There are places in the city where you feel something is really about something. Stooker on Chestnut Square is such a place. Not a chain, not a big marketing machine, but a working roastery where Onno van Zanten and Florian Hessel roast small batches of coffee every week. Fresh, on location, with seasonal lots from farmers in Colombia, Peru, Ethiopia and other countries of origin.
Every coffee Stooker sells scores a minimum of 84 points. That's the lower limit for specialty coffee, and they apply that limit to every lot that went out the door. The harvest, the farmer, the processing method: it's all fixed. Transparent sourcing, fair farmer compensation. Van Zanten and Hessel started the idea in 2014, and they now supply more than 200 restaurants and hotels in Europe. Florian Hessel is also the driving force behind Stooker's Coffee Academy, where he trains himself.
In the store and webshop, you'll find a convenient selection you really want to go through. The Peru from Segundo Alarcon is a single origin starting at 12 euros, its neighbor Peru Los Tulipanes sits just a bit higher. The Santa Lucia and Anonos Gesha Cascara is for those who want something different, a drink from the fleece of coffee cherries. Brazil Daterra Sunset is the premium lot, 40 euros, and that's no snatch. For those who want a blend, Ecotripper Organic and Pachamama are both good options for everyday use. The Colombia Popayan Sugar Cane Decaf proves that decaf is taken seriously these days, and the Motto Blend is the espresso blend for those who just want something reliable at home or at work.
Every coffee Stooker sells scores a minimum of 84 points, the lower limit for specialty coffee, and they apply that limit to every lot that went out the door.
The Chestnut Square location combines roastery, coffee bar and training space under one roof. The Coffee Academy is SCA-certified and has trained more than 500 people since it opened, from absolute beginners to professionals seeking their SCA certification. A two-hour latte art workshop costs 85 euros per person. Stooker is certified B Corporation, which means social and ecological standards are externally reviewed. For those who just want to drink or take away good coffee: the coffee bar is just there. No fuss.