Autumn in Europe, a season of change, crisp air and cool colours. One thing remains consistent though, high quality coffee from your Bean Bros subscription! This month we feature Blommers Coffee Roaster from Nijmegen, Netherlands. What a treat, quality coffee from a passionate and high performing team!
Please tell us a little about the team and your passion for the industry.
Blommers Coffee Roasters was founded in 2013 in the city of Nijmegen, in the southeast of the Netherlands. Over the years, our team has grown, and quite appropriately, we have known each other for many years through the local coffee community.
Each team member plays a critical role in ensuring we maintain the highest standards, from sourcing high-quality and ethically produced coffees to perfecting the roasting process and delivering a unique experience to everyone who drinks our coffee.
With more than a decade of experience in the specialty coffee industry, we are incredibly proud of the relationships we’ve built with consumers, wholesale customers, suppliers, and producers. These durable relationships allow us to source some of the highest quality coffee while supporting sustainable practices in the coffee chain. Alongside this, we've actively competed in both national and international coffee competitions, where we’ve earned numerous accolades:
- Dutch Brewers Cup 2018 – 1st place
- Dutch AeroPress 2018 – 1st place
- Best Barista Benelux – 1st place
- Dutch AeroPress 2021 – 2nd place
- Dutch Cup Tasters 2022 - 2nd place
- Dutch Cup Tasters 2023 – 1st place
- Dutch Brewers Cup 2023 – 2nd place
- Dutch Brewers Cup 2024 – 1st place
Competitions like these, and the feedback from our customers continues to inspire us to innovate, but our greatest achievement remains the consistent quality and unique profiles of the coffees we offer—a testament to the dedication and craft of our entire team.
Our primary objective is to continue elevating the coffee experience for our customers by constantly innovating and staying true to our values of quality, sustainability, and community. Of course, this enhances expanding our relationships with producers and our importing partners. Moreover, we are working hard on a subscription service, to make sure you are never running out of Blommers Coffee. This should be live very soon! We also envision growing our local coffee community by hosting more events and workshops that bring people together to learn and appreciate the craft of coffee.
What factors are important for you in selecting producers to work with but also to learn from and support them?
When selecting producers to work with, several factors are critical. Firstly, the quality of the coffee is paramount; we look for producers who are as passionate about coffee as we are and are committed to excellence in cultivation and processing. Secondly, we value producers who are committed to sustainable practices and who take care of their land and workers. In order to make this happen, we work closely together with some amazing importing partners, who share the same core values as we do.
How is the coffee community in your area and what part do you like to play?
The city of Nijmegen is an average sized Dutch city, yet the coffee community in our area is vibrant and ever-growing. Cafés, restaurants and high-end specialty bars are omnipresent and play a vital role in day-to-day life for a lot of people. We supply a lot of these places, but we strive to deliver more than just coffee. We visit our local wholesale customers weekly to deliver coffee, check the equipment and adjust settings if needed, and discuss any requests or needs. We believe education is crucial, so we host training sessions at our roastery or directly behind the bar at our customers' locations. We do not only provide these training sessions for professionals; we also host weekly workshops for passionate home-baristas.
What do you enjoy about international events and competition? What value do you think they provide for different people in the industry?
(Inter)national events and competitions are exciting opportunities for us. They allow us to connect with other coffee professionals, share our experiences, and learn from the best in the industry. International events like World of Coffee play a vital role in yearly networking as well, where roasters, producers and importers can actually meet face-to-face, connect and work on long-term relationships. Engaging in competitions are invaluable for gaining new insights, discovering emerging trends, and challenging ourselves to continually improve. The value lies in the exchange of ideas, the exposure to different coffee cultures, and the chance to showcase what we do on a global stage.
Great selection for this month, please could you share some detail...
- Honduras - Ceiba (Natural): This organically produced coffee comes from the highlands of Honduras, where the unique microclimate and natural processing method impart rich berry and wine-like flavors. This coffee has been produced by a group of producers, connected to the Comsa (Café Organica Marcala) collective. Coffees from this region are known for their medium to high acidity, full body, and spicy notes. This coffee offers a bold, fruity cup, complemented by a beautiful chocolate and hazelnut finish.
- Costa Rica - Guanacaste (Washed): Sourced from the Guanacaste region by Luis Anastasio Castro, this coffee is a true representation of Costa Rican quality. The washed process enhances its bright acidity and clean, orange-like notes, making it a refreshing and balanced cup that is perfect for any time of day.
- Ethiopia - Banko Gotiti (Washed): Grown in the renowned Yirgacheffe region, we love this Ethiopian coffee for its bright floral and citrusy notes. The washed process highlights its clean, tea-like body, with delicate hints of black tea and blueberries. Sourced from the smallholder farmers of the Banko Gotiti cooperative, this coffee offers a refined and elegant cup, perfect for those who appreciate the nuanced flavors of Ethiopia’s finest coffees.
Any closing remark you would like to make to our subscribers?
We think working together with BeanBros is an excellent opportunity to showcase our passion for specialty coffee beyond the Netherlands. We are proud to have been a small, close-knit team since the beginning, and every single member is a crucial part of our success. We hope these coffees translate our continuous dedication to quality and sustainability directly into your cup. Cheers!
