Netherlands
The Netherlands has a long and rich history with coffee, being a major trading nation and one of the first to bring coffee beans to Europe. While they traditionally favored filter coffee, modern Dutch coffee culture is a blend of their own preferences and strong influences from Italian espresso culture and global trends.
Here are the different ways to order a coffee in the Netherlands and what's in them:
Black Coffee Options:
Koffie / Zwarte Koffie: This is the traditional Dutch way to order a black coffee. It's typically a filter coffee (drip coffee), often a larger cup and milder than an espresso. If you just say "koffie," this is often what you'll get in a more traditional setting. "Zwarte koffie" literally means "black coffee."
Espresso: A small, strong, concentrated espresso shot, served in a small cup. Widely available in modern cafés and understood everywhere. You can specify "dubbele espresso" for a double shot.
Americano: An espresso shot diluted with hot water. This is also widely understood and a common choice for those who prefer a longer, milder black coffee.
Ristretto: A very short and concentrated espresso, using less water, resulting in an even stronger, sweeter shot.
Lungo: A "long" espresso, using more water, making it less concentrated but potentially more bitter than a standard espresso.
Filterkoffie / Slow Coffee: While "koffie" often implies filter coffee, some modern coffee shops might explicitly offer "filterkoffie" or use terms like "Chemex," "V60," or "Aeropress" to indicate specific pour-over or manual brewing methods. These will yield a cleaner, often lighter-bodied coffee.
Coffee with Milk Options:
Koffie Verkeerd: This literally translates to "wrong coffee," and it's the traditional Dutch term for a latte. It's typically more milk than coffee, often a single espresso shot with a large amount of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam, served in a larger cup or glass. The name comes from a time when the high milk content was seen as "wrong" compared to the strong black coffee favored by the Dutch.
Koffie met Melk: "Coffee with milk." This can vary, but generally refers to a filter coffee with a dash of milk (often cold milk or a small amount of warm milk) on the side for you to add. It's less common to explicitly order this in a place that also serves espresso-based milky coffees.
Cappuccino: A popular choice, made with equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk. Often dusted with cocoa powder or cinnamon. You'll find good quality cappuccinos in most cafés.
Latte / Caffè Latte: While "koffie verkeerd" is the traditional term, simply asking for a "latte" is now perfectly understood in most modern Dutch coffee shops. It's an espresso with a generous amount of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam.
Flat White: Very popular in the Netherlands, especially in specialty coffee shops. It's made with a double shot of espresso and velvety steamed milk with a very thin layer of microfoam. It's smaller and has a stronger coffee taste than a latte or cappuccino, due to the higher coffee-to-milk ratio and specific milk texture.
Macchiato (Caffè Macchiato): An espresso "stained" or "marked" with a small dollop of foamed milk on top. For those who want the espresso flavor to be dominant but with a touch of creaminess.
Cortado: An espresso "cut" with an equal or slightly lesser amount of warm, lightly steamed milk, with minimal to no foam. It's a small, strong, yet smooth milky coffee.
Latte Macchiato: This is different from a regular macchiato. It's typically mostly steamed milk with an espresso shot poured through it, creating distinct layers. Often served in a tall glass.
Iced and Other Options:
Ijskoffie: "Iced coffee." Generally an espresso or cold brew served over ice, often with milk and sugar added.
Cold Brew: Coffee steeped in cold water for an extended period (12-24 hours), resulting in a less acidic, smoother, and often more concentrated coffee. Served chilled.
Koffie met Slagroom: Any coffee (but usually a milder one or even hot chocolate) topped with whipped cream ("slagroom").
Key things to remember when ordering:
"Koffie" vs. "Espresso": If you want a small, strong shot, ask for an "espresso." If you want a larger, milder black coffee (like drip coffee), "koffie" or "zwarte koffie" is the way to go.
Milk on the side: For black coffee, if you want milk, you can ask for "melk erbij" (milk with it) or sometimes it will be offered automatically.
Sugar: Sugar packets or cubes are usually provided.
"Voor hier of meenemen?": "For here or to take away?" You'll usually be asked this.
Cookies: Many Dutch cafés serve a small cookie or stroopwafel with your coffee, especially with a "koffie" (filter coffee). This is a beloved tradition!
Politeness: "Alstublieft" (please - formal) or "alsjeblieft" (please - informal) and "Dank u wel" (thank you - formal) or "Dank je wel" (thank you - informal) are always appreciated.
*The content in this document was generated using artificial intelligence, drawing from various online sources, and subsequently refined for accuracy and conciseness in 2025. Users are advised to consult multiple sources to corroborate information and should not rely solely on this document for comprehensive research.