The best cafés to work from in Amsterdam

Centrum

Twenty-four years in, the standard hasn't slipped.

“Bocca has been doing this since 2001, before Dutch specialty coffee was a scene, and the Kerkstraat cafe still feels like proof of concept. The custom four-group La Marzocco Strada is dialled with the kind of confidence that comes from running your own supply chain through Trabocca. Order the flat white, then buy a bag of the Ethiopian to take home.”

Some outlets · WiFi · quiet · opens 08:00

Order Flat white, Espresso, Cinnamon bun, Raspberry brownies, Yogurt with fruit and honey

Skip it if Seeking absolute silence during peak hours

De Jordaan

Where the roasting is theirs and the matcha is serious.

“Ines and Mohammed left law to roast their own coffee, and the conviction shows. The natural process Rwandan on filter has the kind of fruit-forward clarity that comes from someone who controlled every step. The matcha programme is equally considered, this is not a café that added matcha as an afterthought.”

Some outlets · WiFi · quiet · opens 08:00

Order Filter coffee (e.g., natural process Rwandan), ceremonial matcha, chocolate orange cake, lemon poppy bun.

Skip it if looking for a large workspace for long hours

Centrum

Roastery-cafe done with conviction, not performance.

“Back to Black roasts its own beans on a Giesen W6 and pulls them through a Kees van der Westen Spirit, that's a serious commitment for a room this size. The Chef's Table Espresso, two sequential shots dialled to show different profiles, is the clearest argument for ordering at the bar. The apple pie is baked in their own Westpoort bakery. None of this is accidental.”

Some outlets · WiFi · quiet · opens 08:00

Order Espresso, Latte, Pour-over coffee, Apple pie, Banana bread, Cinnamon roll.

Skip it if Looking for extensive lunch/dinner

Centrum

The cortado is dialled. The records are real.

“Black Gold runs White Label Coffee through a La Marzocco Linea and takes the extraction as seriously as the crates. The cortado is the move, balanced, clean, no theatre. Then you flip through the hip hop and jazz selection while it cools, and suddenly an hour has passed.”

Some outlets · WiFi · quiet · opens 09:00

Order Cortado, espresso, or a filter coffee from their rotating selection.

Skip it if Looking for a full meal or extensive food menu

Oud West

In-house roasting with an Australian soul in Oud West.

“Patrick Abbott spent 26 years in Melbourne before opening this, and it shows, the brunch menu holds its own against the coffee, which is saying something when the beans are roasted on a 12kg Probat a few kilometres away. Order the Turkish eggs alongside a filter and you'll understand why the neighbourhood stopped letting other businesses survive in this spot.”

Some outlets · WiFi · moderate

Order Espresso, Filter coffee, Flat white, Wu Tang breakfast, Turkish eggs, Pastries, Cakes

Oud West

In-house roasting with a Slayer to back it up.

“Five Ways roasts on a Loring S35 and pulls through a three-group Slayer Steam, that's not décor, that's a programme. The honey Geisha, when it's on, is the clearest argument for ordering off-menu. Turkish eggs and a washed Ethiopian filter is a better morning than most of Amsterdam can offer.”

Some outlets · WiFi · moderate · opens 07:30

Order Consider a smooth latte with art, a honey Geisha (if available), or try their vegan raspberry pistachio pastry, hazelnut pastry, banana bread, Turkish eggs, or Brekky sandwich.

Oud Zuid

House-roasted, seriously sourced, and worth the detour.

“LOT61 roasts everything in-house, the Zimzala blend alone, with its Brazil-Peru base and stone fruit finish, justifies the trip to Oud Zuid. Three espresso machines on the bar, Mahlkönig E80 and EK43 on the grind, and a cold brew that holds up against anything pouring in the city right now.”

Some outlets · WiFi · moderate · opens 08:00

Order Cold brew, Mont Blanc, Cinnamon roll, Lemon cake, or their soothing espresso.

Skip it if Seeking extensive food menu

Oost

Coffee and culture sharing equal billing in Amsterdam-Oost.

“YUSU runs Black to Black Coffee through both its espresso and filter programmes, and the flat white shows the sourcing is more than decorative. The matcha menu is as considered as the coffee side, and Nicole's Pão de queijo and orange coconut cake make skipping food feel like a mistake. This is a place built by people with a clear point of view.”

Some outlets · WiFi · moderate · opens 08:00

Order Matcha latte, Flat White, Chocolate Cake, Matcha Marble Cake, Pão de queijo, Orange Coconut Cake, Fig Cheesecake

Skip it if Seeking a very quiet, secluded workspace during peak hours

Oud West

Oud West's roastery café with earned authority.

“Two Dutch competition wins, the 2015 Aeropress Championship and 2019 Roast Masters, aren't decorations here, they're the baseline. The Kees van der Westen Spirit is dialled with the kind of confidence that comes from roasting your own beans on-site. Order the double naked and watch the extraction before you do anything else.”

Few outlets · WiFi · moderate · opens 07:30

Order Espresso (especially the 'double naked'), V60, Apple Pie, Banana Bread

Skip it if Needing abundant power outlets for long work sessions

Bos en Lommer

The roastery flagship where Gesha and rare micro-lots meet a neighbourhood cafe

“Lex Wenneker's competition pedigree shows in the cup, not the attitude. The Super Special filter list rotates through anaerobic lots and rare Geshas that most cities reserve for cupping labs, yet the room stays loose, with strawberry matcha and kimchi toasties sharing counter space with the EK43.”

Few outlets · WiFi · moderate · opens 08:00

Order A pour-over from their rotating Super Special lineup, paired with a freshly baked croissant or kimchi toastie.

Skip it if You need large group tables