Tom Janssen of OR Coffee Roasters knows coffee. His expertise goes from the origin all the way to the cup, which is part of what makes OR so great! We’re lucky to have him as one of our roasting partners here at Apex. After a visit to the roastery and a personal coffee and cupping class, we were able to have a quick chat with Tom about his coffee mastery and why coffee from OR is so fantastic.
Destined to Roast
Passion. This is the one word used by Tom to describe his inspiration to begin roasting. It must run in the family, as his grandfather was also a coffee roaster. Growing up, he spent a lot of time around his grandfather and the constant smell of coffee, even at one point wanting to become involved in his grandfather’s roastery. In the end, that didn’t work out, but he never drifted too far away from coffee. He began selling machines for Melitta, which put him in contact with other roasters. This contact prompted him to think, I can do better! And he did.
What sets OR apart? Tom always looks forward, not to other roasters, for direction. OR has its own vision, rather than copying what everyone else is producing. The fruit of this is a coffee that is thoughtful and unique, so we can always expect something interesting from them. On top of this, OR keeps up to date with coffee certifications to deliver top-notch specialty coffee.
The Coffee Philosophy
To briefly describe OR’s philosophy on coffee, Tom cites the phrase “direct fair trade.” What exactly does this mean for the process of producing good coffee? Essentially, he communicates with people from every step in the process. Coincidentally, no more than ten minutes after our visit ended, Tom had a Skype call to make to Costa Rica. He would explain OR’s coffee process in Belgium so that his contacts in Costa Rica were aware of the high quality of coffee that they were looking for at OR. From the farm to the roasters and to the baristas at the espresso bar: everyone is linked together and aware of what should be done to get the best coffee possible. OR’s control over the entire process leaves no room for doubt. With direct access to the coffee and the cups in the espresso bar, it’s no surprise that the results are delicious and enjoyable.
Let Them Drink (Good) Coffee!
When Tom began in 2001, ‘specialty coffee’ was not a well-known concept, and espresso bars were scarce to none. In his beginnings, he struggled with finding a way to communicate to people that his coffees were the best and with giving people a reason to appreciate his craft. His first espresso bar in Ghent is a manifestation of his success, giving people a place to experience really great coffee. Now there are no confused clients asking why the espresso bar serves just coffee and no beer, and it’s safe to say that OR has found success in its mission to bring good coffee to the people of Belgium and beyond.
You can find Tom roasting coffee at OR Roastery in Westrem (between Brussels and Ghent), or at one of OR’s three espresso bars (Etterbeek, Ghent, and Brussels). Stop by and see for yourself why we love OR so much!
For those interested in experiencing OR’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 OR 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.
Questions?
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