Coffee in Amsterdam: The Actual Good Cafes, Not the Cannabis Ones

In Japan, ‘coffee shop’ means a place that serves coffee. In Amsterdam, it means something entirely different and nobody warns you. After that initial confusion I spent some time finding the actual specialty coffee scene, which is genuinely good.

Lot Sixty One, Jordaan area

Lot Sixty One (Kinkerstraat 112, just west of the Jordaan) is one of the most respected specialty roasters in Amsterdam. Small space, serious about its beans, good filter coffee. The neighbourhood around it is worth walking — Kinkerstraat is a local shopping street with almost no tourist infrastructure, which is refreshing.

Bocca Coffee, Westerstraat

Bocca Coffee (Westerstraat 30A) is one of Amsterdam’s original specialty roasters, been around since 2007. The Westerstraat location in the Jordaan has good seating and a light food menu. Also sells beans to take home. If you’re interested in Dutch specialty coffee as a category, this is a good starting point.

Note on Dutch coffee culture: the Dutch traditionally drink coffee with a small cookie (koekje) on the side. This is not negotiable at most traditional cafes. Some specialty places skip it. I have opinions about which approach is correct but will keep them to myself.