Expresszo Koffie & Kussens

Expresszo Koffie & Kussens is located at Pottenmarkt 22 in the heart of Middelburg. The shop opened on March 31, 2012, as an espresso bar. Founder Ard Flipse was working as a police officer at the time and decided to start a coffee business. In May 2017, two bed-and-breakfast rooms were added above the bar. Since then, the business has combined coffee, lunch, and overnight stays in a historic or monumental building.

Ownership of the property changed hands several times thereafter. Marcel van Eijsden took over Expresszo in March 2020. The planned reopening coincided with the closure of the Dutch hospitality sector during the coronavirus pandemic. In May 2020, the shop resumed sales with takeaway coffee.

As of January 1, 2025, Rosan Melse and Anne-Marie Lindhout have become the owners of both the coffee bar and the B&B. Lindhout was already involved with Klok’uus in ’s-Heer-Arendskerke. Melse previously worked in the hospitality industry, including at De Boekanier. She then worked as an accountant and in financial control before returning to the hospitality sector.

At the time of the ownership transfer, the new owners stated their intention to preserve existing elements. This included the coffee, the pastries, and the style of service. At the same time, changes were made to the opening hours and the lunch offering. The shop began opening on Sundays and expanded the lunch menu. In January 2025, a new house style, an updated menu, and changes to the interior were also introduced.

Expresszo states that it works with single-estate coffee beans. In public statements, Single Estate Coffee Roasters is named as the supplier. An external profile described Brazilian beans at that time. However, the available information does not show that the country of origin is a fixed part of the offering.

According to the company, the term single-estate refers here to coffee from a single producer. Expresszo further claims that the beans are purchased directly from the farmer. This is a self-declaration by the business. No independent verification or public audit has been documented for the described supply chain.

The coffee menu includes, among others, espresso, filter coffee, cortado, cappuccino, flat white, and café latte. Latte macchiato and dirty chai are also listed. Cold drinks include iced cappuccino, iced chai latte, and iced dirty chai latte. In addition, iced matcha latte and a house drink named iced Expresszo are documented.

Other mentioned preparations are ristretto, Speculatte, Espresso Martini, and coffees with caramel, hazelnut, or chocolate. An international coffee guide mentions espresso and cold-brew or drip service. However, the company’s own website does not mention any specific manual brewing equipment or pour-over systems. As a result, it remains unclear which brewing methods are structurally available.

For milk-based drinks, the shop uses dairy milk and several plant-based alternatives. Caffeine-free coffee and gluten-free options are also mentioned in public profiles.

In addition to coffee, Expresszo sells breakfast and lunch dishes. For tosti’s, bread from Menno is mentioned. Furthermore, regional organic lemonades from Zeeland are on the menu. An external profile mentions collaboration with local businesses but does not provide a complete overview of the involved suppliers.

A formal environmental policy has not been publicly documented. Certificates, figures on waste reduction, and a policy for reusable cups are also missing from the available information. The same applies to documented goals regarding renewable energy and public reporting on the environmental impact of business operations.

Inside, there is a small exhibition space known as the “niche.” This area featured rotating works by various artists. Examples include Pieces of Love by Tjama Swaitury and Alleen verder by Middelburg-based artist Harold Sarneel.

In 2024, barista Lars Louwerse reportedly provided coffee training to other hospitality businesses. It is unclear whether this activity continued after the change of ownership in 2025. Expresszo rejoined the Vereniging Ondernemers Middelburg at the end of 2025.

Public coffee tastings or a fixed workshop program at the coffee bar are not documented. The venue is, however, listed in various coffee, tourism, and city guides. These profiles primarily describe the location, espresso, cold brews, lunch, and plant-based milk. The listings provide information on the offerings but do not include independently verified coffee prices or competition titles.