In conversation with Steven Tacq from Ketelbinkie – world coffee, Rotterdam style

26-11-2025

Last Monday I was in Rotterdam, visiting someone who has been in the coffee business for 22 years: Steven Tacq, owner of Ketelbinkie. A roastery with a soul, a story, and a solid dose of Rotterdam down-to-earth attitude.

We talked about passion, entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, rising coffee prices and, above all, about the unique life of a coffee maker who roasts his world coffee literally underneath the runway of Rotterdam Airport.

World coffee with Rotterdam character

Ketelbinkie roasts its coffee on a Probat roaster every Tuesday. No endless list of blends or limited editions: just two blends, regular and special.

Both are designed to shine as espresso as well as in milk-based drinks. Where the regular blend is approachable, the special blend is just a bit bolder, fuller and more powerful.

Not many variations, but a very clear philosophy: “It simply has to be top quality.”

One company, four vintage buses and something is always broken

Ketelbinkie is not just a roastery, but also a festival company, a Rotterdam coffee spot, and a travelling circus of baristas and buses.

Steven talks about it with a mix of pride and self-mockery:

“We have four vintage buses. They’re fantastic to take to festivals… but there’s either just something broken, or it’s about to break.”

At festivals, Ketelbinkie operates with more than 35 part-time baristas and a core crew of five employees. Hard work, soaking up the atmosphere, making coffee, making even more coffee… and if you’re lucky, catching a concert at the end of the day.

There is also a coffee truck permanently parked on Willemsplein, right in the centre of Rotterdam. The energy, the buzz, the city – it all fits perfectly with the Ketelbinkie vibe.

The roastery under the runway

For the past year and a half, Ketelbinkie has finally been “at home”: a permanent location directly beneath the runway of Rotterdam Airport.

“When a plane flies over, everything shakes.”

Before that, they were nomads, constantly changing locations. And that was sometimes challenging:

“It’s hard to build a vibe when you don’t have a place where people can actually find you.”

Now that vibe is literally in the air. Surfboards on the wall, a DJ set with two turntables, an industrial feel, barista energy, and of course the smell of freshly roasted coffee lingering in the space.

Only the best is good enough

Steven walks past one of the machines and taps it affectionately.

A Kees van der Westen. The Rolls-Royce of espresso machines.

“Everything just has to be right. Every detail. Especially the equipment.”

And you can see that everywhere: in the equipment, the roasting, the service and the consistency.

On coffee prices and opportunities

Of course we also talk about rising coffee prices. A reality for everyone in the supply chain.

But Steven remains remarkably calm:

“Yes, it’s challenging. But we’re not panicking. Sometimes you just have to slowly increase your prices. For artisanal, freshly roasted coffee it’s actually more of an opportunity than a threat.”

Because, and he’s right, the price difference between real freshly roasted specialty coffee and supermarket beans has never been this small.

“People are increasingly realising that quality is what makes the difference.”

The drive behind Ketelbinkie

After 22 years in coffee, you either become cynical or even more passionate. Steven clearly falls into the second category.

Ketelbinkie is more than a roastery. It’s a community, a festival brigade, a place full of rhythm, aromas and sound, with a very clear mission:

To serve the best coffee, every single day. World coffee, Rotterdam style...

Want to taste the blends for yourself?
Discover Ketelbinkie’s coffees here.