Tweet21-09-2011 om 12:00 by Amanda Potter

Before we moved to Maastricht I started drinking my coffee black. Not for the taste (although that was a nice perk), but because I’d had Dutch coffee before and it was much stronger than the brew I was accustom to. Now that I’ve grown to enjoy a cup the classic way with a nice slice of vlaai, here are a few thoughts on the subject.

1. Dutch-Style Coffee: Dutch coffee is brewed strong, but not as strong as an espresso and can be made from a variety of beans. In a restaurant your coffee will be served in a smallish cup with a tiny chocolate or cookie treat on the side. Sugar and “coffee milk” (slightly condensed milk) are always available. From an American perspective I find Dutch coffee to be on the strong side and about half the size I would get in the states.

2. Coffee in a Pad: A lot of people seem to drink coffee at home that is made with a Nespresso (pod) or Senso (pad) coffeemaker. These machines brew single cups but do so quickly and consistently. At first I thought the idea was silly, but now that I’ve tried it at home I like the convenience and how I can’t screw up the strength. Since the coffee pads can also be used in small drip machines (which I have) and can be tossed in my green bin I prefer them to the expensive Nespresso set up.

3. Coffee and Vlaai: In Maastricht the classic accompaniment to a cup of coffee is a slice of vlaai, the regional tart. Many of the Dutch restaurants and cafes have coffee and vlaai specials. These are typically around 5 euros and a good deal for an afternoon snack. I prefer to sit on a terrace on the Vrijthof to enjoy this treat.

4. Decaf: Many people won’t touch decaf coffee, but you can certainly order it in a café or buy it in the grocery store 99% of the time. You might even see it on a menu.

5. American(ish) Style: When my father visited our first year, he complained about the lack of “real” coffee. That is a large bottomless mug of drip coffee. While it’s true you won’t find that in Maastricht, there are a couple of options if you like a bigger cuppa. First, Coffeelover’s, a Starbucks-like café in the region, serves coffee in both regular and large sizes. Even the regular is bigger than your average cup of coffee and if you really need volume you can go for a large. There are several locations including one in the Slexzy’s Bookstore and two on 1992 Plein near the library. John Mullin’s coffee is also larger than average and they serve a full lunch and dinner menu as well.

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