NL Dagger Coffee is a coffee bar and roastery based in Utrecht. This article covers their locations, founder Dagmar Geerlings, their coffee offerings, training sessions, and sourcing reports.
About Dagger Coffee
Dagger Coffee in Utrecht: Evolution, Coffee, and Transparency
Dagger Coffee is a coffee bar and roastery in Utrecht. Their public café location is situated at Zijdebalenstraat 2 in Noordwest, near Pijlsweerd. Additionally, there are Dagger Coffee locations at DotSlash on Europalaan 500 and Europalaan 93. While these two cafés are located within shared office spaces, they are listed as publicly accessible.
History and Concept
The founder of Dagger Coffee is Dagmar Geerlings. The company describes her as a multiple top-3 finalist in the Dutch Barista Championship. External reports from 2018 identify her as the founder and manager of the business, highlighting her work in coffee training, various projects, and her extensive experience within the coffee sector.
Public records place the origins of Dagger Coffee around 2017. According to regional reports, the first shop opened in Kanaleneiland. At the time, Geerlings was looking for a space to practice for the Dutch Barista Championship. This practical need evolved into a coffee bar with a broader vision. In January 2021, the Zijdebalenstraat location opened as the second Utrecht branch.
According to their own description, the concept centers on coffee, the producers, and the stories behind the origin. Dagger Coffee emphasizes themes such as empowerment, healthy ecosystems, transparent sourcing, and inclusivity. These values are integrated into how their coffee is selected, sourced, and presented.
Coffee and Brewing
According to their current public menu, Dagger Coffee roasts its own beans and sells seasonal coffees for home brewing. The menu describes their roasting style as “omniroast”. The coffees are categorized into three flavor profiles: pink, blue, and yellow. These profiles guide the style of the coffee without restricting the brew to one specific method.
The menu features seasonal coffees such as El Tanque, El Mandarino, Lima Guaco, Banko Gotiti, and Frutas Prohibidas decaf. For each, they list the producer, country of origin, processing method, variety, tasting notes, and information regarding quality bonuses. The menu also notes that the bean of the day and the filter coffee selection should be inquired about at the bar.
The beverage menu consists of classic espresso drinks and a few unique preparations. These include espresso, double espresso, americano, cappuccino, flat white, latte, and babyccino. The menu also lists Aeropress filter coffee, an iced fizzy americano with sparkling water, an espresso martini made with Dagger Coffee rum, and an affogato with soft serve.
The role of the roastery has evolved over the years. Historical reports from 2018 linked the original bar to Keen Coffee. Later reports from 2021 mentioned that Dagger Coffee provided its own roasted beans while also collaborating with various specialty coffee roasters for filter coffee. The current menu places a strong emphasis on their own in-house roasting.
Training, Locations, and Activities
Beyond its café operations, Dagger Coffee offers coffee workshops and barista training. Their curriculum covers sensory skills, latte art, basic barista techniques, filter coffee, coffee origin, and cupping. They also offer an espresso martini workshop. Based on available information, these sessions take place in Utrecht, at other agreed-upon locations, or as customized private sessions.
These training activities align perfectly with the profile of the founder and the company. Coffee is presented not just as a beverage, but as a product defined by origin, technique, and evaluation. In 2024, Dagger Coffee hosted a cupping event that was later highlighted by Coffeevine. No public documentation regarding exhibitions at Dagger Coffee was found in the provided materials.
Sourcing, Supply Chain, and Sustainability
Dagger Coffee is committed to a transparent coffee supply chain. Their 2024 transparency report provides detailed data on sourced coffees, including producer or lot names, countries of origin, ownership information regarding empowerment, organic status, FOB price, Q-score, volume, and the number of years the coffee has been sourced.
This report features coffees such as El Mandarino, El Mirador, Frinsa Estate, La Perla, Boku, Banko Chechele, Halo, Sironko, Lima Guaco, Buena Vista, Las Perlitas, and Estrella Divina. Additionally, the menu states that 50 percent of their coffee is produced or co-produced by women, explicitly linking social empowerment to their sourcing practices.
The focus on origin and suppliers extends beyond coffee. House-made products include cakes, lemonades, and kombucha. For items not made in-house, Dagger Coffee aims to source locally whenever possible. Mentioned partners include milk from farmer Steven in Alphen aan den Rijn, cheese from Doruvael in Montfoort, sourdough bread from Lavett, and wine from Vleck.
Regional reports from 2023 also highlighted their use of pickled and fermented products. It was noted that bread ends were repurposed for French-toast cake. These examples place their operational methods within the framework of waste reduction, although the provided materials do not offer further measurable results.
Press and Recognition
Since 2018, Dagger Coffee and Dagmar Geerlings have been featured multiple times in coffee media and regional publications. European and Dutch sources have published profiles, reviews, and news regarding the opening on the Zijdebalenstraat. Various Utrecht-based platforms also list the location. Furthermore, the provided materials note that Geerlings took second place in the 2017 Dutch Barista Championship. The 2024 transparency report further lists competition results for team members and associates, including a third place in the Dutch Barista Championships and a fourth place in the National Aeropress Championships.