Amsterdam Coffee Bar opens in Holly Berry Square in Lahaska

When restaurant work disappeared during the pandemic, Dale Ruchsmeyer went looking for something else to do.
He had been working in restaurant management in Philadelphia, but knew he wanted to open a coffee shop offering top-of-the-line coffees made using top-shelf equipment. “I have personally always loved coffee,” he said, beginning at age 16.
So while he waited for life to move closer to normal he found a job at Allshapes Bonsai Nursery in Ringoes, N.J. There he discovered another passion: bonsai trees.
Three months ago he and his wife, Chloe, opened Amsterdam Coffee Bar in Holly Berry Square in Lahaska, a site he chose because he saw a demand in the area for better coffee.
The coffee bar is handsomely decorated with live edge walnut woodwork crafted by Ruchsmeyer; bonsai trees he raised serve as attractive accents for the shop, but also are for sale.
The showpiece of Amsterdam Coffee Bar is an 11-foot walnut table handmade by the owner who says he learned the craft by watching “a lot of YouTube videos.”
Ruchsmeyer offers a short menu of 10 drinks that include seasonal lattes, drip and pour-over coffees, iced drinks and a green tea matcha latte.

The seasonal lattes are most popular, he said, which right now include pumpkin and iced blueberry. Also popular is his golden latte featuring cinnamon, turmeric, vanilla, ginger and black pepper.
Ruchsmeyer uses a dark espresso roast made by Elixr coffee for most of his drinks. A Philadelphia company, Elixr roasts its coffees weekly. For teas he has 15 from the Rishi brand to make chai, tea lattes and iced teas. A house water filtration system keeps chemicals and minerals out of the water he uses.
“We keep it simple and do what we do really well,” Ruchsmeyer said.
Baked goods include muffins and a variety of liege waffles, which have Belgian pearl sugar incorporated into the dough. Flavors include blueberry, Nutella stuffed, lemon poppy seed, vanilla and “everything bagel.”
Response from the public has been good, he said, especially among diehard coffee fans.
After working many late nights in restaurants, Ruchsmeyer said he delights in working days and being able to interact with his customers.
Holly Berry Square is across from Buckingham Friends School, near the intersection of Routes 202 and 263 in Lahaska.

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