Etapa 6: Another detour to Amsterdam

This time it's Monks Coffee

Amsterdam’s coffee history goes back centuries to the days when the Dutch East India Company brought coffee to the Netherlands straight from Indonesia. In light of this trading history, it’s no surprise that Amsterdam has a coffee culture that rivals European cities including Athens, Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin, Paris.

Amsterdammers have embraced the specialty coffee culture like fish takes to water. Dutch baristas rival their counterparts in Australia with modern brewing techniques and latte art skills. It’s just a coincidence that many baristas in Amsterdam have previously lived in Australia at some point in time. Indeed it’s a small world when it comes to specialty coffee.

Specialty Coffee scene is booming in Amsterdam in the past few years and Monks Coffee Roasters is an amazing addition to the list of Coffee Places. Whenever you want Coffee, never ask for a Coffee Shop in Amsterdam lest you’ll end up in a different place 😊 More on it in another coffeelogue! Just remember to always ask for a Coffee Place or a Café in this awesome city.

Monks Coffee, The Cafe

Monks Coffee Roasters is a coffee place plus par excellence. As you step in, you are immediately greeted by a beautiful bar. If you’re lucky, you’ll bump into the owner Patrick Abbott who is originally from Australia. Abbott was lucky. Monks Coffee has a garden, space for a full blown kitchen and even a restaurant license. That’s not so common in Amsterdam.

Monks Coffee opened their cafe in the wonderful, bustling Oud West district of Amsterdam in 2016. They fell in love with this location for many reasons, the most important being that it allows them to engage with a local community who are seeking out quality coffee and food, and who care about freshness, seasonality with genuine good service and hospitality.

The interior has a tasteful industrial charm with bluish colour scheme. A stunning copper pipe installation along the main wall spells out ‘Monks’, a twist on Abbott’s surname. It’s also an easy name to remember in both Dutch and English, the barista I met mentioned.

Monks Coffee have a great selection of freshly roasted single origins and beautiful espresso blends available each day. Coffee beans can be ground on request. You just let them know your brewing method.

Monks Coffee Roastery

Monks has their own roastery located in Westhavenweg to the west of the city. They roast on a 12kg Probat machine, and take great care to preserve the quality and integrity of each coffee they carefully source by highlighting the most exquisite characteristics in each lot. Monks are committed to creating great coffee and bringing it to the people who appreciate it even more.

Coffee:TWO TRIBES for Daily Brew

Every so often the stars align, everything falls into place and a delicious new blend is created. This is Two Tribes. The delicious zest of Colombian beans for milk chocolate with a distinct nutty flavour and the mighty Peruvian for sweet orange, almond and caramel aftertaste.

Perfect synchronicity to brew as a divinely smooth filter, espresso or as a milky cappuccino.

• Coffee Origin: Colombia - Excelso and Peru - El Palto

• Tasting Notes: Milk Chocolate, Orange, Almonds, and Caramel

• Coffee roast: Medium