Shell Café (STD Hoogkerk)

The Shell Café at STD Hoogkerk must be understood within the broader development of the Shell Café format in the Netherlands. STD Hoogkerk is a Shell service station located at Hoendiep 270, 9745 EJ in Groningen. The location is in the Hoogkerk region and, according to available data, is open 24 hours a day. Public location information primarily highlights facilities for fueling, truck traffic, unattended service, and payment at the pump. The consulted location page does not list Shell Café as a specific facility for STD Hoogkerk.

No public information is available regarding a separate establishment of Shell Café at STD Hoogkerk. Names of individual founders are also not documented. As a result, the focus lies on the national Shell Café concept, rather than a local origin story. This distinction is important because the available material provides no evidence of a unique local formula or an independent coffee story at this location.

Shell developed Shell Café as a renewed shop concept for service stations. In trade media, Bakerstreet is mentioned as the bakery partner in the development of the format. Earlier reporting describes the launch of the concept at Sandelingen-Oost in April 2021, followed by further rollout plans. The concept combines food, drinks, and a seating area. Shell describes this seating area as inspired by a Danish “Hygge-house” concept, intended for resting, working, or meeting up.

The coffee aspect of Shell Café is described primarily at a national level within the available material. Smit & Dorlas is named as the coffee supplier. Reporting on the Shell Barista Cup 2025 also mentions Smit & Dorlas as the supplier for Shell Café. The company is publicly registered as Smit & Dorlas Koffiebranders BV, with a visitor address in Mijdrecht.

Shell mentions two Shell Café coffee blends. The “Signature Lungo” consists of 100% South American Arabica. The “Signature Espresso” consists of 80% South American Arabica and 20% Southeast Asian Robusta. This data provides insight into the composition of the blends but says nothing about location-specific choices at STD Hoogkerk.

The assortment Shell describes for Shell Café includes black coffee, espresso, cappuccino, caffè latte, and Flat White. Additionally, Shell distinguishes between barista-prepared coffee and to-go coffee from machines. For barista preparation, Shell refers to espresso equipment and piston machines. Specific brewing methods, grinders, or equipment at STD Hoogkerk are not publicly documented.

No publicly documented workshops, tastings, exhibitions, or local coffee gatherings were found in the provided material for STD Hoogkerk. However, a national network connection exists around Shell Café. The Shell Barista Cup is described in trade media as an activity for baristas from Shell Café locations in the Netherlands.

According to available reporting, the 2025 edition included several components. Mentioned are a digital escape room, the development of a coffee special, and participation in a Coffee Knowledge Day. Bakerstreet is also named as a partner for this activity. However, the available information does not directly link these activities to STD Hoogkerk.

Shell states that the coffee beans at Shell Café are Rainforest Alliance-certified. Shell also mentions that Shell Café serves LocalTea, sourced from a Dutch tea plantation in Zundert. Furthermore, Shell claims to collaborate with Dutch farmers for certain food products. The company also asserts that unnecessary E-numbers have been removed from ingredient lists and replaced with natural alternatives.

These claims relate to the broader Shell Café offering. No separate sustainability agreements, sourcing choices, or local suppliers have been publicly documented for STD Hoogkerk. As a result, it cannot be determined based on the available material whether this location deviates from the national approach.

No location-specific press releases, awards, or distinctions have been documented for Shell Café at STD Hoogkerk. The available recognition pertains to the national Shell Café network. In January 2026, MarketingTribune reported that the Netherlands had 105 Shell Café locations. The same report mentioned Shell station Hazeldonk West as the winner of the Shell Barista Cup 2025.

FoodClicks also reported that Shell Hazeldonk West won the Shell Barista Cup 2025. It was noted that the S’mores Latte would be added to the Shell Café menu in the Netherlands. This information places Shell Café within a broader gas station and coffee network. For STD Hoogkerk, the available information remains limited to station data and general information about the Shell Café concept.