Normo Coffeebar and Microroastery is at the forefront of the coffee scene in Antwerp. With a clear vision and a passion for remaining true to coffee, it’s easy to see why they have been so successful in roasting great coffee. We’re proud to list Normo as one of our roasters here at Apex! We were able to sit down and chat with Jens about Normo’s style, learning a lot about its character and uniqueness.
During Brussels Coffee Week on October 4, we will be hosting a cupping tour through Normo’s exquisite roast range. Jens, owner of Normo will also be there to share with you his philosophy behind specialty coffee and behind the Normo Micro-Roastery. We would love for you to join us at this coffee tasting event.
It’s always interesting to hear about how our roasters found themselves roasting coffee. Jens had experience in serving coffee, but in a stride to make a bigger impact, he ventured into the roasting scene. By becoming the roaster himself, he gained the power to choose his own coffee and which farmers he wanted to work with. The result? Jen’s vision for coffee– a reality. He presents the coffee as naked as possible, showcasing its most natural form of beauty.
What makes Normo so unique? Jens says it’s the roasting style: to keep all changes as minimal as possible. The effects of this are visible most when he serves his coffee and some people are surprised that it is coffee and not tea! The flavor profiles of the coffee are really brought out and people are able to enjoy the fruitiness of the bean. Normo is a niche player, not a commercial one, and we find its experimental style to be delightful.
Normo’s philosophy on coffee is quite interesting: always buy coffee “in season” and change as little as possible. Jens’ goal is to keep the coffee just, handing the farmer’s work over to the customer. The farmer is often forgotten and left out of the picture, but Jens puts the farmer at the front. A farmer’s techniques can really change the coffee, so it’s important to thank the farmers for cultivating great beans for a great roast.
Jens was inspired by coffee-happenings in Copenhagen, specifically at Coffee Collective. He enjoys their philosophy on the trade system, finding that coffee can be much more meaningful than it is made out to be. The farmers mean so much in the production process! Learning from Coffee Collective, Jens seeks to educate people, showing them why coffee tastes the way it does. He wants to make it clear that coffee comes from people and each cup has its story. In a world where coffee has become too much of a commodity, Jens brings us back to the understanding of coffee as an experience.
The roasting process at Normo is patient, guaranteeing great results. Jens related his roasting system to a circle; it is a cycle of roasting, cupping, recording, adjusting, and repeating. The process continues until the roast reaches perfection. When new coffee is received, Jens spends time in repeating the cycle to truly get the most out of the coffee. His fascination with the chemical and technical sides of coffee combined with his understanding of the emotions that can be experienced in tasting it leads to carefully crafted coffee that tastes fantastic.
You can follow Normo on Twitter at @normocoffee, but you can find also visit their coffeebar located in Antwerp:
MINDERBROEDERSRUI 30
2000 ANTWERPEN
During Brussels Coffee Week on October 4, we will be hosting a cupping tour through Normo’s exquisite roast range. Jens, owner of Normo will also be there to share with you his philosophy behind specialty coffee and behind the Normo Micro-Roastery. We would love for you to join us at this coffee tasting event.
For those interested in experiencing Normo’s creations at home, you can find some of their coffees in our webshop.
In our quest to share quality coffee with all, we’ve also made Normo available to those who would like to enhance their office coffee experience. Book a tasting and see how much of a difference good coffee can make in your place of business! Learn more about our roasters and suppliers and our services here at Apex.
PHOTO BY: Niko Caignie
Questions?
Contact our experts at get@apex.coffee or Subscribe to the blog for more coffee stories!