The 6 best coffee spots in Groningen – tips from our team (2026)

Personal favourites from our team · updated March 2026

Whether you're spending a weekend in Groningen or exploring the city mid-week, a good cup of coffee makes every visit that little bit better. Some of our team members simply can't start their day without making coffee first. We get it. In Groningen (and the Netherlands as a whole) we have a coffee culture to be proud of. The fact that you can find a coffee spot roughly every hundred metres speaks for itself. If you're a true coffee lover planning a weekend in Groningen, you'd better come prepared! And if you stay in one of our recommended hotels, you'll have a few great cafés right on your doorstep.

Book with us — at Hotel Schimmelpenninck Huys, The Market Hotel or The Happy Traveler — and we'll reimburse your first coffee at any of the six spots below. Just send us your booking number via WhatsApp and we'll take care of the rest.

6 of our favourite coffee spots in Groningen

Below you'll find our six favourite places, each with its own character and run by passionate baristas. The kind of spots you walk past and think: "that looks cosy" — the kind you'd happily take your friend or mum to. Because we're a booking platform for Groningen, but above all for the people of Groningen themselves, we want to send you to local entrepreneurs who truly appreciate your visit. No chains on our list!

Coffee culture in the Netherlands: we're serious coffee lovers

The history of coffee in the Netherlands dates back to the 17th century, when the VOC established trade routes with the East Indies. The VOC was the first European company to import coffee beans to Europe on a large scale, and subsequently planted coffee plants in Java and Suriname to meet the growing demand. Amsterdam grew into the coffee capital of Europe. In less than eighty years, coffee transformed from an elite beverage into an indispensable part of Dutch culture. By 1750, more coffee was being consumed than beer — and that has remained the case to this day. It is even said that we rank fifth in the world! Drinking coffee in the Netherlands (and often worldwide) is about connection, conviviality and routine. Many Dutch people drink coffee at fixed times: around ten in the morning and again at three in the afternoon. This koffietijd (coffee time) is a fixed ritual, both at home and at work. Words like koffie verkeerd (literally "wrong coffee", the Dutch latte) and bakkie troost ("little cup of comfort") reveal how much cultural weight coffee carries in the Netherlands. And anyone asking for a "coffee shop" in the Netherlands might get a surprising reaction — Dutch people immediately think of something quite different. A café where you simply drink coffee is called a koffietent, koffiebar or just café. And thankfully there are more than enough of those, especially in Groningen.

Groningen and coffee: a city with taste, history and pride

That Groningen has a special relationship with coffee and craftsmanship is proven by two Groningen brands that have been earning their stripes for generations. In 1870, Klaas Tiktak laid the foundation for what would become one of the most quintessentially Dutch coffee and tea brands in the country, with a factory in Groningen and a branch in Amsterdam. His coffee was known as suyvere koffij: honest, pure and of good quality. Tiktak had an early fairtrade line in coffee and tea, is permitted to call itself a royal supplier, and has never changed its composition to this day. Old-fashionedly honest and good, as it should be. Coffee deserves something tasty alongside it, and here too Groningen has a proud answer. Knol's Koek has been baking the authentic Groninger cake at the Hoendiep since 1923: handcrafted, without artificial additives, always fresh and exactly as founder Egge Knol once envisioned. In 2024 the family business received the royal predicate of Purveyor to the Court, a distinction awarded only to companies that have existed for at least 100 years and play an important role in the region. And as if that weren't enough: in 2025 the book Knol's koek, sinds 1923 was published, written by grandson Egge Knol, former curator of archaeology at the Groninger Museum. A fine tribute to more than a century of Groningen baking craftsmanship. Two brands, a century and a half of tradition, one city. Groningen has known what's good for a very long time. We previously wrote an article about the history of Knol's Koek.

1. Koffiestation, 3 locations with a unique concept

Groningen micro-roastery with three unique locations, including an iconic listed building

Location Koffiestation Books & Coffee (in collaboration with Boekhandel Riemer): Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 21, 9712 EA Groningen
Location Koffiestation Dudok aan het Diep: Turfsingel 4, Groningen
Location Koffiestation Vismarkt: every Friday and Saturday at the Vismarkt

Koffiestation started in 2012 roasting coffee beans on the stove of their own kitchen. It has since grown into one of the most remarkable coffee businesses in the north of the Netherlands, with its own micro-roastery and three different locations in Groningen.

Koffiestation Books & Coffee (in collaboration with Boekhandel Riemer) on the Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat combines specialty coffee with a collection of English-language books — a concept that exists nowhere else in the city. Koffiestation Dudok aan het Diep on the Turfsingel is housed in a restored, listed petrol station designed by architect Willem Dudok, with a spacious waterside terrace and an in-house bakery serving cinnamon buns and banana bread. And at the Vismarkt, you'll find Koffiestation every Friday and Saturday with the full bean collection.

Our tip: On a sunny day, head to Dudok aan het Diep for coffee and pastries by the water — one of the most beautiful spots in the city. Koffiestation Books & Coffee is open Mon–Fri 08:45–17:30, Sat 09:30–17:30, Sun 10:30–17:00.

2. G Corner Café

A little piece of Greece in the heart of Groningen — taste Greek coffee in Groningen

Location: Carolieweg 31, 9711 LS Groningen

G Corner Café is one of a kind in Groningen: this is the place for Greek coffee. Not your standard cappuccino or latte, but authentic preparations just like you'd find on the Mediterranean coast. Anyone who steps inside is welcomed with warmth and hospitality, much like we experience on our own holidays on our favourite island of Kythira, Greece. This is the favourite of our Greece enthusiast on the team, Diet Daleman. And she always enjoys a spanakopita alongside it — the authentic spinach and feta puff pastry parcel.

