The Netherlands are known for their beautiful cities and towns of which Amsterdam, Utrecht and Den Bosch are just a few that come to mind. But there are also planned cities like Almere and Lelystad and those that were bombed during the war and rebuilt with mixed results. Eindhoven sadly wasn’t the one to emerge from the ashes with a facelift, instead it remains a practical industrial city dominated by Dutch giants Philips.
But while Eindhoven may not feature high on the tourist trail, it is a city with lots going for it. For one, it is home to the famous Design Academy Eindhoven that has produced many famous names such as Marcel Wander and Hella Jongerius and as a result its many derelict buildings have been claimed by designers, makers and other creatives who fill the city’s body with life.
Obviously, they and everyone else, need good coffee, which is why during a recent visit I popped in to see Lucifer, one of the places that I had been recommended by people who are ‘in-the-know (ooohhhh).
Founded earlier in 2015 by Bob Kemperman and located in a popular dining and shopping area, Lucifer aims to improve the coffee quality in this Dutch city while also serving late night drinks and food. The interior is kept in lots of wood, exposed brick and a bunch of communal tables that invite to work or read while sipping on a cappuccino.
Although their focus is on specialty coffee, I understood that the local palate might not like – or be used – to the lighter roasted coffees that you get in Amsterdam, Utrecht or Groningen. Here, the preference is a bit darker roasted but still fruity. Bob and his team are none the less determined to give those Eindhoveners a slice of true specialty coffee, sourcing part of their beans from Nijmegen-based Blommers Coffee from who they get a blend and single origin coffees.
It will be an interesting challenge to see if design-spoiled locals will be quick to embrace truly great coffee as quickly as their fellow countrymen elsewhere, while places like Lucifer will have to keep up with the high standards being set elsewhere in the country in order to make that change happen.
