At the foot of a blast furnace in Belval, Dalmat Coffee House has quickly gained a reputation as a must-visit address. Today, the steam from the former steelworks has been replaced by the sweet smell of Arabica coffee beans.
Dalmat Coffee House is the story of two friends who met at hotel management school in Metz. Marie-Lorraine Maurière and Hélène Fauvet spent their final internship working together in a Croatian hotel and restaurant on Koločep, a “squirrel-shaped” island on the Dalmatian coast. It was here that the two friends made a pact: to one day start their own business together.
After graduating, they went their separate ways, gaining experience in France and, for Marie-Lorraine, the UK. When Marie-Lorraine went back to school to qualify to train service staff, Hélène was on maternity leave in Luxembourg: It was the perfect time to launch their project.
Plenty of scope
A year and a half of hard work later, and the friends finally opened their small business in Belval on 7 October 2019: Dalmat Coffee House with, of course, in honour of their pact, a squirrel as its mascot. “Opening a coffee house was an obvious choice for us, because it gives us a lot more scope than a conventional restaurant would. We can regularly change the menu as we see fit. Besides, I’m a trained barista.”
Dalmat Coffee House is located in Blast Furnace B in Beval. Look up through the ceiling windows and you’ll catch a glimpse of the imposing tower. As you’d imagine, the decor is industrial, with cable reels salvaged from Belval’s construction sites serving as tables, and wooden railway sleepers finding new life in the café’s counter, while metal cabinets, an authentic pouring spout, steel structures and exposed stonework catch the eye. Local established and budding artists are invited to exhibit their work on the walls. Upstairs, a reading and play area is continually stocked with new books, toys and games by Dalmat Coffee House regulars. The vibe is friendly, with a real community feel. “We’re right next to the university, so we get a lot of students coming in. But we’re also popular with people working in the banks and IT companies in the area. On Saturdays, we see a lot of families,” adds the café partner.
A seasonal menu
“We always have our classic coffee on the menu, which we get from our main roastery, Mokxa, in Strasbourg. It’s a partner we can trust, because it is committed to working with fairtrade producers. Our coffee of the month comes from Luxembourg company Feierboun in Bascharage. We also have our Dalmat coffee range, which we produce together with Feierboun. And decaf coffee, too.” So, a great selection of quality coffee specialities to satisfy all coffee lovers. And for tea drinkers, the café offers “three black teas, four herbal teas, three green teas and one white tea. And even a bubble tea!”
“We also offer a range of seasonal beverages. This winter, we’ll have Christmas gingerbread lattes and spiced hot chocolate on the menu – both of which will go down well with one of our delicious cinnamon rolls!” continues Marie-Lorraine. That’s right – the café also serves a wide range of homemade pastries and other sweet treats, as well as an ever-changing menu of sandwiches, wraps, bagels, ciabattas, soups and quiches, some of which gluten-free and some vegan. With so much to choose from, you’ll be hard pushed to decide! But don’t worry: Loïc and Amandine will be happy to advise you at the counter!
More information: www.dalmat-coffee-house.business.site