So, so very delightful!! I dropped by Keen on a weekday morning after seeing it on a list of must-try coffee shops in Utrecht, and I was incredibly impressed! The space is simple and elegant, with modern furniture, a lovely display of their various coffee beans, and tons of natural lighting steaming in through the open door and giant windows. The shop is run by one guy, who is remarkably friendly and on top of his game -- he is the barista, cashier, server...all in one. He greets everyone with a super cheery welcome, walks folks through the menu (which is shockingly complex for a café), and helps them find a seat.
I got their espresso tasting, which is a lovely comparison of two different beans (default is their two house beans, but you can also get a little experimental) and their caramel cruffin, per his recommendation. I kept it simple with the two house blends, and they were outstanding; they were both quite bright, which I usually don't love, but these particular beans were phenomenal. The Hambela beans were especially bright and fruity, with a strong raspberry flavor. I couldn't taste the oolong or milk chocolate as strongly, but it was fantastic. My favorite was the Los Coronados, though, which was quite chocolatey and nutty, with a slight pop of citrus. The cruffin was a lovely little treat to balance out the bitterness and acidity of the espresso, but it wasn't overly sweet, which was much appreciated. read more