Espressobar Maling

Espressobar Maling is located at Luttekestraat 28 in the heart of Zwolle. According to available information, the business has been open since April 2016. Sander Groenink is publicly named as the owner. Formal founders are not individually listed by name in the available data. As a result, the beginning of the business is primarily described through its opening, location, and Groenink's role.

The espresso bar is closely associated with Dutch coffee champions Frans van der Berg and Sander Groenink. This connection gives the venue a clear place within the specialty coffee sector. At the same time, its profile extends beyond just coffee competitions. Available information also points to a daily hospitality function in the center of Zwolle, offering coffee, tea, confectionery, and to-go drinks.

A key part of the concept is the in-house coffee activity under the name De Koffieambassade. According to its own description, this roastery launched at the end of 2020, following more than 12.5 years of barista experience. The roastery is presented as a platform for “coffees with a story.” The researched information does not list current names of producers, farms, importers, or contract types. This makes origin information based on available data limited.

The public to-go menu lists various coffee drinks based on espresso. These include ristretto, espresso, americano, espresso macchiato, cortado, flat white, cappuccino, latte, and latte macchiato. Chai, dirty chai, and muddy chai are also on the menu. The terms and conditions for the punch card describe the standard assortment as coffee drinks based on single or double espresso, tea, and infusions, plus cookies.

In addition to coffee, the menu lists several types of tea and hot specials. Mentioned are, among others, green jasmine tea, Yunnan Silver Dragon, herbal tea, rooibos, Earl Grey, yerba mate orange, fresh mint, and fresh ginger. The specials include mocha java, gluh cappuccino, golden turmeric latte, beetroot choco latte, and butterfly pea latte. The offering shows that the venue does not only serve espresso-based drinks.

Filter preparation also appears in the available information. AeroPress is mentioned as a brewing method associated with the bar. An AeroPress recipe by Sander Groenink and Frans van den Berg has been published. According to that information, both used the same recipe during the 2019 Dutch AeroPress Championship. La Marzocco is also mentioned as a machine brand in a profile of the bar.

A notable part of the business setup is the bakery located above the espresso bar. It is run by Alice, Sander Groenink’s mother. She makes cakes and cookies for the bar. This means that, in addition to the coffee activity, there is a dedicated provision for pastries and cookies. No external bakery partners are mentioned in the available data.

The combination of an espresso bar, an in-house roastery, and an upper floor with a bakery gives Maling multiple functions within a single location. The available information does not list a complete supplier list. Apart from De Koffieambassade and Alice’s bakery, no specific permanent partners are documented.

Espressobar Maling also emerges as a venue for gatherings and small-scale programs. In 2018, the bar was on the program of Popronde Zwolle as a preview location for Dési Ducrot. In 2025, the name Maling Academie was mentioned in a municipal agenda. It noted that previous meetings for court clerks took place in the upper space of Espressobar Maling.

The venue also offers “barista on location” for indoor and outdoor venues and for events. This activity indicates deployment outside the own espresso bar. No public exhibitions at Espressobar Maling were found in the researched sources.

The available data is reserved regarding sustainability. De Koffieambassade uses the phrasing “coffees with a story,” but the researched information does not mention current certifications such as organic, Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, or B Corp. No contract terms or permanent import partners are publicly documented in the available material.

There is an indirect connection to the theme of coffee waste. An article about OVDesigns noted that the idea for products made from coffee grounds originated from observing coffee waste at Espressobar Maling in Zwolle. This documents a link to a discussion about waste streams. However, it does not indicate that the espresso bar has a formal sustainability program.

In 2019, Sander Groenink achieved notable results in national coffee competitions. Misset Horeca reported that he won the Dutch Brewers Cup 2019. During the same weekend, he also won the Dutch Cup Tasters Championship. In the results of that competition, he was listed as “Sander Groenink – Espressobar Maling”.

Following the Dutch Brewers Cup, it was reported that Groenink would represent the Netherlands at the World Brewers Cup during the Specialty Coffee Expo in Boston, from April 11 to 14, 2019. Additionally, Espressobar Maling is mentioned in coffee and city profiles for Zwolle. These mentions primarily confirm the location, name, and position within the local coffee scene.