LOT61 Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Amsterdam

When the bar is in hell, Lot61 holds the door open

I’ve lived in Amsterdam for five years now, so I’ve come to accept that service in this city can be… indifferent. But Lot61 today truly set a new benchmark for apathy.

I walked in on an autumnal Sunday, just hoping for a latte on my work break. The woman behind the counter met me not with a greeting, but with what I can only describe as pure disdain. No “hello,” no “what can I get you,” just a silent, hostile stare that made me wonder if I was tripping out and accidentally walked into her bedroom instead of a café.

I even laughed a little out of discomfort, an awkward human response, my ego wanting to lash out but I remembered we are all human, and kept quiet. She responded with a stink eye. The entire interaction was so contemptuous it bordered on surreal. I left feeling like I’d somehow offended someone simply by existing.

Normally, I don’t write reviews. I prefer giving feedback in person, I know people have off days, and I believe in giving them the chance to correct in real time. But in this case, basic communication wasn’t just missing; it was actively refused.

If Lot61 wants to brand itself as too cool to care, well congratulations mission accomplished. But for anyone expecting even a hint of warmth or professionalism, be warned: the coffee might be hot, but the welcome...

Last Sunday, I stopped by your location on Kinkerstraat, Amsterdam, with a friend to try your coffee. The long queue outside made us think it would be worth the wait.

When we reached the counter, we ordered a coffee and a cappuccino to go. We noticed the total didn't match the prices displayed, so we kindly asked for clarification.

Unfortunately, the response from the staff was extremely unprofessional. There were two young women and a man behind the counter. One of the women in particular, who said she was Greek, spoke to us in an overly familiar and inappropriate tone, with exaggerated gestures. She told us that it's been normal for 15 years to charge 10 cents extra for take-away cups, and that she had given us a large cappuccino “as a favour.” She added that we could get our money back if we wanted — but we weren’t asking for a refund, just a clear explanation of the price difference.

Our experience left us disappointed and uncomfortable. A piece of advice: please train your staff in proper customer service. The team we interacted with was genuinely rude.

Also — and we say this as Italians — the coffee was awful. We ended up throwing it away.

We won’t be...

This is a perfect example of how you can stand out in a market full of coffee roaster wannabes. Logistically they made a superb use of the limited space: 4 areas (a ground floor entry space, a lower part with the machinery , a private lab and a restroom, which is huge if you consider the standard in Amsterdam). The view you get of the lower part from the top is so cool (especially when coffee beans are being roasted). The staff always, and I stress 'always', serve you with a smile. The music played at the radio is great. Got some some pretty cool new artist names just by Shazaaming while waiting for my coffee.

Ah yes, him. The coffee. The secret ingredient of this successful formula: its slightly bitter taste is so bitterly good that if for me was a pleasant surprise, for my bf instead it was like a Cupid arrow straight in the heart: he went from never having drunk coffee in his whole life to having a daily morning sacred ritual. At Lot Sixty...