Gebrand en Bakker

Gebrand en Bakker is a coffee bar located at H.A. Kooykerplein 5 in Groningen. The shop is situated in the Oosterparkwijk, in the Oud-Oost district. It opened on September 25, 2021, making it one of the newer hospitality venues in the neighborhood. From the start, the establishment has been defined by its focus on neighborhood use, coffee, and bread.

The original idea came from Mark and Joep, both residents of Gerbrand Bakkerstraat. Their partners, Ivonne and Marloes, along with involved neighbors, also played a role in developing the concept. The plan took shape in early 2021 when a corner building in their street became available. The name refers to roasting coffee, baking bread, and the street name in the immediate vicinity.

The starting point was practical and local. The founders wanted to combine a place for coffee in the neighborhood with access to fresh bakery bread. This dual purpose is still evident in the setup of the shop. The coffee bar focuses not only on individual consumption but also on daily use by residents from the surrounding area.

In the current description of the business, local sourcing, sustainability, and quality are central. The coffee bar highlights the use of local and organic products wherever possible. The social function also receives attention. The shop aims to connect people from the immediate area with one another. There are separate products for children and a play corner.

In current public records, Suzanne Diepstra is listed as the owner and contact person. She is also the founder of KOSU Koffiebranderij. Gebrand en Bakker is described as KOSU’s own coffee bar. As a result, the shop has a direct relationship with the roastery behind the coffee it serves.

The coffee comes from KOSU Koffiebranderij on the Suikerterrein in Groningen. This link gives the coffee bar a clear place within the local coffee chain. The coffee is not just purchased as a finished product, but is connected to a roastery in the same city.

The menu highlights the coffee as specialty coffee and single origin. The publicly documented drinks consist primarily of espresso-based preparations. The menu lists espresso, double espresso, Americano, cappuccino, flat white, latte macchiato, caffè latte, and cortado. In addition, oat milk, decaf, and an extra espresso shot are listed as options.

A cáscara drink is also on the menu, described as coffee cherry tea. Seasonal specials or other coffee variations can be requested from the barista, but these variations are not publicly listed by name. Other brewing methods besides espresso-based preparations and Americano are not publicly documented.

In addition to coffee, bread plays a central role in the concept. From Tuesday through Saturday, bread from Bakker Meijer is featured. On Fridays, sourdough breads from micro-bakery Omni are listed. For cake and other pastries, Paais, Saakje het Bakmeisje, and Omni are mentioned.

The drink selection outside of coffee includes, among others, tea from Hotsoup in Roodeschool. Soft drinks from Naturfrisk and Belvoir are also mentioned. The menu additionally features still lemonades from Agroposta and sparkling lemonades from Moj. The shop uses biodynamic milk in glass deposit bottles.

Sustainability is linked to product choice and origin in the brand's own positioning. KOSU states that its core assortment comes from farms and cooperatives visited by Suzanne Diepstra. Monthly coffees are sourced through small importers who buy directly from farmers or small independent cooperatives.

KOSU further states that the coffees in the assortment are grown naturally, without pesticides. The roastery also mentions investments in regenerative agriculture. Publicly named suppliers and partners include This Side Up, Finca Churupampa, Cultivar Coffees, Osito Coffee, Moccamaster, Ticino, Omni, and Gebrand en Bakker.

The role in the neighborhood is also reflected in activities beyond daily sales. Gebrand en Bakker is involved in Dauwtrappen in the Oosterparkwijk, together with local hospitality businesses. The route includes a stop with coffee and something to eat at the coffee bar.

The associated roastery KOSU also offers workshops. The barista school behind these trainings has offered barista classes since 2017 and later became part of KOSU. Documented workshops include Basic Latte Art, Basic Barista, Sensory Skills, and Roastery Tour. Regular tastings in the coffee bar itself are not publicly documented.

Gebrand en Bakker appears in various public mentions regarding food, drink, and local businesses in Groningen. The shop is described there as a coffee, tea, and lunch spot, a coffee bar, or a neighborhood shop. Vegan-labeled products are also publicly mentioned, including harira, banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, and drinks with oat milk. Formal awards or ranking designations are not publicly documented.