Amsterdam City Card

Screaming Beans Amsterdam (REVIEW 2026) - Worth It??

Screaming Beans Amsterdam is a specialty coffee brand with several central cafes, and it will most likely appeal to visitors who want good coffee, a breakfast or lunch stop, and a place that feels easy to drop into while exploring the city. The clearest takeaway from the available research is that it combines a strong coffee identity with very different cafe settings, so the experience can vary a bit by location.

About Screaming Beans Amsterdam

Screaming Beans is an Amsterdam-based specialty coffee brand and coffee bar operator. It says it focuses on 100% organic coffee and runs three coffee bars in central Amsterdam, which gives it a more citywide feel than a single one-off cafe. The company also says it was founded by entrepreneurs from the media and creative industry, which helps explain why the brand comes across as polished but still a little independent in style.

The flagship on Runstraat opened in 2018 in De 9 Straatjes, an area that is already popular for browsing, coffee breaks, and canal-side wandering. That location matters because it places the brand right in a recognisable part of Amsterdam, close to the canal belt and lively central streets, while the other branches give it broader reach for everyday coffee stops.

At a glance

Detailed review

The strongest part of the brand is its combination of location and positioning. Three central cafes make it convenient, and the menu positioning is broad enough to cover coffee, breakfast, lunch, and informal meetings. That makes it useful for tourists as well as locals who want a dependable city-center stop rather than a destination cafe that requires a special trip.

The individual locations also seem to have distinct personalities. Runstraat is described as intimate and characterful in the Nine Streets, which usually suits a quick coffee stop or a short pause between shops. Utrechtsestraat has an exposed-brick bar and calm open seating area, which sounds a bit more relaxed. Waterlooplein is the newest of the three, opening in December 2023, and it stands out for generous seating, greenery, and a communal table. That variety is a real plus if you like choosing a cafe by mood rather than just by menu.

From a coffee perspective, the brand’s specialty positioning and organic roast claim will matter most to readers who care about quality and consistency. The available public comments are generally favorable, with mention of helpful barista advice and a strong coffee experience, but there is also a more mixed note that the Runstraat branch can feel lively and better suited to shorter visits than long laptop sessions. That is useful context because it suggests the cafe is strongest as a high-turnover coffee stop, not necessarily as a quiet remote-work base.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Central Amsterdam locations. The cafes are easy to combine with sightseeing, shopping, or a neighborhood stroll, which saves time if you are already in the city center.
• Clear specialty coffee identity. The brand’s coffee-first focus and organic roasting message make it appealing to people who care about bean quality and cafe craft.
• Different room for different moods. The three branches each seem to offer a slightly different atmosphere, so you can choose between intimate, calm, or more spacious seating.

Cons

• Atmosphere can be busy. The flagship has been described as lively, which is good for energy but less ideal if you want a quiet, lingering work session.
• Experience may depend on the branch. The locations are not identical, so the best choice depends on whether you want a quick stop, a calm seat, or more communal space.
• Better for casual use than special planning. It fits naturally into a day out, but it is not the kind of place you usually need to plan around in advance.

Who it suits

This is a strong match for visitors who want a reliable specialty coffee stop in central Amsterdam, especially if they also want breakfast, lunch, or a quick meeting spot. It is also a sensible choice for locals who value convenient city-center cafes and for office customers looking at delivery or B2B coffee supply.

If your priority is a long, quiet laptop session, you may prefer to check the specific branch first and pick carefully. If you want a good cup, an easy location, and a cafe that feels active rather than sleepy, it should fit nicely.

Practical information

Locations and opening hours

• Runstraat 6, 1016 GK Amsterdam: weekdays 08:00-18:00, weekends 09:00-18:00.
• Utrechtsestraat 75: weekdays 07:30-17:00, weekends 09:00-17:00.
• Waterlooplein 129: Monday-Saturday 08:00-18:00, Sunday 09:00-18:00.

The brand is based in Amsterdam, with locations in or near central areas such as De 9 Straatjes, Weteringbuurt, Waterlooplein, and the canal belt, so it is easy to combine with walking routes through the old center.

Practical tips before you go

• Choose the branch by purpose: Runstraat for atmosphere, Utrechtsestraat for a calmer seat, Waterlooplein for more spacious seating.
• Go earlier if you want a smoother coffee stop, especially at the more central locations.
• If you need a place to work for longer, check the mood of the branch first rather than assuming all three feel the same.
• For office coffee, roasting, or broader supply needs, the brand also offers B2B and delivery options.

Where to buy tickets

Not applicable. This is a cafe and coffee brand rather than a ticketed attraction.

Buy Tickets

Comparison with similar Amsterdam coffee spots

If you are comparing it with other Amsterdam specialty coffee names, two useful alternatives are Bocca Coffee and Lot Sixty One Coffee Roasters. Bocca is often the better comparison if you want a highly regarded specialty coffee stop with a similar city visitor appeal. Lot Sixty One is more helpful if you want a roaster-led cafe experience with a strong coffee-led identity. Compared with both, Screaming Beans feels broader and more location-driven, especially because it combines coffee with breakfast, lunch, and multiple central branches.

Back to Black is another fair comparison if you want a well-known Amsterdam cafe chain experience. The useful difference is that Screaming Beans puts more emphasis on central convenience and branch variety, while Back to Black may appeal more to people chasing a classic specialty coffee cafe feel. If you are choosing purely for a tourist day, Screaming Beans may be the easiest fit.

Final verdict

Verdict: 8/10. Screaming Beans Amsterdam looks worth it if you want specialty coffee in a central location with flexible use cases and a few different cafe moods. The score is provisional because the public review picture is mixed and branch-specific, but the overall signal is positive enough to make it an easy recommendation for coffee-first city visitors.

FAQ

Is Screaming Beans Amsterdam good for tourists?

Yes. Its central locations and walkable setting make it an easy stop during a day in Amsterdam, especially if you want coffee between sights.

Which branch is best for a short coffee break?

Runstraat is a good candidate if you want a quick stop in a lively part of De 9 Straatjes. Utrechtsestraat may suit a calmer pause, while Waterlooplein gives you more seating space.

Can I go there for breakfast or lunch?

Yes. The brand positions its cafes for coffee, breakfast, lunch, work, meetings, and longer catch-ups.

Does Screaming Beans only serve coffee?

No. It also offers online coffee sales, roasting, B2B office supply, and office delivery alongside the cafe experience.

Is it better for working or just stopping in?

It is generally better as a stop-in cafe or meeting spot. The livelier branches may not be ideal for a long quiet work session.