During our latest visit to Rotterdam, we had the chance to step inside Europe’s respected specialty coffee roasteries—Manhattan Coffee Roasters. Co-founded by award-winning coffee professionals Esther Maasdam and Ben Morrow, this roastery is much more than a production space—it’s a testament to experience, innovation and a global vision for exceptional coffee.
🔴 This video is sponsored by Typhoon Roasters – a roasting machine manufacturer based in the Czech Republic. Learn more about their fluid bed roasting machines.
From Competition Stages to Roastery Floors
Founded in 2017, Manhattan Coffee Roasters was born from the deep industry roots of Esther and Ben, both of whom earned their reputations on the international barista competition scene. Their aim from the beginning was clear: build a brand that communicates quality and credibility from the start—without needing to explain who they are or why it matters.
Their roasting operation started in a much smaller facility, but by 2023, they moved to a nearly 1,000-square-meter space. It includes a vast production floor, quality control lab, training rooms, and even dedicated space for collaborative projects.
A Factory with Flair
Esther affectionately calls it a “factory”—a practical, grounded view of a roastery that’s often romanticized. At the heart of production is their striking pink Typhoon roaster, a fluid bed machine that replaced their original Probat L12. The shift from gas to a fully electric system represents both a technological and environmental upgrade.
“Electricity gives us a cleaner roast and a cleaner conscience,” Esther explains. The Typhoon’s convective roasting allows for consistent results with a remarkably clean flavour profile. Plus, its energy efficiency lowers operational costs significantly—a win-win for sustainability and quality.
Precision in Every Batch
Behind every roast is Denys, the head roaster and a mechanical engineer by trade. Together with Ben, who focuses on sourcing and profiling, they’ve created a systematic approach to production. Each coffee has a unique, pre-tested profile that can be activated with the touch of a button—allowing the team to execute flawless roasts with consistency.
We even got the chance to roast a batch ourselves—just by pressing the iconic green button.
Quality Control: From Water to Sample Cuppings
In the adjacent QC lab, we saw how Manhattan ensures every coffee meets their standards. With Rotterdam’s water quality fluctuating due to weather, they build their own water profiles to maintain consistency. The cupping room is busy, especially with new coffees launching every two weeks.
“We cut through a lot of coffees to pick the right ones,” Esther told us, pointing to rows of sample jars and notes.
Sorting, Packing & Scaling Smartly
After roasting, coffees move through quality sorting via a colour sorter that removes underdeveloped or defective beans. From there, the coffee is weighed, bagged and sealed with custom-printed belly bands—produced entirely in-house for agility and branding control.
This lean and efficient setup allows Manhattan to roast, pack, and ship daily—whether it’s a small retail order or a full pallet for B2B clients.
Categorising Coffee for Clarity
One of Manhattan’s unique contributions is how they present their coffees to customers. Recognising the confusion consumers face when it comes to pricing and quality, they’ve introduced a category-based system: Specialty, Rare, Exceptional, Competition, and World Class.
This helps customers align expectations with budgets, and aids the Manhattan team in sourcing coffees that fit their curated offering.
A Transatlantic Collaboration with Onyx Coffee Lab
In one corner of the roastery is something special—Onyx Coffee Lab’s European production corner. The two brands have collaborated to bring Onyx’s iconic coffees to European customers, with Manhattan hosting the operations. Onyx handles sourcing and QC, and Manhattan roasts to Onyx’s specific profiles.
“It was either build something new or find a partner who shares the vision. We had the space and the same approach to quality, so it was a perfect match,” Esther explains.
Looking Ahead
Manhattan Coffee Roasters continues to grow, without compromising on values or quality. Their new space gives them room to expand, collaborate, and innovate further. With sustainability, precision, and a strong sense of purpose, they are well-positioned to remain a cornerstone of Europe’s specialty coffee movement.
