with small-scale farmers in East Africa, an approach intended to ensure a transparent and ethical chain. On its own website and LinkedIn, the company refers to a digital payment and traceability system called Lipia or Lipea. This system is described as a tool for direct or cashless payments to farmers and for product traceability.

Public reports add that Stean Fasol developed an SMS payment system that allows farmers to be paid directly. These reports also mention that the company works with guaranteed prices that do not fluctuate with the volatility of the commodities market. Furthermore, public communications highlight concrete sustainability measures, including low-emission roasting, deliveries via electric bike in Amsterdam, and fully recyclable packaging. A company update from March 2026 further mentions shade-grown coffee, natural processing methods, reusable drums, a cargo bike, and an electric delivery van.

Operational connections are also evident outside the Netherlands. For Nairobi, the company mentions a partnership with BBROOD Kenya, featuring shared infrastructure, solar energy, and electric delivery vehicles. Additionally, LinkedIn highlights a specific collaboration with Jean-Paul, a coffee farmer from Cyangugu in Rwanda. Such examples make the supply chain narrative more tangible, although many details regarding volumes, contract durations, and production scales remain unspecified in public sources. No awards or distinctions for the Amsterdam bar were found in the consulted public sources.

In recent years, the company has gained attention across various public media outlets and guides. Documented coverage appeared in De Buik van Amsterdam, Misset Horeca, and I amsterdam. Additionally, a public press overview from the Schinkel District area mentions pieces in Het Parool from 2023 and 2024, as well as attention from NSMBL in 2023. In 2026, this was supplemented by visibility at a trade festival. Together, these mentions paint a picture of a relatively young Amsterdam coffee spot that derives its identity from the link between urban coffee consumption and producer relationships in East Africa.