Best espresso in Amsterdam
Espresso in Amsterdam is taken seriously — short, focused menus, baristas dialling in shots every morning, and the kind of espresso bars where the difference between a 26-second and a 28-second pull actually matters. Roasters maps the specialty espresso bars in Amsterdam the community ranks highest, from neighbourhood corners to flagship roasteries. Amsterdam is one of 144 cities with an “Espresso” guide on Roasters.
Espresso is the order to test a café's program — a single or double, no milk, straight shot. The best bars in Amsterdam will know exactly what their espresso is doing today and will pour something balanced, bright, and clean. The community in Roasters surfaces the ones that consistently deliver.
How this guide compares
Themed guides open once a city passes 30 specialty cafés; Amsterdam clears that bar 5.2 times over.
This “Espresso” guide sits at #19 of 144 by café count, in the upper half of the cities that have one.
3 other cities in the Netherlands have the same guide.
Amsterdam accounts for 35% of the specialty cafés listed in the Netherlands and ranks #9 among 1,928 cities in Europe.
Also on Roasters for Amsterdam: WiFi & laptops, Brunch, Open late, Quiet cafés, Cycling, Running, Filter coffee, Cold brew and Matcha.
Find espresso cafés
in Amsterdam.
Check opening hours, save a shortlist, and see what the community is drinking this week. Free on iOS and Android.
About espresso in Amsterdam
Which other cities in the Netherlands have an “Espresso” guide?
Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague. Each has its own page on Roasters.
How much specialty coffee is there in Amsterdam?
The community has mapped 156 cafés and roasters there, 35% of all listings in the Netherlands.
What espresso drinks should I try in Amsterdam?
Order a straight espresso (single or double) first to taste the program. Then move to a cortado or macchiato to test the milk. Most specialty bars in Amsterdam also pour seasonal espresso flights — three different origins side by side. The Roasters app shows which bars offer them.
Is this one of the bigger “Espresso” guides?
Yes: Amsterdam ranks #19 of 144 by the number of specialty cafés it lists.
