koffieTcacao magazine is always on the lookout for the hottest coffee, tea and cocoa spots. Today we focus on: The Dry Coppen, Schrijnemakers 11, Leuven (Belgium).

Enjoying coffee while reading a good book. This is, for many of us, the perfect combination. This combination is possible in The Dry Coppen.

A bit of history

Half bookstore, half coffee bar. An ideal place for the bookworms amongst us who also enjoy a good cup of coffee.

The place is originally named after an eighteenth-century building in the Schrijnemakers Street and at one point in time the building was part of the Erasmus Collegium Trilingue.

As is indicated by the name the curriculum consists of only three languages i.e. Latin, Greek and Hebrew. The name, The Dry Coppen, still shines beautifully on the front in gold letters, next to the three golden angels.

Books, books, books

Entering the coffee bar you can smell the coffee and see the impressive amount of books stacked in numerous bookcases. In total a little over 4,000 titles, from literature to travel guides, to cooking books and poetry. The comfortable seats invite you to prolong your stay, relax and enter the word of imagination.

The local bakery provides a selection of bagels and pastries, but, best of all, is of course a good book while enjoying your cup of coffee.

Owner Ed Worms states: “During one of our trips the idea popped into my head. We enjoyed places where we could both read and drink a cup of coffee. This was something we didn’t have in Belgium. Nowadays you see more and more shops like ours.”

Machine: Faema Smart
Grinder: Faema
Coffee: Blanche Dael , Café 1878
Tea: Blanche Dael
Chocolate: Callebaut
Pie / cake: Local bakery
Also on the menu: Bagels
Milk: Inex
Soy: Alpro

Text: Charlotte Leemans
Photography: Katelijne Kevelaers
Spotted by koffieTcacao magazine