Antwerp, Belgium, is home to a vibrant specialty-café scene. Be sure to visit these four cool coffee shops on a weekend trip to the city.
BY TANYA NANETTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT
Photos by Tanya Nanetti
Just a few miles south of the Dutch border lies Antwerp: Belgium’s most populous municipality and the main city of Flanders, the Flemish region of Belgium. Often crowded but never chaotic, Antwerp is the perfect place to spend a couple of days, strolling through the lively alleys and visiting some of the city’s unique attractions.
Have you ever walked a pedestrian tunnel under a river? Ever had a picnic on top of a museum? Have you ever seen the prow of a ship emerge from an art nouveau building? If you want to experience all this and more, Antwerp is the right destination for you. And when you’re there, don’t forget to check out the incredible food scene. Tasty food from all over, craft beer, natural wine, specialty coffee … Antwerp definitely has something for everyone.
If coffee is your thing, follow us on a short visit to four of the coolest cafés you can find in the city.
Kasette Koffie
For us, Kasette Koffie was love at first sight. Walking into the shop, which is self-described as a “neon specialty coffee shop,” feels like stepping back into the 1980s. But the coffee culture is far from old school: Here, you’ll find perfectly brewed beans from all over Europe, plus delicious cheesecake that makes you feel like you’re in New York.
Behind the counter is Reuben Vermoet, the shop’s owner and barista. While waiting for my pourover, I had the opportunity to speak with Reuben to learn more about this super-cool coffee shop and the inspiration behind it.
“The store is called Kasette because it was my first medium for listening to music: I had a yellow Sony Walkman Sport and when I was 6 years old, I made my first mixtape,” Reuben says. “On one side was Bruce Springsteen and on the other side was Michael Jackson.”
“I was always raised on music from the ’60s to the ’90s, so my musical tastes are pretty broad, but old-school. When I opened the store, I wanted it to be different from most of the new specialty bars: I found that all the new stores wanted to be very trendy and modern, while I wanted something cozy and even a little bit ‘80s,” Reuben continues. “Visually, I really like the synth-wave vibe of those times: ’Miami Vice,’ wavy synth bass, neon lights, ’Blade Runner.’ … That’s how the atmosphere came about: centered on coffee and music. And, of course, the chickens ….”
That’s right, chickens! Let’s not forget the two beautiful chickens in the courtyard—an eccentric touch that somehow fits perfectly with the atmosphere of the store. Definitely not to be missed.
Andy Coffee Roasters
If there’s one thing that struck me immediately about our coffee trip in Antwerp, it’s how original and different all the cafés look.
Walking into Andy Coffee Roasters’ flagship store in the south of the city is like walking into a 1950s diner: from the design of the store, to the beautiful red and white La Marzocco, to the cozy atmosphere and happy crowd.
The vibrant menu on the back wall, checkered and colored like that of the best fast-food restaurants of yesteryear, offers, in addition to the daily espresso, four other coffee choices, from the more classic “Not So Fruity,” to “Fruity Washed” and “Fruity Unwashed,” to the funkier “Pink Series.”
We only had the chance to try the Indonesian beans—really fruity and delicious—but we couldn’t have been happier. We will be back next time, to try something different from the tempting menu.
Bakkerij Funk
Not far from Andy Roasters, Bakkerij Funk welcomes customers with a unique mix of homemade plant-based pastries (up to eight different ones each week), sourdough bread and toast, natural wine, and, of course, specialty coffee.
Many pastries are often sold out in the afternoon, and we were glad we followed a friend’s suggestion and visited Funk before lunchtime, thus having a chance to try the latest praline salted caramel “cruffins” (croissant muffins) and the ever-present vegan croissants.
Both were delicious and we decided to stay a little longer to try one of the toasts, washed down with a glass of funky orange wine. It was then, wondering where the name of the bakery came from, that we discovered a sweet and beautiful story, the main character of which was a beautiful black Labrador named Funky.
Funky (Funk’s co-owner, Lisa’s, beloved friend) loved food and drink, and was always ready for a delicious snack. Funky truly enjoyed life, and Lisa and the rest of the team could think of no better celebration for Funky’s life than naming the bakery after the recently deceased dog.
Because after all, that’s what Bakkerij Funk is all about: celebrating life and good food and drink—all together. Try it for yourself.
Rush Rush Coffee
On the outskirts of Antwerp, conveniently located near one of the main transportation hubs for those who decide to travel to the city by bus, is Rush Rush Coffee, one of the city’s most renowned local specialty-coffee roasters. It may be a bit out of the way if you plan to stay in the central part of town, but it is definitely worth walking the extra mile, for several reasons.
First, the atmosphere is super welcoming: Owners Nanigui Patel and Simon Derutter and the rest of their team will make you feel at home in a second. Second, the food is incredibly tasty—and, lastly, the coffee is, of course, delicious.
Don’t miss the chance to try a coffee made with Simon’s AeroPress! After all, he has won the Belgian AeroPress Championship twice, and, in 2022, he took second place at the AeroPress World Championship … not bad, right?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tanya Nanetti (she/her) is a specialty-coffee barista, a traveler, and a dreamer. When she’s not behind the coffee machine (or visiting some hidden corner of the world), she’s busy writing for Coffee Insurrection, a website about specialty coffee that she’s creating along with her boyfriend.
Subscribe and More!
As always, you can read Barista Magazine in paper or digital format. Read the February + March 2025 issue for free with our digital edition.
And for more than three years’ worth of issues, visit our digital edition archives here.
Be the first to comment