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The 5 Best Norwegian Coffee Brands (Plus Pro Buying Tips!)

Rebecca Hanlon
Last Updated: February 28th, 2023

Coffee is a beverage that’s beloved the world over. Regardless of whether you live in New York or New Delhi, you’re surrounded by fellow coffee drinkers who can’t get enough of this caffeinated drink.

One country that makes some pretty delicious coffee is Norway. Want to learn what it tastes like? We’ve put together a list of the five best Norwegian coffee brands!

Let’s jump in and take a look at the best beans from this part of the world.

The Norwegian Bean Buying Guide

the norwegian bean

Before we dive right into talking about the best Norwegian coffee blends, let’s take a minute to talk about how to pick the right beans.

After all, there’s no point knowing what to buy if you don’t know how to buy it! Here are some key tips to help you buy the best Norwegian coffee beans on the market.

Look at the Type of Bean

The first thing to look for when buying coffee is the type of beans used in the blend.

There are several different varieties of coffee beans, although Arabica and Robusta coffee beans are the two most popular types of beans.

Arabica coffee beans are smooth and complex and generally pretty pricey. Robusta beans are much more affordable and have a strong, bitter flavor.

When you look for coffee, think about what flavor you’re going for.

If you enjoy bitter, acidic coffee, you might want to pick a Robusta. On the other hand, if you prefer smooth and mild coffee, you may want to opt for Arabica.

Small Lot vs Big Batch

Another thing you want to think about when buying Norwegian coffee is whether you’re going for a small lot or big batch of coffee.

Big batch coffee is coffee that’s produced in large batches with the goal of making all the coffee taste the same.

May big batch coffee roasters buy coffee with unripened coffee beans and then mix them to obtain the right flavor.

Alternatively, you can buy small batch coffee, also known as estate coffee. With this type of coffee, more effort has been put into picking and sorting the green coffee beans for quality.

Small-batch coffee tends to taste better, but it also comes with a higher price tag. Think about which type of production method you can afford and which will give you the flavor you want.

Keep an Eye Out for Freshness

The freshness of the coffee beans you buy can seriously affect how flavorful the coffee is. The older the beans are, the less flavorful and aromatic they’ll be.

As a general rule, you want to look for a coffee that was recently packaged. The more recent a bag of coffee was processed, the fresher it will taste.

Pay attention to expiration dates and packaging dates on the bags of coffee you buy. This should give you some major clues as to whether or not you’re getting a fresh bag of beans.

The coffee is freshly roasted or has rested for a year. If you want to ensure the best possible coffee, opt for a freshly roasted Estate coffee and drink it within a week.

Choose the Right Roast

Next, roasting plays an important role in what type of coffee you buy.

Light roasts are smooth, tart, and high in caffeine. Medium roasts are sweeter, have slightly less caffeine, and tend to have a bitter finish. Dark roasts are nutty with a smoky finish and have the lowest caffeine content.

Think about what flavor profile you’re going for as well as how much caffeine content you want. Knowing these things will help you pick the right roast.

Consider Your Brewing Methods

Just because you can use any coffee beans in your coffee maker doesn’t mean you should.

The exact brewing method you use to make coffee will affect the grind size and type of coffee. Straying from these recommendations could result in a sub-par cup of coffee.

For instance, if you have an espresso machine at home, you’re going to want to go for a dark roast with a fine grind. Or, if you’ve got a Chemex, you want a medium roast with a coarse grind.

You can always go for whole bean coffee and grind the beans at home, too.

But, if you are buying pre-ground coffee, it’s important to know what grind size and bean type are best for your brewing system.

The Best Norwegian Coffee Brands

Okay, enough about buying your beans. Let’s get into the real meat and potatoes and talk about the best Norwegian coffee brands!

1. Friele Frokostkaffe

Pros

  • Is super smooth, so it’s a refreshing cup of coffee
  • Is well-packaged, so the coffee doesn’t oxidize easily

Cons

  • Is a bit bitter, so it might not be best for those with coffee sensitivities

Friele Forkostkaffe is Norway’s favorite coffee and the most widely produced bean in the country.

