Screaming Beans, Amsterdam

Coffee is worth a holler.

Our first visit to Screaming Beans was two years ago. At the time we were returning from our South American journey and transiting at Schipol Airport. Given eight hours of transit time, we opted to take a 20-minute train to Amsterdam and walk around the city.

We’ve been here several times before so the canals and “coffee shops” were familiar to us. Ah, but now we had the opportunity to track down a real espresso and brew bar. The real stuff – by which I mean coffee, and not other stimulating substances.

Unfortunately the original outlet of Screaming Beans was being renovated at the time so we couldn’t try the brews there. The new café-cum-restaurant at Eerste Constantijn Huygensstraat had just opened though so we headed there instead. We had some Yirgacheffe brewed using Aeropress, delightfully floral – we still remember it today. Definitely one of our all-time best cups.

Fast forward a couple of years: this time the original outlet is open. From the simple décor (the bar and pastries at the front; a small kitchen at the rear), Screaming Beans is nothing less than invitingly casual.

To sup, a simple salad is ordered. It’s refreshing – apple, feta cheese, rocket leaves, crunchy walnuts. But no one comes here just for the salads, do they?

Yes, the coffee.

This time it’s a hand-brewed El Salvador. Unlike most cafés, the brewing takes place in front of the customer to bring you closer to the barista. A visual feast but also a great opportunity to ask questions.
Do ask questions.

Sip.

第一次拜访Screaming Beans是在两年前，
當時我們刚结束了南美洲的行程，回程中在阿姆斯特丹轉機，
很會利用時間的我們，便在那八個小時的候機時間里，
到阿姆斯特丹市中心走走，順道去喝杯咖啡。
當時很不巧的，Screaming Beans的原店正在裝修，
我們花了好久的時間兼迷路，才抵達他們第二家咖啡館兼餐館。
那次的耶加雪菲讓我感覺驚艷異常，留下了非常深刻的印象。

這次趁著來荷蘭工作之便，我再度造訪Screaming Beans的原店。
原店的不大，長形的店面裝潢簡單，
前部分是吧檯和糕點擺放處，後面則是小廚房。
我點了一杯手沖薩爾瓦多El Salvador和一份沙拉。
不同於大部分的咖啡館，
這的手沖咖啡是把器材搬到客人面前當面沖泡，
讓客人和咖啡師能有更近距離的接觸。
這次的咖啡雖然少了驚艷，但還是一樣好喝。
而那份羊乳酪蘋果沙拉也非常的清新爽口，
加上那香脆的核桃，更豐富了沙拉的口感。
下次馬少來探訪我時，我要帶他來這里喝咖啡。