Dutch Radjahs Coffee
A micro-roastery in downtown Paramaribo brewing Suriname's own beans, one small batch at a time
Why Go
Tucked into a modest storefront on Alberga Straat, this Dutch-Surinamese micro-roastery is the kind of place where the person pulling your espresso probably roasted the beans that morning. Founded by a family with feet in both Amsterdam and Paramaribo, Dutch Radjahs treats coffee the way a wine maker treats grapes ΓÇö obsessing over origin, batch size, and the number of days since the roast. It's a rare thing in the Caribbean: a specialty coffee bar that actually sources, roasts, and pours its own product, including beans from Katwijk, the last surviving coffee plantation in Suriname.
The Experience
Step inside and the room smells like it should — sweet, toasty, faintly caramelised — because roasting happens right here. It's a small, casual space rather than a plush café: think roastery-with-a-counter, a few seats, and staff who are visibly proud of what they're pouring. Locals drift in for takeaway bags of freshly roasted beans (packaging stamped with a roast date, never an expiry — a quiet flex among coffee people), while visitors linger over a flat white and end up in conversation about single origins, drying methods, and how Surinamese coffee culture is quietly rebuilding after centuries of decline. It feels less like a tourist stop and more like being let in on a small, well-kept secret in the city centre.
What to Try
Order the Katwijk single origin if it's on ΓÇö coffee grown, harvested, and roasted entirely within Suriname is genuinely rare, and this is one of the only places you can taste it at source. For espresso drinkers, ask what was roasted most recently and let them steer you. Take home a bag with the roast date on it; it makes a far better souvenir than a fridge magnet, and it's light enough to survive the flight.
Insider Tip
Freshness is the whole point here, so don't buy beans on day one of your trip and let them rattle around your suitcase for two weeks ΓÇö grab a bag on the way to the airport instead. And if you want to actually chat about the coffee (rather than just grab-and-go), come mid-morning on a weekday when the counter is quieter; the team genuinely enjoys nerding out about roast profiles with anyone curious enough to ask.
The Practical Stuff
Alberga Straat 21, in Paramaribo's historic centre ΓÇö walkable from most downtown hotels and an easy detour after a morning wander through the UNESCO wooden-architecture district. Phone +597 880-2834 or +597 779 7012 to confirm current hours, as opening times vary and the shop can close for private roasting sessions. Cash in SRD is safest; card acceptance is inconsistent in small Paramaribo businesses. No reservations needed ΓÇö it's a walk-in coffee bar, not a sit-down restaurant.
Pair It With
- 101 Suites Guide — A short walk away in the city centre ΓÇö perfect if you're staying here and want a proper coffee to start the day before exploring Paramaribo's historic core.
- Aanansi ATV Tours Guide — Fuel up on a serious espresso and grab a bag of beans for the road before heading out on a full-day tour into Suriname's interior.
- 4x4xJankie Guide — Pick up your rental and swing by for a takeaway flat white and roasted beans to bring along on a multi-day self-drive through the country.