Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities, and not just for the bikes. There’s something about being surrounded by water that just makes me feel at home. You ride along the canals, your bicycle bumping over the occasional cobblestones and you can literally feel the pace of life slowing down.

On a recent weekend trip I made it a mission to track down good coffee (as usual). In fact I was so committed to my mission that half an hour after getting off the train I as sitting at local coffee roaster Headfirst drinking a filter coffee. If you’re committed, you’re committed.

For some reason, Amsterdam will always carry the “coffee shop” reputation. In fact when I told friends I had tracked down some really good cafes, they responded with something along the lines of  “oh yeah, you’ve been going to a lot of coffee places, huh?” their comment dripping with irony.

But Amsterdam does in fact have coffee places that aren’t the usual coffee shops that young backpackers have used to define the city, and the culture of craft coffee is definitely brewing (yes, pun intended).

I wrote about Headfirst for Sprudge, but I thought it was worth rounding up a couple of my other favorite ones here, in case there are any readers out there potentially headed to Amsterdam.And while I am busy linking to other articles I’ve written, check out my piece on Hutspot in Amsterdam. If you have a love/hate relationship with concept stores (that serve coffee of course), this is worth a read.

As with any trip, there were several places on my list that I didn’t get to check out (like Espresso Fabriek, Koko and Screaming Beans). But that just means I have to go back for more coffee and bikes.

1. Headfirst Coffee Roasters

Westerstraat 150

It was fitting that I got off the train and immediately tracked down a coffee roaster. And a coffee roaster with a bike in the roasting room at that. At Headfirst they are all about coffee, in fact everything feels like it’s centered around the coffee bar. The decor is minimal yet inviting, and they have fun treats like raw, vegan and gluten-free “bliss balls.” Better yet, there’s locally made, unfiltered bottles of beer being sold in the back from Oedipus Brewing.

2. Lot 61 Coffee Roasters

Kinkerstraat 112 & Overtoom 141

Lot 61 Coffee Roasters is another excellent craft roaster, and it happens to have two locations: one on Kinkerstraat connected with the roastery and the other in a space shared with a bike shop and a barber shop. The cold brew set up at the main location was one of those beautiful glass siphons that takes up almost an entire wall. The result was smooth and full of flavor; just as a good cold brew should be.

3. Coffee Bru

Beukenplein 14-H

Coffee Bru is exactly what a cafe should feel like. Funky, but not forced. A cool place to hang out simply because it’s laid back and low key. And there’s carrot cake; there should always be carrot cake. Not to mention the sandwiches made on freshly baked hearty bread with avocado and feta cheese.

4. Berry

Bilderdijkkade 27

Berry I loved for the atmosphere. A relaxed breakfast is an essential part of a good trip in my opinion, and you’ll get it at Berry, a cozy cafe with a simple, tasty breakfast. Dark dense bread, organic farmer’s cheese and a bright berry smoothie is exactly what the start to a good day looks like. Coffee is locally roasted, and if you need to have that latte made with soy milk, you can.

5. Bakers & Roasters

Eerste Jacob van Campenstraat 54

Run by Kiwis, at Bakers & Roasters the coffee is good and the menu is anglo-inspired, with plenty of homemade cakes and pies. This is more of a hip brunch place than simple coffee shop, so plan on staying and eating. If the weather calls for cold brew, you won’t be disappointed; they make a mean one.

A full roundup of all my favorite food spots in Amsterdam is over on Foodie Underground.