City Centre

Rotterdam Centrum breathes coffee and attracts enthusiasts from across the Netherlands and far beyond. Since the seventeenth century beans, aromas and ideas have flowed into the city via the port. This gave rise to a district where history, craftsmanship and boldness converge in every steaming cup. This article outlines the evolution and highlights the opportunities that tempt businesses and tasters today.

The first coffee houses appeared around 1650 when merchants introduced the exotic drink. In 1782 Johannes van Nelle opened a coffee, tea and tobacco shop on the Leuvehaven, laying the foundation for a global brand. At the start of the last century café life flourished with icons such as Café De Unie, designed by J.J.P. Oud. The 1940 bombing destroyed many buildings but not the love of coffee.

After the reconstruction coffee quickly returned to modern lunchrooms and office bars. By the end of the twentieth century espresso had gained a firm foothold alongside the familiar filter coffee at home. That blend of the known and the new prepared the ground for today’s third‑wave movement. Today the district hosts dozens of micro‑roasters and baristas who raise the bar every day.

A handful of players set the pace in this vibrant ecosystem. Their success shows how quality, technology and hospitality together build a strong brand.

• Man Met Bril Koffie: opened the first coffee hotel on the Linker Rottekade in 2025, complete with roastery and barista training.
• Manhattan Coffee Roasters: has been roasting electrically since 2017 and expanded in 2023 to a 1,000 m² factory.
• Schot Coffee Roasters: based in a 1929 factory building and a pioneer of Rotterdam’s specialty coffee era.
• Hopper Coffee: won the title Best Coffee Bar in the Netherlands in 2012 thanks to consistent espresso and its own bakery.
• Giraffe Coffee Roasters: combines micro‑roasting on Hoogstraat with a cycling boutique and international shipping.

Together these houses show that excellence pays off. National awards, international orders and a loyal following confirm Rotterdam as a leading coffee city.

Coffee also connects Rotterdammers outside the espresso bar. Daily rituals and events keep the culture alive.

• Coffee time: communal break around 10:00 and 15:00 with coffee and a cookie.
• Koffie verkeerd: milk‑rich favourite that delivers a smooth taste and comforting feel.
• Coffee with apple pie: classic that symbolises cosiness in cafés and living rooms.
• Latte‑art throwdowns: competitions, such as the Zero Waste edition, that showcase creativity and reduce waste.
• Heilige Boontjes: social enterprise where young people learn barista skills and make a fresh start.

A diverse population of 42,565 city‑centre residents from more than 180 nationalities creates a flavourful cross‑pollination. The average Dutch person drinks three cups a day, adding up to 150 litres per year. In ten years the number of specialty coffee bars doubled to 82, or 4.4 cafés per ten thousand inhabitants. Customers demand authenticity, a new brewing method survives only when the taste is demonstrably better.

Sustainability is no longer a side issue. Entrepreneurs repurpose coffee grounds, save energy and link social impact to flavour.

• RotterZwam: has already recycled one hundred thousand kilos of coffee grounds to cultivate oyster mushrooms in an old swimming pool.
• Electric roasting: Manhattan Coffee Roasters avoids gas and reduces emissions with a fully electric Typhoon roaster.
• Deposit cup: at Rotterdam Centraal a system of reusable cups is bringing stations towards zero disposables by 2040.
• Fair beans: local roasters buy fair‑trade or direct‑trade and build long‑term relationships with farmers.

Rotterdam keeps evolving, but one thing is certain: good coffee will always have room here. Investments in plant‑based milk options, transparent origin and smart reusable packaging quickly find an audience. Equally important is consistent quality, Rotterdam locals see straight through marketing. Combine craftsmanship with genuine sustainability and the city will gladly pour the next cup.