Ever wondered about the legacy of a Brussels coffee brand? The Espace Jacqmotte whispers stories of the Jacqmotte family. This wasn’t just any coffee company. It was a Brussels institution. Its history is woven into the very fabric of this building.
The Espace Jacqmotte stands on a site occupied since 1828. The Maison Jacqmotte and its production plant once thrived here. The Jacqmotte family owned and operated this building for generations. They were known for their uncompromising commitment to quality. Their coffee was delivered directly to Brussels grocers by horse and cart. The Jacqmotte name became synonymous with quality coffee. Shopkeepers proudly displayed the brand name on their storefronts.
Henri Jacqmotte the founder learned the art of coffee roasting in his parents’ shop. He mastered unique roasting and cooling methods to bring out the best in exotic beans. He experimented with blends from Brazil Java and Tanzania. He sought the perfect balance between strength and smoothness intensity and subtlety. This quest for perfection continued through generations of coffee roasters.
After Henri’s death his niece Louise-Marie took over. She had refined taste not just for coffee but also for art. In 1897 she commissioned the renowned painter Fernand Toussaint to design an Art Nouveau poster. Reproductions of this poster still adorn interiors worldwide.
In 1914 an elegant Louis XVI-style coffee pot became the official emblem of Maison Jacqmotte. This symbol stood for decades for fine coffee and refined pleasures. In the early 1930s Simonne Jacqmotte and her husband Willy Lauwers took the reins. Willy became a master coffee roaster carrying on Henri’s pursuit of perfection.
The Jacqmotte family’s legacy extended far beyond coffee. Their building eventually fell into disrepair and sat vacant for years. Then in the early 1990s architects Michel Jaspers and his sons Philippe and Laurent breathed new life into the block. They carefully preserved and restored original features. They created a mixed-use complex. It now houses retail spaces an art gallery offices and luxury apartments. A peaceful inner garden and pond provide an oasis of calm in the bustling city. The Espace Jacqmotte is a testament to the enduring legacy of the Jacqmotte family and the transformative power of architectural renewal. This vibrant area now blends seamlessly with the upper-class districts nearby. Its location between the historic city center and mid-town Brussels provides unparalleled convenience and access to the city’s many attractions.