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Coffee Company, Amsterdam |
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Thursday, 10 June 2010 11:21 |
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Coffee Company is a Dutch coffee chain that popped up when I studied in Amsterdam some three years ago. When I first tried their coffee, it was aweful, but in the meanwhile it has improved significantly. I became a regular customer, probably because of their Strippenkaart system.
Customers can buy a card with 15, 30 and 60 strips (Dutch: Strippen) for 11.25 Euro per 15 strips. For a coffee you pay in Strippen (3 for a small, 4 for a medium and 5 for a large cup) regardless of the blend.
Their branches look more or less the same and can be found all over Amsterdam. You should see their website for a current list. Each shop is fitted with wifi which you can use for an hour free of charge. Therefor you need the receipt.
As I said, the coffee has improved in the last years, and does not vary much between the branches. I tried pretty much all their blends ranging over Espresso, Cortado, Latte, Macchiatto, Cappuccino, Frappuccino. The milk is well-frothed, and the espresso has a good round flavour with little bitterness. The caffeine is reasonable, so that you feel human after enjoying even a large cup.
This morning I had a caramel cappuccino for breakfast with a chocolate muffin. The caramel did not dominate the coffee flavour and the sweetness was well-balanced.
- Flavour: full, strong
- Bitterness: little
- Temperature: not piping hot
- Caffeine: good ratio
- Price: not low, but Strippenkaart offers a good deal on fancy blends.
Summary: Good coffee for the traveler in need of wifi.
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Cafe Polder, Science Park, Amsterdam |
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Wednesday, 09 June 2010 10:46 |
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For a seminar I came to the Science Park of the University of Amsterdam, and had an espresso for sit in at the Cafe Polder. The cafe is situated in a temporary shack under a corrugated sheet roof furnished with a loose collection of partly old furniture, tables with chipboard plates, plastic chairs and wooden benches. Towards lunch time the place fills up with employees of the university and the neighbouring CWI.
I had an espresso for sit in, which has been brought to my table. The coffee was quite acerb, but by no means rancid, which suggests, the coffee machines are well-maintained. Along with the beverage came a Speculaas, a cookie typical for The Netherlands, which accompanied the bitterness well. The only thing to be criticised is that the waiter took my cup before I had the last sip.
- Temperature: optimal
- Flavour: round and strong
- Bitterness: acerb
- Caffeine: medium
- Price:
Summary: Certainly a good espresso for university standards.
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Coffee to Walk, Amsterdam |
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Wednesday, 09 June 2010 10:46 |
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This morning I had my morning cappuccino for take away at Coffee to Walk, a new small neighbour-hood coffee shop on Plantage Middenlaan in Amsterdam. The place seemed new, but already crowded. The name of the coffee shop suggests a take away, but there are a few places to sit and even a children corner.
The barista took much care preparing the coffee, and even reloaded in between pressing the freshly ground coffee beans. The frothed milk is UHT milk, brand Vriessche Vlag Volle Melk from carton. I could not taste any bitterness in the cappuccino, but a good round flavour. The milk foam did not melt before I had finished the coffee. The paper cup was well-coated, but lacked insulation.
- Temperature: optimal
- Flavour: full and round
- Bitterness: none
- Price: medium, 3.20 Euro
Summary: I will return to try the espresso for drink-in.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 09 June 2010 11:05 |
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