The rich Greek coffee tradition

Greek coffee culture is unique in the world, and at G Corner Café you notice it immediately. It starts with the Ellinikos Kafes, the traditional Greek coffee. This is a strong, thick black coffee prepared in a small copper pot called a briki. Ground coffee is slowly heated together with water — and optionally sugar — until just before boiling point. The result: an intense coffee with a rich aroma and a layer of fine foam, the kaimaki, on top. The coffee is served in small demitasse cups, always accompanied by a glass of cold water and often with a piece of loukoumi, the Greek version of Turkish Delight. You specify your sugar preference when ordering: sketo (without), metrio (half sweet) or glykos (sweet). Drink slowly — and be careful: don't drink the grounds at the bottom. Those are the basis for kafemandeia, Greek coffee ground fortune-telling. Beyond the traditional coffee, Greece is also the birthplace of the freddo espresso. The freddo was invented in 1991 as a response to the hot Greek summers: a double espresso shaken with ice in a shaker, served over extra ice. Creamy, cold and full of flavour. With cold frothed milk it becomes a freddo cappuccino. Drinking coffee in Greece is never rushed — it's a social ritual. You sit, you talk, you enjoy. That philosophy is what G Corner Café brings to Groningen.

Insider's tip: Don't be shy — ask for a traditional Ellinikos Kafes or a freddo espresso. The owner is happy to tell you more about it. 

3. Revista Coffee, 100% vegan

Minimalist, 100% vegan and specialty coffee with character

Location: Carolieweg 11, 9711 LP Groningen (corner of Gelkingestraat, just behind the Grote Markt)

Revista started as a blue vintage coffee bus on the Hereplein (impossible to miss!) and has since found a permanent home in a stylish corner building on the Carolieweg. The name refers to the Spanish word for magazine, and that combination is reflected throughout the shop: alongside specialty coffee you'll find a carefully curated selection of international magazines on art, culture and design. Everything at Revista is 100% plant-based, from the oat milk in your cappuccino to the homemade banana bread. Coffee beans come from renowned Dutch roasters such as Friedhats and Uncommon. Open Mon–Fri 07:30–17:00, Sat 09:00–17:00.

Insider's tip: Come early — Revista opens at 07:30, earlier than most other coffee spots in the city. Perfect for an early start to your Groningen day. Every day there's a filter coffee + toast deal for €6 between 08:00 and 10:30. 
 

4. Bij Roel: Coffee & Barista, workshops

Where coffee and art come together — including barista workshops

Location: Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 27, 9712 EB Groningen

Bij Roel feels like a living room where all of Groningen comes together. Owner Roel graduated from the art academy and is also a passionate barista. The result is a café that's always colourful and beautifully decorated. Every corner has something to discover! The paintings on the wall? His own work. The coffee? Carefully prepared, with attention to every detail.

Beyond coffee, Bij Roel also offers barista workshops. Want to learn how to pull the perfect espresso or create beautiful latte art? This is the place. Open daily from 07:30 (weekends 09:30), every day until 17:00.

Insider's tip: Book a barista workshop in advance — a unique memory from your Groningen trip, solo or together. Outside you have a view of the Academiegebouw and De Harmonie.

5. Pure Groningen, delicious coffee with a one of a kind donut

Homemade pastries, great coffee and a warm atmosphere at the Vismarkt

Location: Vismarkt 10, 9711 KS Groningen

Pure Groningen is perfectly located: on the Vismarkt, just off the Herestraat. Anyone who walks in is greeted by a display case full of homemade pastries, from flavourful cakes to donuts, poffertjes and toasties. The coffee is great, the atmosphere is cosy and the team makes everything themselves, with care and passion. Pure is the place for anyone who wants to combine a coffee break with something delicious. Whether you're looking for a moment of rest after a morning of shopping or want to start the day here, you're always in the right place.

Insider's tip: Pair your coffee with one of their freshly baked cakes. Open Mon–Sat from 09:30, Sunday from 11:00.

6. Black & Bloom: specialty coffee bar in Groningen

Groningen's first specialty coffee bar — and still a favourite for many

Location: Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 32, 9712 EK Groningen

Black & Bloom opened in 2012 as the very first specialty coffee bar in Groningen and has set the bar high for everything that followed. Owner Gerben Engelkes roasts his own beans in a micro-roastery. The espresso has character, the filter tastes of the season, and the homemade treats are not sweet but deeply flavourful. He also supplies his beans to top restaurants! The interior is cosy: a handful of tables, expertly arranged equipment and a barista on hand who is happy to take you into the world of specialty coffee. Black & Bloom won the Misset Horeca Coffee Top 100 in 2016, but the regulars already knew that. You can also buy Black & Bloom coffee online.

Insider's tip: Ask about the bean of the month for a surprising flavour combination. Laptops are not welcome here, so come purely for the coffee. And the humour on the chalkboard outside is absolutely brilliant — well worth a glance as you cycle past ;-)

Book a hotel with us and receive a free coffee at one of our favourites

Planning a visit to Groningen? Book a stay at one of our recommended hotels and we'll reimburse your first coffee at any of the six spots in this blog.

Here's how it works: after your booking, send us your booking number via WhatsApp. We at StayinGroningen will reimburse your first coffee at one of the six cafés. That simple. That good.

Hotel Schimmelpenninck Huys  ·  The Market Hotel  ·  The Happy Traveler

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This blog was written by the StayinGroningen team. We visit all these places ourselves and only select favourites we can wholeheartedly recommend. We receive no payment from any of the coffee bars mentioned. Addresses and opening hours were updated in March 2026 — always check the current details directly with the café before your visit.