NINE bar espresso - Rotterdam

NINE bar espresso Rotterdam

NINE bar espresso Rotterdam

NINE bar espresso Rotterdam

NINE bar espresso Rotterdam

I honestly believe that deep down all the young kids like to travel. There is a reason why exotic cafés with aloha umbrellas in drinks are not perceived as toe-curling (which they should be). And the same counts for the urban vibe formula that always seems to work. In Rotterdam we have NINE bar espresso, a teeny-tiny hotspot that breathes Brooklyn, looks like Hamburg and has city life written all over it.

To be honest, I am usually not a fan of places like NINE with their rusty elements and minimalist colour pallets. It feels a bit cold, as if the people inside are all individualists working on their own thing, never in for a small chat. Bogus thoughts obviously, but Bauhaus functionalism does that to me. On the other hand, the 40 minutes I spent at NINE brought me straight back to my days in Manhattan. Urban is roaring, is exciting, is quality and youth. I found myself a small seat next to the window and drifted off to my own American journey which was at the time of the Trump elections. When even confident wall street appeared to be anxious and even the exalted Fifth Avenue turned into an introvert. Weird times, like nowadays but different.

New Yorkers are the reason I don’t ever take my coffee to go — the metaphor of the busy life: no time to sit down, I only need you, my darling dark friend. At the same time, it is the city where my passion for the coffee café originates. In a concrete jungle where no one ever stands still, a handful of chaps actually do. Like peaceful protestors they gather in public living rooms all over town where the best roasts from faraway lands are served. They properly enjoy the quality and have conversations about important and unimportant stuff, which is important too. That’s the setting of a well-done urban coffee and it was brought back to me right there at NINE.

Mellow music, a simple interior and a bright flash-light on the quality of their coffees — that is NINE in a word. Actually, the name entails the same, as the number nine stands for the ideal amount of pressure (‘bar’) necessary for a great espresso. The quality is in the name and it is not a false promise. If you are in the mood for a seriously great cup, this is your go-too. Moreover, it is located in a great area of 010 (the city code you use instead of the full name — if you want to look like an authentic Rotterdammer). Because of Rotterdam’s skyline, it if often referred to as the only Dutch city with an international aura. It may not be a big apple, but I can assure you that dreams are made in Roffa too. And why not drink on that with a suitable urban sip at NINE?

Joe for now,