Rocking Chair

Rocking Chair is a coffee bar located at Willem van Noortstraat 88 in Tuinwijk, Utrecht Noordoost. The business opened on June 9, 2016, and is run by Ruth Hintono and Puspita Adiastari, also known as Pita. Both were born and raised in Indonesia. They met each other while studying in Haarlem and later worked in the Dutch financial sector. They subsequently decided to start their own hospitality business.

The building previously housed a bank branch. During the renovation, the former vault and the approximately 2,000 kg heavy vault door were preserved. These elements were given a new function within the interior. According to the founders, the name Rocking Chair refers to the homely atmosphere they aimed to create. A real rocking chair was part of that concept.

The entrepreneurs describe the business as a neighbourhood café in Tuinwijk. On social media, they presented themselves as two mothers who make coffee, bake cakes, and chat with visitors. This description aligns with the intended character of an accessible meeting place. At the same time, Rocking Chair remains a commercial hospitality business offering coffee, other drinks, and food.

Evermore currently lists Rocking Chair as a point of sale or serving location for its products. This roaster claims to work with coffee from a single origin region and roasts weekly under its own management. However, public information does not specify exactly which coffee Rocking Chair serves. As a result, the origin, variety, and flavour profile of the current offering cannot be determined.

Older information cites Single Estate Coffee Roasters as a supplier. That source also describes a La Marzocco Linea Classic with two groups and the V60 as a brewing method. Since this data predates the current mention of Evermore, it may reflect a previous way of working. A current and complete overview of machines and brewing methods is lacking.

Previous articles and mentions list espresso, cappuccino, and filter coffee. Chai latte, matcha latte, babyccino, smoothies, juices, and soft drinks were also included. Additionally, whole milk, oat milk, and soy milk were mentioned. The availability of these products on the current menu has not been independently confirmed.

Various publications describe shared tables for neighbors and people working on laptops. A children's play corner has also been mentioned, linked to the space around the old bank vault. This way, the layout combines functions for staying, working, and visiting with children. No public information is available regarding fixed rules for workspaces or current facilities.

The establishment previously provided space for cultural and local initiatives. Until June 10, 2017, a temporary art library from KAFT van het Koren was located there. A 2016 publication also mentioned work by local artists and designers, along with small gift items. In 2018, Rocking Chair was the fourth stop on the Utrecht Coffee Safari, a map developed by Utrecht baristas and roasters.

An events platform listed the location in 2023 as a bookable space. Regular coffee workshops, public tastings, or a fixed educational program are not documented. The available sources mainly show occasional collaborations and a function as a neighborhood-oriented meeting place.

Rocking Chair announced a collaboration with WeCupItTogether to limit waste from disposable cups. The communication referred to reusable cups and bringing your own mug. Other concrete measures, such as energy policy, food waste, packaging procurement, or measurable environmental goals, have not been publicly recorded.

At the supplier level, Evermore states that it aims for direct contact with producers. According to its own information, the roaster buys from individual cooperatives or coffee farms. Almost all coffees are said to have an organic, Fairtrade, or Rainforest Alliance certification. It is not known which origin or certification applies to the coffee that Rocking Chair currently serves.

Since its opening, Rocking Chair has appeared in local newspapers, hospitality profiles, and Utrecht location guides. The publications covered, among other things, the founders, the former bank building, the children's play area, and the coffee offering. European Coffee Trip also included the establishment in an Utrecht specialty coffee map. No independently judged award or formal competition result was found in the sources examined.