“Tea? That’s for sick people darling,” said Bert van Wassenhove with a loud laugh when the daughter of a regular customer ordered her drink. Quite frankly, that’s the best line I’ve ever heard anyone say ever. Of course it was all in good spirits and the lovely young lady ended up getting exactly what she wanted, expertly prepared and with a big smile thrown in for good measure.
Caffènation, probably the most renowned coffee roastery in Belgium has landed in Amsterdam as one of the first foreign specialty coffee brands to set up shop in the Dutch capital. Maybe it was Maybelline, maybe she was born with it, but Amsterdam is simply too irresistible.
Located in the relatively quiet and suburban Hoofdorppleinbuurt, part of which is also referred to as Amsterdam’s Belgian Quarter, Caffènation’s local outpost overlooks a lovely park and the end of the Postjeswetering. Spread out over two floors with a huge bar dominating the entrance on the upper level, Caffènation is bringing its own flair and way of doing things to a part of town that has remained largely untouched by the specialty coffee boom.
The Amsterdam store has a playful and fun decor and offers plenty of seating suitable for a quick espresso on the go, meetings and even a small kids area downstairs. In the summer it will be fabulous to get one of Bert’s many cold coffee creations to go with your outdoor picknick in the park. They don’t actually serve food here but Bert said: “If people want to bring their own sandwich or whatever they’re most welcome to do so. Just don’t bring 20 pizzas in for your meeting! We want this place to smell of coffee, not cheese, ha ha!”
As a welcome drink Bert offered me his Ethiopian filter of the week, which came out of the Bunn, but then quickly followed it up with a signature drink. A cappuccino-base coffee with a piece of Belgian white chocolate at the bottom of the cup and a chequered pattern on the foam consisting of honey and ginger powder.
It’s pretty obvious that the main attraction here is good old Bert but the coffee is damn fine too. Worth venturing out to this lovely part of town if you’re tired of the hustle and bustle of the center, and Caffènation is conveniently located close to Vondelpark too.
