Frequently asked questions
Browse through our FAQs for detailed information on our services.
Nordic Approach doesn't ship coffee directly to Turkey. Turkish roasters buy from our offer list as usual, but arrange their own freight forwarder to handle the import, we're happy to coordinate with whoever you choose on the documentation side.
Yes, Nordic Approach ships green coffee to CIS countries. Logistics here can get complicated, so get in touch with our team and we'll help you figure out the best route and paperwork.
It depends on volume, destination port, and whether you choose ocean or air freight. Ocean is slower but significantly cheaper per kilo, while air freight suits smaller, time-sensitive orders. Check out our ocean freight costs here.
Yes! We are happy to offer discounts on specialty coffee for higher volumes, for the customers who regularly buy from us. Coffee must be invoiced and dispatched in the last 12 months to count towards your volumes.
2 tonnes in 12 months: 3%
4 tonnes in 12 months: 7%
6 tonnes in 12 months: 12%.
Loyalty discounts are accessible for all coffees you buy from Nordic Approach (except for special offers), regardless of the mix of lots, origins, cupping scores, or prices.
Yes, in most cases, we just review your import history and plans first, since customs requirements in this region vary a lot by country. Reach out and we'll confirm what's possible for your specific location.
It varies from country to country, so we recommend consulting with the customs agent who will clear your shipment. It is important to find a good and reliable customs clearance agent, so you don’t get headaches and problems when the shipment lands. Some certifications are nice to have but are not necessarily required - so why pay more for something that you do not need? You can read our guide to import certifications here.
All coffees can be sampled, except for special offers and coffees with low availability.
This is a very country-specific question. The EU only requires an invoice and the packing list. Outside the EU, it will differ from country to country. We recommend consulting with a local customs agent or asking your sales rep for guidance.
We highly recommend cupping our samples as soon as you receive them to avoid disappointment!
Most samples arrive within a few business days of dispatch, depending on your location. You'll get tracking information as soon as the shipment goes out so you can follow it.
Cost depends on your location, order volume, and whether you're shipping a full pallet or a smaller quantity. Send us your details and we'll put together a freight quote from our Seabridge warehouse in Belgium: coffee@nordicapproach.no
This depends on the location of your roastery and the order size. Contact us directly for a specific delivery quote: coffee@nordicapproach.no.
We usually use ocean freight. It will be port-to-port only and you need to do the customs clearance and transportation to your warehouse / roastery yourself. We don't have the expertise to deal with customs in every country, as the regulations may vary and are challenging in a lot of circumstances.
Yes we can! We will need your Turkish ID number (11 digits), so we can ship the sample to you as a private individual. This has yielded the best results with customs.
Both! We can either send 100g green samples or 30g roasted samples.
We usually have very limited amounts of pre-shipment samples per lot, but we do our best to share them with as many roasters as possible. Ask your sales rep for the coffees that are most interesting to you.
Our sample roasting is done on Roest machines, giving consistent, repeatable results across sample batches.
Samples are typically sent via UPS, DHL, or FedEx, depending on destination and speed required.
Our lab crew roasts, packs, and sends samples every working day. If we have the samples at hand, we usually ship them within a few days of your request. You will receive an email with a tracking link, and hopefully the samples will arrive within 1-2 business days!
Information regarding samples is always available and updated regularly for each coffee. You can request a sample online or via email, and we will send it to you if it is available. Please note that you can still request a sample even if labelled as unavailable. You will not receive it immediately, but it helps us know what you’re interested in so that we can send them to you when possible.
We send up to 10 samples per request.
You will find all in-stock coffees as well as available preships on our offer list. Check out our NA Direct list for 30+ bags and special orders.
We can accommodate orders as little as 1 bag or 1 box. Most roasters try to order at least 300 kg (5 bags) at a time for more efficient and cost effective shipments.
We send all coffees on EUR pallets, measuring 1.2 x 0.8m. They are strapped and wrapped in plastic.
Up to 10!
We use a modern warehouse called Seabridge in Zeebrugge, Belgium. It is one of the few in Europe with specific facilities for specialty coffee.
