NL A Rotterdam roastery and coffee bar located under the Hofbogen, offering traceable blends and single origins, full espresso service, handbrews, training, and events, direct trade, and work-friendly facilities.
About Man Met Bril Koffie (Hofbogen)
Man Met Bril Koffie (Hofbogen): profile of a Rotterdam hub in specialty coffee
Man Met Bril Koffie grew from a Rotterdam micro-roastery into a public coffee bar under the historic Hofbogen viaduct in Noord. The address at Vijverhofstraat 70 serves as the flagship location, which the company itself refers to as “Headquarters”.
The founder, Paul Sharo, is consistently mentioned in local profiles as the driving force. The roastery existed for several years before the public bar opened, making it a logical progression from working with coffee in-house.
The Hofbogenbar gained significant attention in 2015 and was praised as a striking newcomer. This visibility validated the concept of combining an active roastery with a modern, social hospitality space.
Origins and Concept
The original idea centers on transparency and handling as many steps as possible in-house, from roasting to serving. The brand built upon this with larger-scale experiments, including a coffee hotel and a residency program to explore coffee culture more deeply.
This approach positions the Hofbogen location as a recognizable anchor in the city. Visitors can witness the production process up close before stepping straight into a bar where those same beans are being poured.
Assortment and Brewing Methods
Man Met Bril sells blends and single origins with clear names and origins. The focus is on traceability without sacrificing the accessibility of blends.
- Iron Lion, Ethiopié
- Los Osos, Colombia
- Hotel Blend, house blend
The menu at the Hofbogenbar lists batch brew and cold brew alongside a full espresso menu. For espresso, they invested in specialty equipment, historically using a Slayer machine to precisely control extraction.
Slow brew methods are part of the offering, including French press and other pour-overs. The brand offers tasting boxes and single origins for home use, supporting both barista-led and manual experiences.
Community, training, and workspace function
The location is more than just a takeout counter; it serves as a stage for local events, pop-ups, and creative collaborations. During the pandemic, the bar organized pub quizzes, complemented by seasonal Instagram campaigns and theme days that strengthened the bond with the neighborhood.
The brand evolved into a hub model, with training and residencies that put knowledge sharing center stage. The coffee hotel and the residency project invite international baristas and roasters, turning Rotterdam into a meeting point for the wider coffee community.
The Hofbogenbar advertises work-friendly facilities such as power outlets for laptops and fast wifi. The combination of a stable workspace and reliable coffee attracts remote workers and day visitors.
Sustainability and Sourcing
Man Met Bril emphasizes direct relationships with producers and operates largely through direct trade. This approach is presented as a means to increase traceability and enable a fairer price for growers.
Concrete measures are visible in the bar, such as discounts for bringing your own cup. The company publicly discusses limiting packaging materials and avoiding unnecessary ziplocks and plastic to reduce waste.
While local collaboration and in-house roasting are emphasized, explicit, named partnerships with dairy or bakery suppliers are not prominently documented online.
Recognition and Impact
Shortly after opening, the Hofbogen “Headquarters” was named the best new coffee bar in the Netherlands in 2015 by Esquire. This title brought national recognition to the brand and accelerated its reputation building.
Man Met Bril secured high rankings in national taste tests, including a listing in the AD Koffietest. The brand frequently appears in coffee and hospitality trade journals as an influential Rotterdam roastery.
Ambitious plans for a coffee hotel and residencies attracted international trade media. This shifts their role from merely a roastery and café to an organizer and connector within the coffee scene.
Key points for professionals
- Flagship location under the Hofbogen, combining production and the bar in one spot.
- A clear mix of single origins and accessible blends with a traceable profile.
- Full espresso service alongside batch brew, cold brew, and pour-overs.
- A community-driven approach featuring events, training, and international residencies.
- Direct trade, BYO-cup discounts, and packaging reduction as tangible sustainability practices.
- National recognition since 2015, with lasting visibility in trade media and taste tests.
Together, these elements form a recognizable proposition for café owners, barista’s, roasters, and conscious consumers. The Hofbogen location bundles production, hospitality, and education, making the brand identity visible in every cup of coffee.