Manhattan Coffee is the passion project of Ben Morrow and Esther Maasdam, two seasoned coffee professionals with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Inspired by specialty coffee’s abundant spirit of community, they utilized backgrounds as award-winning competitors to build their very own roastery. 

Manhattan… in the Netherlands! 

Manhattan Coffee Roasters is a cornerstone of Europe’s coffee roasting scene. 

That’s right… Europe! It may come as a surprise to learn that Manhattan Coffee Roasters doesn’t operate out of Manhattan, nor in North America. 

Manhattan was established in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where a Holland America cruise line once connected New York City to the Rotterdam harbour. For this, and because Rotterdam matches New York’s numerous towering skyscrapers, it gained the tongue-in-cheek moniker “Manhattan en de Maas” or “Manhattan at the Maas”. And, therein lies the inspiration for Manhattan’s name! 

Manhattan’s logo features the peak of the Erasmus Bridge which crosses over the Mass River. It’s the same river traversed by the Holland America cruise line as it forged the connection between two distant continents. 

With the spirit of connection, Manhattan Coffee Roasters sets out to bring enthusiasts closer to the producers, farmers, and other professionals that make every cup exceptional. 

Coffee Roasted with Quality and Precision

According to Manhattan, they’ve honed onto one core objective: 

“...to meticulously source and roast the most awe-inspiring and exceptional coffees…” 

Manhattan’s drive for the highest quality is the enforcement behind every decision, from where it sources green coffee to the smallest roasting perimeters. And where there is an opportunity to go beyond exceptional, Ben and Esther take it. 

For example, Ben can frequently be found refining green coffee processing methods alongside Manhattan’s producers, seeking an approach that is both hands-on and collaborative to elevate the quality of beans even before they go into the roaster. From there, each bean is roasted with ultimate care and precision, with every step along the way backed by years of coffee experience.

Coffee for the Community 

While Manhattan works closely with their producers to achieve the highest quality in roasted coffee, they’ve also put in work to advance connection and community engagement within the industry. 

Esther, otherwise known as the vibrant face of Manhattan Coffee Roasters, has frequently hosted numerous community-driven events. She has also championed equality within specialty coffee, using her platform as a co-founder of Manhattan to advocate for better women's representation in the industry. 

Esther also brings an unparalleled level of expertise to the table, with multiple awards under her belt and an impressive track record in both the World and Dutch Latte Art Championships. 

Coffee is one of those things that most people discover a passion for later in their lives. That’s why most of the time, when someone decides to open their own roastery, they already have a career in something else… That’s not the case with Ben and Esther and Manhattan Coffee Roasters. 

With so much combined experience and coffee mastery between the two co-founders, it’s clear to see Ben and Esther’s passion for their craft and for their community. 

Where to find Manhattan Coffee 

You can find two Manhattan Coffee roasts – El Cielo and Shoondisa – in this month’s Coffee Club Mix Selection! This month, the Coffee Club is bringing us coffee that tastes just like our favourite childhood snacks during the back-to-school season. Imagine chocolate, nuts, trail mix, and fruit! 

El Cielo is a Red Honey processed coffee that tastes like caramel and milk chocolate (who doesn’t love a Mars Bar in their lunchbox?) while Shoondisa is a Natural Ethiopian with notes of blueberry compote and strawberry!

And here’s a tip – the Coffee Club Mix bags are all 100g. Trying out smaller bags is an excellent way to save while splurging for higher-end coffees like Manhattan’s El Cielo and Shoondisa. 

So, if you’ve been thinking about adding to your list of favourite coffees, now is an excellent time to do so! This Mix will be around for the remainder of September or until supplies last. 

Photos by: Manhattan Coffee Roasters 
@manhattancoffeeroasters