Caffenation has been roasting and serving coffee in Antwerp since 2003, as the very first specialty coffee bar in Belgium by its own account. Robrecht Berghmans started the company that year, and a friend, the graphic designer Tony, came up with the name, inspired by Cuban street art: “Caffè” for the Italian coffee that set the standard at the time, “Nation” for a place where it all happens. The early slogan “Caffè for the People” is back in use, and the team of roasters, baristas and bakers signs off with “One Drug, One Nation.”

The range runs from two everyday coffees, Roast ED in a yellow bag and Brazil IAN in turquoise, to blends in green, pink, red, orange and grey bags and a Rare Coffee Series for lots with something unusual about them. Caffenation shares its in-house numbers in an annual transparency report. Its green coffee buyer, Mathias, runs a direct trade programme, which began with a decaf bought through the exporter Azahar in Colombia; most of its coffees are already bought above Fair Trade prices.

The roastery, the offices and a bar share one address at PAKT in Antwerp. The other bars are CITY, BLUE, a bar and bakery, and KOCO, a plant-based bar inside the Eat Dust denim store. A new flagship bar opened in 2026, with a large upstairs room for laptop work with extra outlets and free Wi-Fi, where guests are asked to buy a drink every hour. It serves hot and iced filter coffee and iced matcha on tap, batch brew from a 3-TEMP brewer, espresso from a La Marzocco Strada X customised at the Florence factory, and iced lattes with cold-frothed cow’s and oat milk. Water is free at every Caffenation bar.

Partner cafés

Coffee on the shelf

Photograph: Caffenation