I have a few set routes that I traverse on a regular basis. Like a bus driver. I go from my house to a certain destination and back. Usually three times a week, I cycle from Amsterdam West to the center. And when I do that, I almost always take the Rozengracht. A few weeks ago, I noticed something. From the corner of my eye. A new specialty coffee place? Could it be? Turned out the answer was yes. And its name is Haku Coffee.
Sometimes paths cross unexpectedly. Shortly after I popped in to have a quick first look, Ines from Haku reached out. “We’d love to have you over some time,” she said. Little did she know, I had already visited. But I made an appointment to go back. That time, I was greeted not by Ines but by Mohammed. He’s her husband and c0-owner of Haku Coffee.
Haku Coffee is a place of calm in a busy area. The café is elegant and stylish. Dark wood and warm colours dominate. In the middle, there is an imposing bar. On the walls, Asian-inspired art. I took a seat and chatted with Mohammed. He and Ines started Haku Coffee because they love coffee but neither of them has a coffee background.
Mohammed had his first ‘a-ha’ coffee moment at Fuku. He said he had a double espresso that tasted like olives. Olives? A curious flavour note but not unusual. It blew his mind and sent him down the coffee rabbit hole. He started brewing coffee at home, pulling shots. Then, he took a roasting course with Steans Beans. “I want to control the entire process,” he told me.
I ordered a filter coffee. It was a natural-process Rwandan lot. It was smooth, sweet and creamy. Other than coffee, Haku Coffee is also a great place for Matcha. The Matcha comes from Matsu-Cha in Amsterdam. In addition, you can also find beautiful ceramics by the likes of Atelier van Schaijck. The art on the walls at the time of my visit was by Tessa de Rijk.
‘Why would you ruin your coffee with milk and sugar’
Curiously, Haku Coffee has a lot of Middle Eastern customers. Both locals and visitors. Mohammed said his Moroccan roots allow him to build unique connections with those customers. “When I greet them in Arabic, it’s a different conversation right away,” he elaborates.
Apparently, Middle Eastern customers in particular love their coffee black. ‘Why would you ruin your coffee with milk and sugar’ one customer asked him once Mohammed said. Couldn’t agree more. Whether you’re local or visiting, Haku Coffee is a great new spot in a part of town that was long neglected.
Be sure to swing by and enjoy great coffee. Or Matcha. Whatever you prefer.
