Archives for posts with tag: bagels & beans

Bagels & Beans, Amsterdam (Koningsplein)

28.04.2011 //
0

I am slowly developing a theory, where all outlets of Bagels & Beans within Amsterdam’s city limits provide a rather different quality in contrast to shops elsewhere. Although it’s been high-ranking in various tests with some branches, I get served a really, really bitter, over-extracted espresso machiatto with too much milk (which, in this case, helped partly mask the terrible flavours) and foam of the kind which resembles the surface of the moon. Luckily, the lack of wifi, as opposed to free wifi in other stores, toilets for which you have to pay, as opposed to other stores offering free toilets and unfriendly staff are all in line with the ‘quality’ of coffee. Just stick with the books of Selexyz.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags , , ,
Categories espresso

Bagels & Beans, Almere

25.04.2011 //
0

On the square, which is in plenty supply of Asian restaurants, Bagels & Beans was the first place I dropped by more every now and then. After my brother and parents had helped me move, I found it the perfect place to regain strength with coffee and a bagel. Or like today, so that I can make use of their free wifi while enjoying a cup of coffee.

The cappuccinos have always been rather good, with a very rich and nearly creamy foam and a nice and powerful shot of espresso. In my experience, staff here wants to produce constant quality, something which not all outlets of this chain are able to do. Minor annoyance was the wifi being terribly slow.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags , , , ,
Categories espresso

Bagels & Beans, Amsterdam (Kinkerstraat)

21.01.2011 //
2

This store no longer exists as ‘Bagels & Beans’. The owner of this particular branch failed to comply with the chain’s hygienic standards and got kicked out. Thanks to Rav for pointing this out in the comments.

Compared to their store just a stone’s throw away at Raadhuisstraat, this is a delight. Strong espresso flavors, but sadly hidden under a miles-high layer of milk foam, which, to make matters worse, is topped with a thick layer of cacao powder, right under where your nose is while drinking, making the scent unescapable. The advantage of the mountain of milk foam, however, is that you can scoop it right off along with the cacao, leaving a fine cappuccino. The ‘self-improved’ cappuccino is where the 2-cup rating is based on.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags , , , ,
Categories espresso

Bagels & Beans, Amsterdam (Raadhuisstraat)

17.01.2011 //
1

Bagels & Beans usually has high standards for their espresso beverages, resulting in high rankings and even a winning position in the yearly national Algemeen Dagblad coffee tests. This branch certainly does not live up to these expectations. The foam was full of bubbles and cold, and the espresso watery, thereby disappearing in the milk with a non-pleasant after-taste. To mark something positive: although they did ‘decorate’ the cappuccino with cacao sprinkled over it, the amount of cacao was very limited.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags , , ,
Categories espresso

Bagels & Beans, Hilversum

03.04.2010 //
1

The interior design with various small floors, each half a level higher, this venue allows one to find several corners to sit down quietly with someone else, while still allowing a lot of people to find a seat simultaneously. For Bagels & Beans, this place is far from the worst I’ve came across, but neither is it the best. The cappuccino was okay all in all, but the fact that the milk was steamed slightly too hot, was a shame. The taste wasn’t affected too much, though, which makes a 2-star rating seem fair.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags , , , ,
Categories espresso