10 Years of Sylt Coffee Roastery

The Sylt coffee roastery in Rantum is turning 10!

A very special favorite spot has emerged in Rantum, nestled between roastery, butter cake and views of the Wadden Sea.

Freshly roasted and processed with joy — © Peter Bender | Sylt Marketing

The seats in the [location] fill up quickly in the morning, shortly after opening. sun-yellow hall At Rantum harbor. The air smells of freshly roasted coffee, Grandma's butter cake, and a sense of ease. While outside, the view over the Rantum Basin Wandering around, sitting inside and on the sheltered terrace, it's no longer just curious guests who are present. Many of them have been coming here for years, some even since day one. Meanwhile, the Coffee Roastery Sylt So it's no longer an unknown insider tip, but an established island institution with heart.

That this special place is somewhat hidden in the northern part of the Port The location, now a natural part of the concept and a definite advantage, might seem risky given its secluded setting, but ultimately it makes perfect sense. The immediate proximity to the idyllic nature reserve is a boon for the soul and nervous system, and starting the day here is more than just a good idea. Those who find their way here usually return. Many appreciate the high quality of the coffee and enjoy browsing the neighboring shop. Creative and vintage shop Hafen 9 Or simply enjoy the peace and quiet and the feeling of being able to escape the pace of everyday life for a moment. This combination is pure gold in today's fast-paced world. Here, genuine craftsmanship meets Sylt's natural beauty – the pure luxury of life.

Ten years ago Christian and Nicol Appel Here in Rantum, they realized their dream. Back then, they left their lives in Cologne behind and went "all in" on Sylt. They apparently never doubted that the concept would work. "We had the feeling from day one that it would work," recalls Christian Appel. "After six weeks, we'd already hired our first part-time employee." While Christian now shuttles between the roaster, the phone, and the office, this Thursday morning he's eagerly awaiting his sacks of coffee. "The delivery has never arrived this late in ten years," he says, glancing repeatedly towards the farmyard. Meanwhile, his cousin stops by. Okay He comes in and asks for an outdoor power outlet. He's the landlord of this hall on Rantum's harbor street, a close friend of the family, and the namesake of the "Okke" espresso, a blend of beans from Guatemala and Indonesia with a chocolatey aroma. "That Okke offered us this location was incredibly lucky."

A small coffee school would be my dream.

Christian Appel

Tradition, team spirit and genuine taste

Coffee enjoyment meets sweetness – a serving moment at the Sylt coffee roastery — © Peter Bender | Sylt Marketing

That Christian would one day become a coffee roaster was secretly apparent from an early age. His mother, Elke, ran a guesthouse in Westerland at the time, and coffee always played an important role there, which had a lasting impact on him. Even though much has changed in the past ten years and the team has grown from two to twelve people, this family spirit This is still noticeable here. Nicol Appel primarily takes care of organization and back office work, as well as her own business.Kobido Sylt“, which revolves around the topic of Japanese facial massages. Christian is now a professional roaster in the mornings, and later he also has desk work to do. Weekends are family time. His two sons, now 16 and 18 years old, also help out. “I try to get them involved every now and then, to introduce them to the art of barista work, because this profession is known and popular all over the world, from Sylt to Australia,” says Christian.

Despite the growth and the steadily expanding product range in Shop From their own sustainable wooden coffee capsules to coffee liqueur and coffee oil, much has been deliberately kept small. Everything is still baked from scratch in their own home and small in-house bakery. No premixes, no shortcuts. Butter cake, crumb cake, rum balls, or cream puff cake should taste "like Grandma's, that's our standard," says Christian. At the very beginning, they tried other things, but quickly realized: "No, that's not for us." The work with the coffee itself has also become increasingly precise in recent years. His computer is now equipped with the Dutch roasting machine, the heart of the shop. New roasting software makes it possible to roast each variety with its own profile. Temperatures and parameters can be precisely controlled during the roasting process. At the same time, despite all the technology, serving the various coffee creations is still primarily a personal experience. Skilled trades“Just by the sound of the milk frothing, I can tell if someone is frothing correctly,” says Christian, laughing.

The world of aromas in Rantum on Sylt

Perfect espresso moment at the roastery — © Peter Bender | Sylt Marketing

He remains particularly fascinated by the diversity of aromas. Previously, people spoke of 600 to 800 aromas in coffee; today, researchers know of well over 1000. 2.000 flavor nuances“From pomegranate to vanilla to umami, it has it all,” he says. His nose has been honed over the years and could perhaps even rival that of Michelin-starred chef Johannes King. King once visited with his apprentices and effortlessly discerned the natural aromas of the beans, such as almond, nut, and nougat notes. Christian is currently particularly fond of a Kenyan coffee. Not only because of its intense blueberry flavor, but also because of the people behind it. The beans come from small-scale farmers, who also support social projects. Kedovo Organic Farm Supported projects include school kitchens and educational programs for women and children.

The anniversary was initially celebrated in a rather understated, Nordic manner. A team dinner was held, without much fuss, but with gratitude for what had been achieved. However, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate. First and foremost, the recently approved Building permit for the upper floorThe space is to be renovated so that barista courses can be offered in the future. "A small coffee school would be my dream. Plus, there would be twenty seats with a fantastic view over the Rantum Basin," says Christian happily. Then the delayed coffee delivery finally rolls into the courtyard. Sacks are carried in, dishes clatter somewhere, and the aroma of fresh sheet cake wafts from the bakery into the café. There's not much time to linger on this Thursday. Perhaps that's precisely the secret to the success of the Sylt coffee roastery: that in the past ten years, they've never tried to become bigger, louder, or faster. Instead, a place has emerged at the Rantum harbor that has remained as it was conceived from the beginning: family-run, honest, and full of passion for really good coffee.

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