Back to Black

Back to Black: Amsterdam's Pioneering Spirit in Specialty Coffee

Step into Back to Black, a true gem in Amsterdam's specialty coffee scene, founded in 2014 by friends Noortje Vlutters and Inge Bulthuis. A rarity as a female-led venture in a male-dominated industry, they quickly became early adopters of in-house roasting in 2015, with Inge emerging as one of the few female roasters in the Dutch capital, mastering their Giesen W6.

Their "no-nonsense" philosophy champions unadulterated, high-quality coffee, a commitment further solidified by their status as an official Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) training academy, shaping the next generation of coffee professionals.Beyond their foundational ethos, Back to Black's roastery actively explores unique and experimental processing methods, offering intriguing selections like a Natural Anaerobic Arabica from India and a washed anaerobic from Burundi fermented with Oro yeast.

This adventurous spirit is matched by a profound dedication to sustainability, evident in everything from green energy to investments in permaculture on coffee farms. Noortje oversees their in-house bakery, crafting delicious treats with organic, local ingredients, complementing the café's distinctive, "hipster" ambiance, complete with a wooden swing. Back to Black isn't just a coffee shop; it's a community hub, passionately run by its founders.