Fortin Visstraat

Fortin Visstraat is the second branch of Fortin in ’s-Hertogenbosch, located at Visstraat 19 in the city center. According to their own location page, this second coffee bar opened in early 2024. The building itself dates back to 1375, meaning the Visstraat location is embedded in a historic urban setting, while the concept focuses on specialty coffee, in-house roasting, and expert preparation at the bar.

The first Fortin location opened in November 2019 at Ridderstraat 6 in Den Bosch. Local reports mention Lars Mueters and Jettie Creemers in connection with the launch. Bastion-Oranje also uses the spelling Jettie/Jerrie Cremers. These reports state that both studied at Avans and gained experience working in lunchrooms in Limburg. Punt Avans published an article on November 28, 2019, about Jettie Creemers and the early stages of Fortin.

The Fortin concept is described as roasting and serving specialty coffee in their own cafes in Den Bosch. This approach centers on origin, small-batch roasting, and precise dialing-in. The Visstraat branch follows this philosophy; it is not a standalone project, but an expansion of an existing coffee formula with its own roastery and a public offering of coffee beans.

Fortin Visstraat serves coffee from Fortin Roastery and also features guest roasters. Available information mentions Spojka Roastery as a guest roaster for several coffees. The current coffee list includes Ethiopia Classic, Burundi Gasura, Mexico Decaff, Rwanda Cyesha, Costa Rica La Eva, Colombia Gold Digger, Colombia Juicy Strawberry, and Indonesia BrewTEAful. For some coffees, the processing method is also listed, such as washed, anaerobic washed with fruit enzymes, or fruit co-fermented.

The equipment mentioned provides insight into how the bar operates. The Visstraat page lists a La Marzocco Linea PB, Victoria Arduino Mythos One grinders, a Mahlkönig EK43 grinder, and Brita water filtration. For filter coffee, V60 ceramic and Aeropress are mentioned. These details show that espresso and manual brew methods are used side-by-side.

The public menu lists classic coffee drinks such as espresso, cappuccino, and latte. Additionally, the menu offers specialty coffee with Jersey milk or a plant-based alternative. There are also drinks that fall outside the standard espresso and milk categories, such as matcha from Kagoshima prepared with a bamboo chasen, Melbourne Magic, Strawberry Fields, Yuzu Espresso Tonic, and Cherry Tea.

Through this combination, the offering targets not only espresso drinkers but also fans of filter coffee, milk-based drinks, tea-like preparations, and seasonal or signature creations. As the available information does not provide a full price list or reviews of taste and service, the perspective remains limited to the documented menu and the mentioned brewing equipment.

Fortin states that they work with trusted producers and importers for the sourcing of green coffee. The company roasts in small batches and calibrates the coffee before it is used at the bar. Fortin also mentions that they exclusively use single-origin beans. According to their own documentation, the majority of the coffee is organic certified. Where certification is unavailable, Fortin says they choose partners who can demonstrate sustainable and environmentally conscious practices.

The information regarding Ethiopia Classic provides a concrete example of this positioning. According to the product details, this coffee is sourced in collaboration with Pure Africa. This includes mentions of living wages, microcredits, small-scale production, shade-grown cultivation, and geographical traceability in Ethiopia. These claims are part of Fortin’s own product information and are presented here as such.

On its café collaborations page, Fortin describes previous activities with Oatly, Hugo Boss, and book launches. According to this information, the cafés can be used for brand activations, giveaways, product launches, and joint events. A cupping workshop in Den Bosch, announced on December 8, 2023, is also mentioned. Since this took place before the opening of the Visstraat location, it is considered a general Fortin activity rather than a specific event for the second branch.

Additionally, Fortin has a wholesale page. This section describes business partnerships with cafés, offices, clinics, hair salons, and other venues. This information positions Fortin not just as a coffee bar, but also as a supplier operating from its own roastery. For the Visstraat location, it is particularly relevant that the shop is part of a broader business model encompassing hospitality, branding, and B2B sales.

Fortin has been featured in various local and coffee-specific publications. Punt Avans and Bastion-Oranje wrote about the launch of the first location in 2019. Koffietje.nl profiled Fortin Specialty Coffee, mentioning the original Ridderstraat location, the November 2019 opening, Pure Africa beans, rotating specialty coffee beans, plant-based milk options, and brewing methods such as V60 and Chemex. Den Bosch City included Fortin in a 2022 local guide for coffee-to-go in Den Bosch.

Regarding Fortin Visstraat specifically, no specific award list or prizes were found in the consulted information. The factual core therefore lies in its opening as a second location, the address on Visstraat, the use of both house and external specialty coffee, the mentioned equipment, and the relationship with Fortin Roastery. As such, the location serves as an example of a Den Bosch coffee bar that links specialty coffee to its own roastery and a wider network of business activities.