CAFE VELVET

Brussels’ specialty coffee scene has come a long way. One of the latest entries is Cafe Velvet in Saint-Catherine, a little piece of Colombia on Belgian soil. The project of Cafe Velvet is a product of love. After working as a lawyer for many years, Ilse Geykens was fascinated by Colombian coffee during a business trip in 2013 and decided to open a cafe in Medellin. Two years later a second branch followed, this time in her home country.

Aside from the great location (some of my absolute favourite spots in Brussels, like Noordzee, Charli, Umamido, Farm and Gaston are nearby), the place itself has a very calm vibe. Soft music in the background, pretty furniture made by local designers, free wifi and a little terrace that gets plenty of sunshine. As you would expect, Cafe Velvet serves single origin coffee from Colombia and I found interesting that they experiment with different wash and drying techniques as well as roasting profiles. I was also happy to meet some of the staff from the Medellin branch who had come to work in Brussels for a few months – I can only imagine how great the experience must be for both the Belgian and Colombian baristas who get to experience both countries.

My cappuccino was really good and now I’m looking forward to trying the snacks and pastries at Cafe Velvet. I had a chat with the chef on my visit and he seemed enthusiastic to try lots of new yummy things! It’s a good thing that the cafe is also open on Sundays as Sainte-Catherine is one of my favourite areas in Brussels on the weekend. 

I liked Cafe Velvet and I suggest you try it too. I would love to know whether you think it should make it in my “Best Coffee Spots in Brussels” list – leave a comment or drop me a line!

INFO

Address: Quai au Bois à Brûler 27, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Telephone: +32 2 2178091

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*UPDATE: Unfortunately, Cafe Velvet is now closed.*