Try Texelse Koffie: Coffee with island character
If you on Texel When you're out and about, it's not just the dunes, sheep, and villages that are worth seeing. Even a coffee break offers a glimpse of the island. In Den Burg, you'll find cafés, small shops, and products that are perfect for a relaxing day on Texel. Texel coffee is one of them.
This doesn't just refer to coffee from the island. It often also refers to a warm coffee specialty with Juttertje, a Texel herbal bitter, brown sugar, and whipped cream. This isn't so much for a quick espresso. It's more of a drink for a cool afternoon, after a walk on the beach, or as the perfect ending to a leisurely island meal.
For me, Texel coffee isn't one of the island's major attractions. It's more of a small, enjoyable observation. It's precisely these kinds of details that make Texel interesting if you want to experience the island more consciously, rather than just ticking off beaches.
What is Texelse Koffie?
Texelse Koffie combines coffee with a typical island product. Juttertje is a herbal bitter liqueur associated with the tradition of beachcombers on Texel. Those who braved wind and weather on the beach would warm up at home with a small glass of it. Today, you'll primarily find Juttertje as a regional souvenir, digestif, or ingredient in drinks.
In Texelse Koffie, herbal bitters are combined with hot coffee, brown sugar, and cream. The result is somewhat reminiscent of Irish coffee, but the herbal bitters give it a different character. The sweetness, the cream, and the herbal notes make it more of a dessert in a glass than a typical afternoon coffee.
If you avoid alcohol or are traveling with children, Texel coffee is obviously not the right choice. In that case, a visit to a coffee bar or bakery in Den Burg is a better option, where you can try island coffee even without a Juttertje (a small, traditional coffee drink).
Recipe for Texelse Koffie
You can also prepare Texelse Koffie at home if you have Juttertje or a similar herbal bitters on hand. A strong coffee that isn't too bitter works best.
Ingredients for one glass
- 100 ml hot coffee
- 30 ml Juttertje or another herbal bitters
- 1–2 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp lightly whipped cream
Preparation
- Brew a strong coffee and pour it into a heat-resistant glass.
- Add the brown sugar and stir it in.
- Add the Juttertje.
- Finally, place the lightly whipped cream on top.
The coffee should be hot, but no longer boiling vigorously. This keeps the flavor smoother. I prefer coffee from a French press because it has enough body and goes well with cream and herbal bitters.
Where you can drink coffee on Texel
Den Burg is a great place for a coffee break. The island's main town is perfect for a stroll anyway, as you'll find shops, cafes, narrow streets, and restaurants all close together. If you want to explore Texel's culinary scene, Den Burg makes a great stop.
One café I would like to mention is Lokaal 16 Located on Gravenstraat, it's situated in one of the smaller streets in the center of Den Burg. This combination of café, breakfast spot, and lunch place is perfect for a more relaxed day on the island, especially if you're looking for more than just a quick coffee and want to take a break.
The location is also convenient. From here you can continue your walk through Den Burg, visit small shops, or continue your excursion with others. Sights on Texel .
Texelse Branding: Coffee from Den Burg
If you want to take coffee from Texel with you, it's worth taking a look at Texel BrandingThe roastery is located in Den Burg and combines a coffee roastery, coffee bar, and bakery. This means you can not only buy coffee there, but also see how much such small businesses contribute to the island's culinary delights.
Texelse Branding roasts coffee on the island. The interesting question isn't so much whether the beans come from Texel. Of course they don't. What's more interesting is that the processing, selection, and roasting all take place locally. This makes coffee a Texel product in a broader sense: not because of where it's grown, but because of the craftsmanship on the island.
Coffee from Texel makes a better souvenir than many classic souvenirs. It's practical, it's consumed, and it serves as a reminder of a specific moment from the trip.
Who would benefit from Texelse Koffie?
Texel coffee is especially worthwhile if you're experiencing Texel as a culinary journey. Then it's not just about beaches, dunes, and lighthouses, but also about taking short breaks, enjoying regional products, and finding places where you can experience the island at a slower pace.
Texelse Koffie goes particularly well:
- after a walk on the beach, when it's cool outside
- during a stroll through the castle
- as the conclusion of a meal on the island
- as a small souvenir theme for home
- when you try regional drinks
It's less suitable if you don't drink alcohol or are just looking for a quick coffee. In that case, a regular coffee from a Texel roastery is the better choice.
Texel coffee and the island's gourmet side
At first glance, Texel often looks like a classic North Sea island: beach, dunes, sheep, cycle paths, and holiday homes. Only upon closer inspection does it become clear how many regional products belong to the island. These include sheep's cheese, beer, lamb, Juttertje (a type of buttered fried dough), and, of course, coffee, which is roasted on Texel.
That's precisely why Texelse Koffie fits so well into a culinary journey around the island. It doesn't tell the whole story of Texel, but it shows how the island has developed its own unique travel experience from small-scale products, craftsmanship, and tradition.
You can find more information in our Texel Tips for connoisseursIt's not just about individual specialties, but about how you can experience Texel's culinary scene.
More Texel tips
- Experience Texel: How to plan your holiday on the island
- Texel: Sights and activities on the North Sea
- Texel Tips for connoisseurs
- Texel holiday home: what you should pay attention to regarding location and travel style
Source: Our own research on Texel and current information from Texelse Branding, Lokaal 16 and Juttertje. However, our opinion remains our own.
Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos © Copyright Unsplash
Video © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline