EU brew review

About the roastery

Alf & Bet is a Prague-based roastery operating as part of a broader coffee and bakery concept connected to EMA espresso bars.

The project brings together several elements in one place, including a coffee roastery, espresso bar, and bakery. This setup allows them to produce both coffee and baked goods in-house and serve them directly through their cafés.

The people behind Alf & Bet are also involved in other established Prague venues such as EMA espresso bar and Café Lounge, which have been part of the local specialty coffee scene for several years. The roastery itself represents a continuation of that development, moving from serving coffee to roasting it as well.

Their roasting operation is based in Prague, with a newer setup located in the Holešovice area. The focus appears to be on sourcing and roasting coffees for both their own cafés and retail customers.

Overall, Alf & Bet functions as a vertically integrated operation, covering sourcing, roasting, and serving coffee within the same system.

Webshop selection

The webshop offers a relatively broad range of coffees, including both single origins and blends.

Coffees are available in standard formats with options for whole bean or different grind sizes, making them accessible for various brewing methods. The selection appears to rotate, suggesting a seasonal approach rather than a fixed lineup.

In addition to coffee, the webshop includes a selection of brewing equipment and accessories. This covers common items such as drippers, filters, scales, and other preparation tools.

Overall, the offering is structured to cover both coffee and basic equipment needs, without being overly large or complex.

Order & delivery

Ordering was straightforward. I went with the roaster’s choice, which felt like the easiest way to get a representative sample without overthinking it.

The webshop itself is easy enough to navigate, with a clear division between espresso and filter coffees, which I always appreciate. It removes a bit of guesswork, especially if you’re not in the mood to decode tasting notes.

There are also the small tube sets, which are clearly designed as gifts. They look good and are a fun idea, although probably a bit expensive if you’re just buying for yourself.

Of course, there are also the obligatory photos of coffee farmers. It wouldn’t be a specialty coffee webshop without them.

Order tracking worked well, communication was clear, and delivery was quick – about 6 days to Croatia, which is decent for international delivery. Packaging was nicely done, with a bit of personality to it.

Roasting dates were all about 5-10 days before this delivery, which is optimal in my experience.

And yes, stickers were included. Always a good sign.

Coffee

Ethiopia Beshasha washed

Honey, floral, with a nice, slightly muted sweetness. The acidity is very pleasant, nothing aggressive, just enough to keep things interesting. Medium body, very balanced overall.

This one worked really well across the board. As an espresso it was clean and easy to drink, and it also held up nicely in milk drinks, where the sweetness came through more.

Probably the most “complete” cup of the three.

Ethiopia Kabira natural

Compared to Beshasha, this one is fuller and sweeter, with a more pronounced body. Still quite floral, but in a slightly heavier, more rounded way.

Acidity feels a bit toned down here, which makes it an easier drink, but also a bit less exciting.

Good coffee, no complaints, but I found myself reaching for the other Ethiopia more often.

Costa Rica El Alto aerobic natural

This one stands out mostly because of the acidity. It’s brighter and a bit more interesting in that regard, while still keeping a solid body and sweetness.

Maybe not as immediately distinctive as the Ethiopians, but still a very good all-rounder.

I liked this one the most in the moka pot, where that acidity translated really nicely into a more punchy cup.

Extra: J’s Sticker review

J did like the stickers. They’re colorful, and she immediately insisted on using them.

But then we ran into a problem. They’re really hard to peel, especially for a toddler. So the enthusiasm didn’t last very long.

Of course, the idea is probably not for kids to handle them on their own. Still, if anyone at Alf & Bet is reading this: you might want to step up your sticker game.

Final thoughts

Overall, this was a very solid experience.

Everything worked as expected. Ordering was easy, delivery was reliable, roasting was fresh, and the coffees themselves were consistently good. Nothing felt rushed or careless.

The coffees didn’t go into the “extremely distinctive” territory, but they were all enjoyable and easy to drink. Well-balanced, approachable, and reliable across different brewing methods.

This feels like a roastery that knows what it’s doing and focuses on consistency rather than trying to stand out with something wild.

I’d order again without hesitation.