Sango in Amsterdam

One of the most pleasant recent discoveries I made while having coffee with my friend Felipe Reina was this super cute café in the center of Amsterdam called Sango. Founded by Mitchell La Grouw Onuki and his partner Kaho, Sango is located in a beautiful historic Dutch building right at the top of the Singel canal. I must have cycled past this location a million times and never paid much attention to what was inside half-expecting it to be yet another tourist trap.

Little did I know how wrong I was and it fills me with a lot of joy to know that the center still has its little specialty coffee gems here and there. What makes Sango special is not only its unique location but also the fact that Mitchell came second in the 2025 Dutch Brewers Cup competition. This prestigeous championship is all about brewing the most exquisite filter coffee and coming in second place is a pretty awesome achievement.

For his entry, Mitchell used a blend of three coffees from three different producers – Rodrigo Sanchez, Edwin Noreña and Wilder Lazo – which he roasted himself. You can try this coffee and a few other competition lots at the café, something I find very exciting. Though still the choice of a select few, offering a limited and well-sourced menu of exclusive coffees is starting to become more popular in Amsterdam.

If those coffees are not your thing, you can also opt for any regular espresso or pourover. They also have excellent matcha and a selection of nice pastries. If you’re keen to develop your own skills as a home barista, Sango also offers courses.

The café itself has two levels and the upstairs part is best for enjoying expertly brewed coffee in a very cosy and private setting. This café is a really great addition to the Amsterdam coffee scene!