There is no rushing at Rotterdam based café 33rd Street Coffee

33rd Street Coffee is a specialty coffee bar located just north of Rotterdam’s city centre that serves single-origin coffee and delicious pastries. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy your heiter coffee moment — a time to pause, focus on yourself and let go while enjoying your cup of coffee. 

Simon, the owner of 33rd Street Coffee, dreamt for a long time about opening his own coffee shop. One that would bring together top-quality products like coffee, tea and cakes together with an interior that lets you relax. 

The minute you step foot in Simon’s coffee shop you can tell that it has been a work of passion. Most likely, you will hear one of the songs from 33rd Street Coffee Bar’s Spotify playlist, smell freshly ground filtered coffee or the continuous flow of espresso. The machine and grinders are directly at the bar’s entrance, so the smell of coffee wafts over you instantly. 

‘From the beginning, we knew that a focus on quality and consistent service in a relaxing atmosphere will make us different. We don’t add more tables just because we’re full. We want each customer to be able to enjoy their coffee and hear each other. We are also quite precise with the weight of each serving of 19 grams exactly for a double shot and we are pouring shots within a timeframe of 27 to 29 seconds. Due to the limited seating, we can take our time to balance the perfect workflow’, explains Simon on his way of running the coffee shop.

At 33rd Street Coffee, you will most definitely not feel rushed. As Simon says, ‘coffee is poured relatively fast, so there’s no need for rushing.’

The combination of music, the smell of freshly ground coffee, calm atmosphere and relaxed baristas will give you enough time to decide. And there is definitely a lot to choose from. At the core of its bar menu is specialty coffee from Giraffe Coffee, cakes by the pastry chef behind Patisserie Nettur, and for the tea drinkers, the highest quality JING Tea, often served at Michelin star restaurants. 

The interior of Simon’s coffee shop is quiet and simple, yet it stands out with only three colours repeating. White walls, black coffee machines and handmade wooden benches ground the space. 

‘I wanted to build a quiet and clean place with as little distraction as possible — a place to relax and take some time for yourself, take a moment to enjoy. Nothing busy or loud.’

But do you know the best thing about 33rd Street Coffee? It’s customers, who find their way back multiple times a week. Having a coffee and a chat with your barista will make you feel like you are not only part of the coffee bar but also the whole neighbourhood. 

Getting to know founder Simon better

Favourite coffee: a double shot cortado with milk and a naturally processed specialty coffee from South America. Sweet, creamy and strong in flavour.

Fun stereotype about coffee drinkers: when a customer smells the cup. It’s a sign of interest and knowledge. 

Best thing to do in Rotterdam: have a coffee at our bar and view the city and the massive Rotterdam Harbour from the heights of the Euromast.

Simon, the owners of 33rd Street Coffee

Andrea Juckem is a writer and co-creator of the bi-lingual online magazine NIKA (which means niche in English). She has always been attracted to people's stories and communication but it was not until recently that she decided to put it all in words that have an impact: Andrea now uses her (Czech and English) writing to express emotions and share meaningful thoughts and stories.

Images: 3rd Street Coffee

Northern Ireland escape: Causeway Coastal Route

‘I’m a lover of the natural world so any chance I can get to escape to the sea, the trees, the mountains, I’ll take it. Exploring the Causeway Coastal Route of Northern Ireland never gets boring, with vast amounts of rugged terrain and breath-taking views, it never ceases to amaze me. I especially appreciate the sounds of the waves crashing, the bird life buzzing above and the gentle wind of coastal air that feels better than any medicine when you need that pick me up. Along my adventures I always make time for a pit stop which involves a cup of tea, my go to drink and a bun too. It really is the simple things.’

Contributor Ellie Letch takes us on a little adventure along the Causeway Coastal Route. Let’s discover some of the places that truly make her feel heiter:

‘Images of Benone Strand which is along the Causeway Coastal Route of Northern Ireland. It is seven miles of blue sea, golden sand and mountain views with Donegal in the distance. You also see a photo is inside my Land Rover Defender which takes me on all my adventures and where I shelter when a tea break is needed.’

‘This is Downhill Beach which is a part of the seven mile expanse of Benone Strand. The 2nd photo shows the road leading down to the beach. The 3rd photo is looking up to the Mussenden Temple which sits perched on the edge of the cliffs. The temple was built in 1785 with the intention of being a summer library for Frederick Augustus Hervey, Bishop of Derry and Earl of Bristol. The design is quite unique and inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli.’

‘Downhill Forest is maintained by the National Trust. The trees stand tall with birds flitting around and as you walk along the pathway the sea can be heard in the distance.’

‘Lost and Found is a café in Portstewart. The view inside looks out to the sea which immerses you into a relaxed state as you watch the waves lap and sip on a cup tea. Much like the name you can easily get lost in thought as you find yourself focusing on the nature around you.’

‘Sea Shed café is just a stone’s throw away from Downhill Forest and a few minutes from the rugged coastline.’

‘Downhill Beachhouse which looks onto the Downhill Beach and has the Mussenden Temple in the background. It was recently featured on the television, B&B By the Sea by the BBC.’

Ellie (short for Eleanor) Letch is named after her grandmother and lives in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.  She studied Marine and Natural History Photography in Falmouth University and gained a lot from this time away: the ability to truly experience a new place, new people and a chance to figure herself out. Ellie’s love for animals and the natural world comes from a lifetime surrounded by animals and remains that way today as she helps look after the small holding she calls home. Ellie is creatively minded and articulates that through her photography, exploration of places and expression through clothes and homeware which she loves sourcing from vintage and charity shops.