City Centre

The coffee culture in Groningen Centrum didn't emerge around a single, designated “coffee street.” Instead, it grew out of the old trading heart around Vismarkt, A-Kerkhof, and Grote Markt. This is where market-goers, traders, students, and political groups gathered in cafés. It was only later that the area developed a distinct specialty coffee identity, particularly around the university streets.

Huis de Beurs perfectly illustrates this long lineage. The café-restaurant on the corner of Folkingestraat and A-Kerkhof traces its history back to around 1795. The name refers to the Korenbeurs, where grain, seeds, and legumes from the Ommelanden were traded. The café was also a hub for debate; in 1885, the Groningen branch of the Sociaal-Democratische Bond was founded there.

Coffee remained a social anchor well into the twentieth century. Club 8 in the Gelkingestraat opened on January 8, 1966, as a coffee bar without hard liquor. Guests drank coffee and soft drinks, and were allowed to bring their own food. The real shift toward specialty coffee came in 2012, when Black & Bloom opened on Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat.

The modern coffee scene in Centrum is small but very walkable. The strongest axis runs from Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat toward Grote Markt. Additionally, there are clusters on Gedempte Zuiderdiep and Oude Boteringestraat. For café owners and roasters, the mix is particularly interesting: purist coffee, study spots, market sales, and hospitality with broad operating hours all blend together here.

Black & Bloom builds its reputation on single origins, espresso, filter methods such as Hario, Kalita and Aeropress, cold brew and its own branding. World of Barista, on the other hand, has an educational profile, offering workshops, SCA-linked training and hands-on experience with the espresso machine. This demonstrates that in Centrum, coffee is not just about consumption, but also about professional expertise.

The demand for coffee is strongly driven by the young and mobile population. In 2024, the Centrum district had 24,645 inhabitants and 19,880 households, with an average of 1.2 people per household. Additionally, 84% of the homes were rentals. More important for the daily rhythm: 10,970 pupils and students lived in the neighborhood.

This local foundation fits the broader profile of Groningen. The city presents itself as the youngest city in the Netherlands, with approximately 60,000 students. About a quarter of the residents are students. Consequently, coffee demand peaks around lectures, exam weeks and moments when libraries and study spaces become overcrowded.

Coffee shops respond to this, though not without some tension. Koffiestation Books & Coffee describes itself as a meeting place for international students and locals. MASMAS positions itself as a second living room where guests can study with their laptops. At the same time, it was reported in April 2024 that working or studying with a laptop in busy city center cafes is becoming more difficult, especially around the Academiegebouw.

The local taste profile has two sides. On one hand, there is serious black coffee featuring espresso, filter, cold brew and single-origin coffees. On the other hand, there is a growing everyday market for oat milk, cake, vegan options and long stays. This combination makes Centrum diverse, but not superficial.

Coffee Break is the clearest example of plant-based normalization. There, oat milk is the standard for milk coffees, while cow’s milk is the paid extra. The offering is described as 80% vegan. For entrepreneurs, this is an important signal: plant-based is no longer a niche here, but part of normal ordering behavior.

At the same time, black coffee maintains its status. Black & Bloom attracts enthusiasts with single origins and brewing methods. Since 2018, Koffiestation has sold locally roasted beans at the Vismarkt, with a permanent Friday and Saturday stall since the summer of 2022. In this way, the market becomes a fixed spot for advice, purchase and repeat visits.

There is no clear evidence of a single collective for reusable cups or coffee grounds in Centrum. Sustainability emerges primarily through individual business models. Think of plant-based menus, local branding, short logistics, zero-waste thinking and the connection with cycling.

Wadapartja Zuiderdiep sources from local suppliers, including Koffiestation Groningen for coffee beans, Bakery Luuk for bread, and regional breweries. The shop also highlights its use of LED lighting, organic products, a zero-waste policy, and second-hand furnishings. Koffiestation emphasizes fairer pay for specialty coffee, direct-trade coffees, and a Brazilian coffee that arrived in Europe via sailing ship.

Spaak Koffie & Koers at Oude Boteringestraat 66 takes a different approach to sustainability. The business combines a café, a bike shop, a workshop, and group rides. Every Saturday and Sunday, the Spaakrit gathers at 09.30 and departs at 10.00 for a ride of approximately two hours. In doing so, it connects city center coffee with repair, movement, and the cycling city.

Groningen Centrum is a coffee market with layers. The old trading spots around Vismarkt and Grote Markt give the scene historical depth. The university streets bring in young demand, laptop culture, and international encounters. Specialty bars, micro-roasters, plant-based cafés, and bike concepts each put their own spin on this. For the Dutch coffee sector, Centrum serves as a prime example of how coffee can simultaneously be a craft product, a study spot, a market habit, and social infrastructure.