Espressobar Kopi Soesoe

Espressobar Kopi Soesoe is located at Sumatraweg 15, at the Deliplein in Katendrecht. The location is within Feijenoord, just outside the center of Rotterdam. On its own channels, the business is described as an espresso bar and music venue. As such, the emphasis is not only on coffee, but also on community gathering and small-scale culture.

Kopi Soesoe was opened in May 2013 by Niels Eernink and Cordelie Huibregtse. In an early interview, the establishment was described as a coffee warung and music café on the Deliplein. Prior to the opening, the founders were already involved in local activities, volunteering for the Chinese Operadagen at the Deliplein and developing plans for a community meeting spot.

The founders’ backgrounds partly explain the concept. Eernink is trained as a civil engineer and also worked as a freelance DJ. Huibregtse had experience in event organization and travel agencies. The initial vision centered on an accessible place where people could gather, make music, or listen to music. Later, this idea evolved into a coffee and music café with a small stage.

The coffee menu at Kopi Soesoe features beans from Manhattan Coffee Roasters and Schot Koffie, also known as Schot Coffee Roasters. The establishment lists Kopi Soesoe itself as the house specialty: an Indonesian coffee with condensed milk and cardamom. Additionally, the menu includes espresso, double espresso, Americano, espresso macchiato, cortado, cappuccino, flat white, and latte.

Alongside the classic drinks, the menu features variations based on their own recipes, such as Kopi Soesoe coconut and Kopi Djahé. An Espresso Martini is also listed, prepared with double espresso, vodka, and Kahlúa. For filter coffee, the venue mentions several methods; Moccamaster, Aeropress, and V60 are listed as options, depending on the workflow and time available.

The technical side of the brewing process is detailed clearly. Espresso shots are pulled on a La Marzocco Linea, while filter coffee is prepared using a Technivorm 1.25 liter Moccamaster. V60 and Aeropress are utilized whenever conditions allow. The coffee page further notes that the beans used are available for purchase. This places the establishment firmly within the broader specialty coffee scene, where origin, roaster, and brewing method are transparent parts of the offering.

In October 2024, it was reported that the menu at Kopi Soesoe had recently become vegetarian and more sustainable. The lunch menu is described as vegetarian, occasionally vegan, and more seasonally focused. In this context, a tart featuring blackberries from the owners’ own garden was mentioned. Additionally, the current menu notes the use of organic whole milk.

When it comes to selecting coffee beans, the emphasis is placed on roasters close to home. Manhattan and Schot are mentioned as local roasters, with Friedhats from Amsterdam also listed as a possible option. Other publicly listed suppliers include Jordy’s Bakery, De Roze Bunker, Theemaas, and Oatly. The drinks menu also features a water tap, allowing guests to choose between still or sparkling soda water, which, according to the information, reduces the transport of liters of bottled water.

Music has been a visible part of Kopi Soesoe since its inception. The menu page describes the venue as an acoustic music stage with regular performances and a small stage. In its early years, the establishment programmed young and emerging musicians. The program page, updated in September 2025, mentions that live music would return in a creative and non-traditional form.

The documented examples of previous performances are diverse. Mentioned are a solo bassist, an Americana singer-songwriter, a silent concert by a Nederpunk duo, a classical cellist, and an electro singer-songwriter. In doing so, the venue also uses its space for small-scale performing arts. Furthermore, Kopi Soesoe participated in the Café Theater Festival Rotterdam, where cafés and restaurants served as venues for artists.

The role of community also extends beyond the walls of the shop. Niels, co-owner of Kopi Soesoe, was featured at Rotterdam Coffee Fest with a Dutch-language interactive workshop on building coffee communities and restoring identities. Additionally, there were plans for a Cheesecake festival linked to Kopi Soesoe, where the baking of cheesecakes was paired with music.

Kopi Soesoe appears in various guides and articles about Rotterdam, Katendrecht, and coffee. Rotterdam.info lists the venue in an overview of the city’s cafés and coffee bars, highlighting Indonesian influences, drinks with condensed milk and spices, live music, lunch dishes, and vegetarian options. Condé Nast Traveller also mentions Kopi Soesoe in a Rotterdam guide focusing on Katendrecht and the Deliplein.

Time Out lists Kopi Soesoe in a guide to Katendrecht under the drinks category, referencing coffee from Manhattan Coffee Roasters. Expat Republic and Koffietje.nl also include the venue in their Rotterdam coffee overviews. Koffietje.nl specifically names Schot Koffie and Manhattan Coffee Roasters as the sources for the beans. No pricing for Kopi Soesoe was found in the researched public information.