The blend is a high-quality coffee mix from Brazil and other South American countries. The beans are a mixture of Arabica and Robusta, making a balanced and harmonious blend.

Probably the best part about this coffee brand is that it’s Fair Trade. That means you know it’s being ethically produced.

2. Friele Cafitesse

Pros

  • Has a strong scent, so it’s a super aromatic cup of coffee
  • Has an unusual taste, so you’ll get a unique coffee-drinking experience

 Cons

  • Has a bitter aftertaste, so it may not be ideal for coffee beginners

Friele Cafitesse combines good taste with high-quality beans. The coffee is ground and packaged in a highly controlled environment, helping to preserve the flavor and aroma of the beans.

The coffee is actually frozen during the packaging process, which helps keep it fresh. However, it’s more of an instant blend than pure beans.

Still, the coffee whips up into a pretty good brew!

3. Audun Coffee Norwegian Roast

Pros

  • They’re super high-quality, so they have an excellent taste and a smooth finish
  • They’re a natural product, so you don’t have to worry about chemicals or additives
  • They’re evenly roasted, so you know you’re getting a consistent cup of coffee

Cons

  • They’re only available by special order, so they’re hard to get and are a bit costly
  • You can only purchase in bulk, so you’ll have to buy quite a few bags at a time

Audun Coffee beans aren’t technically roasted in Norway. However, they’re roasted by a Norwegian, so we’d say that they count!

These coffee beans are a light roast and are made of a well-balanced blend of Arabica beans sourced from Central America and Brazil.

One thing to know about these beans is that they’re only prepared in small batches. You’ll have to place special orders if you want to try Audun coffee, and that can get pretty pricey.

4. Krone Kaffe

Pros

  • They’re fairly affordable, so you won’t have to break the bank
  • They’re an organic beans, so they don’t come with tons of additives
  • They’re a moderate-strength bean, so they work well in most types of coffee makers

Cons

  • The bags are hard to close, so the beans tend to oxidize quickly

Good coffee at a good price, Krone Kaffe is a blend of quality coffee from some of the world’s leading coffee-growing countries.

The flavor is full-bodied, round, and slightly acidic, with a pleasant aftertaste.

The beans are medium roasted, making them great for easy drinking. They’re typically sold in bulk, so you’ll be drinking these beans for a while!

5. Kjeldsberg Kaffe

Pros

  • They’re super aromatic, so you’ll get a rich and flavorful cup of coffee
  • They’re made using a high-quality roasting process, so you’ll get a premium cup of coffee
  • The grain conditions are excellent, so you get super uniform brews

Cons

  • They’re made in Norway, which means they come with a pretty high price tag
  • They’re only sold in Europe, so they can be tough to get your hands on

Kjeldsberg Kaffe is a coffee brand that’s actually owned by one of Northern Europe’s largest coffee producers.

Kjeldsberg owns its own factories, which carry out the roasting and packaging in-house.

What’s cool about Kjeldsberg is that they offer a wide range of coffee blends, meaning you can find pretty much any strength and variety you like.

All their coffees are made out of Arabica beans and are a pretty mid-range option. They’re great for those who are just getting into the world of Norwegian coffee.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve made it this far then you know that Friele Frokostkaffe (Friele Breakfast) coffee is the clear winner when it comes to the best Norwegian coffee brands.

Friele Breakfast coffee is a high-quality coffee blend, creating a well-balanced brew. This coffee also has an excellent aroma that will wake you up in the morning!

If you want to try excellent quality international coffee, this is definitely the way to go. Just don’t be surprised if it becomes your favorite coffee over time.

And, if you’re still unsure? Comment down below with your questions and we’ll help you find another great coffee bean blend!

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About The Author

Rebecca Hanlon

Rebecca has been a blogger for over 5 years, before that enjoying a number of jobs to fund her passion for travel. She's taught English as a foreign language, a part-time Barista, a waitress, and a tour guide.

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