Yes!
Seabridge is a climate and humidity controlled warehouse. It is also mainly solar powered, and connected to the port of Antwerp by rail link, meaning your coffee stays in good condition and can move quickly once it's sold.
It's very easy. You can use your email address to create an account and then you’re ready to go. We’ll just need some basic information for your personal profile:
Official company name
Billing address
Shipping / delivery address
VAT number
Contact person, email, phone
Once confirmed, we will send you the invoice with our bank account details. As soon as we receive payment (or copy of payment confirmation from your bank), we’ll get the goods prepared and shipped! It usually takes 2 days to prepare the pallet.
We give terms for roasters in Europe. After 3 orders, if you are up to date on your bills, you can have 30 day payment terms. Late payments will result in removal of terms!
Talk to your sales rep. If we know what you need, and how long you will hold the reservation for, we can make a temporary (TBC - to be confirmed) reservation for you. Please note that we need confirmation before the reservation is binding!
TBC (to be confirmed) means we are temporarily holding the coffees for you, but we need your prompt confirmation. Once a reservation is ‘confirmed’, we consider you to be committed to the coffee. We use this date for calculating finances.
Generally as short as possible, no more than a week. We prefer to get confirmation on your reservation ASAP - so fast cupping is always helpful!
Maximum 6 months. Once a reservation is confirmed, you will start accruing warehousing and financing charges, while the coffee waits for you. We prefer that you take it as soon as you can, while it is fresh! Talk to your sales rep if you have questions.
Warehousing and financing is free for the first 30 days after reservation. If you reserved before the coffee arrived, you have 30 free days from the date of arrival. After that, we charge 1.5% per month.
We can offer financing for customers who are in good standing (no outstanding bills with us).
Please talk to your sales rep about this. We generally consider PSS approvals binding, but if you really need an arrival sample approval, we can accommodate.
The price paid to the producer, FOB information and the Farmgate price is specified for each coffee on our product pages.
We have a designated product page for each coffee. You’ll find the sensorial information and cupping score, details on the producer, farm, processing info, and more.
You can find plenty of information on each of the origins we source from through the origin menu on our website. We have a designated page for each country, with a lot of details on how we work, the value chain, the harvest, and the processing methods.
Coffee is a volatile product, so we need to cup it at different stages of the import process. In every description, we indicate the type of sample we are describing to make sure you receive the right information. More often than not, the cupping notes might vary slightly.
Yes, you can. We try to have updated information and pictures from all of our producers here.
Tropiq is a product line under Nordic Approach. Together, we form a one-stop sourcing group, pushing boundaries and changing the traditional way high-scoring coffee is traded and perceived. While we used to be sister companies, as of February 2024, we are now part of the same company. Nordic Approach will continue to offer spot and forward booking options from our warehouses in Europe, while Tropiq will facilitate direct shipments from origin for high-quality coffees at scale.
Read more about the merger here.
Nordic Approach is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with additional offices and cupping labs in other locations like Ethiopia and Colombia supporting our sourcing and sales work abroad. We also have colleagues based in Germany.
Our cupping events are typically designed for roasters or green coffee buyers, looking to make selections from the incoming harvest. We organise them to assist our customers in making more informed purchasing decisions. However, we sometimes also host other types of cuppings, less-focused on purchasing, open to all professionals within the coffee community.
We host an Oslo Spring Cupping and Oslo Autumn Cupping each year at our HQ in Oslo. Depending on market conditions, sample availability, and harvest timing, we also aim to hold similar events in other cities.
Yes! Our events are always published on our events page, so keep an eye out for what's next.
You can find our upcoming events listed on our events page, complete with instructions on how to reserve your spot. Be sure to check our social media channels for updates as well, where we'll share all the latest details. Usually, you will need to provide us with your information via a sign-up form.
Check our overview at the end of this page. On our homepage, you will also find a dashboard with our latest headlines, including harvest updates.
We are an organic certified company.
No, but we're working on it!
Newsletter
For SPOT buyers looking to learn more about our coffee origins and stay up to date with early harvest insights.