FAQ
Instant coffee or soluble coffee is particularly attractive due to its practical preparation method.
Unfortunately, the taste often suffers. We've changed that. The key factors are the beans selected and the extraction process. Our high-quality coffee beans are selected and then gently roasted. Then the extraction process begins. We brew large batches of coffee that surpass even the largest #morningcoffee cup. The interplay of temperature and pressure is crucial here. Next, the extract is freeze-dried and processed into our fine instant coffee.
For our instant coffees, we use coffee beans that meet high quality standards. "Specialty" coffee beans are coffee beans that are tasted by neutral coffee experts, so-called "Q-graders," and rated according to an objective rating scale. Coffee beans that receive a score of 80 or more are referred to as specialty coffee beans. The objective expertise of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) ensures the high standards of these awards, highlighting the highest quality, best taste, and full-bodied aroma for the customer.
One of the most important factors for caffeine content is the use of Arabica versus Robusta coffee beans. While Arabica is generally considered the higher-quality coffee variety, with a more delicate and interesting flavor, Robusta is considered a more earthy, dark coffee bean. Because Robusta beans grow at lower altitudes, the plant is more "robust," or resistant to heat and pests. To protect itself against these effects, the plant contains a higher caffeine content. Robusta coffee beans are therefore significantly stronger than Arabica coffee beans (about twice as much caffeine as Arabica). All our coffees are 100% Arabica and contain at least 2.3% to 2.5% caffeine. This means that per cup (3g of BLÆK), our regular coffees contain approximately 74 mg of caffeine. For comparison, a single espresso (25ml) typically contains 68mg of caffeine. If you ever need a slightly stronger cup of coffee, you can always add a little more BLÆK to your cup. Our NØ.4 Decaf has a maximum caffeine content of 0.3%—which corresponds to the legally established limit for decaffeinated coffee. The caffeine content of our current Decaf NØ.4 is even less than 0.1%.
BLÆK stands for coffee revolution! With our premium instant coffee, we deliver a great coffee experience, no matter when or where. All you need is hot water! While conventional instant coffees often use low-quality beans sourced from many different growing countries all over the world, we focus on quality over quantity. We only use very high-quality, sustainably grown coffee beans for which we can guarantee traceability. We also roast our coffee beans gently and gently in small batches, which gives the coffees a pleasant, rounded coffee profile. We find that classic instant coffee is often roasted too dark and leaves a heavy, bitter, and sometimes ashy aftertaste. Conventional instant coffee production usually focuses on high yield. They rely on enormous heat and pressure, which over-extracts the coffee. Aromas are released that make the coffee taste uneven. We, on the other hand, rely on gentle extraction in which the aromas are optimally dissolved and preserved. The result is a balanced flavor profile.
After many tests and tastings, trial and error, calculations and measurements, we found the perfect amount of water and that is exactly 200 ml for 3 g of BLÆK.
This amount corresponds to a "normal cup," which we all have at home. But what is normal anyway? We encourage all BLÆK connoisseurs to experiment a little with the amount and discover the variety of drinks that can be made with our coffee. From a wake-up espresso shot to an XXL latte.
For the coffee geeks, here is the calculation:
3g of instant coffee, portioned into our sachets or the BLÆK spoon, corresponds to exactly 1.35% in a 200ml cup – this is the perfect ratio of standard filter coffee according to the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) (recommended by the Specialty Coffee Association Europe).
Let's answer the question this way: The temperature should be as hot as you like your cup of coffee. It's already been brewed, after all. This means you only need to reach drinking temperature. In our experience, this is around 75°C . When processing the beans, we ensured that our coffee is soluble in cold water. This is especially beneficial for slow camping stoves or on warm summer days.
If you do boil the water to 100°C, we recommend letting it cool with the lid open for one to two minutes to allow it to reach 75°C. This temperature allows all the coffee's flavors and aroma to develop best.
Don't panic! It's very long-lasting. Our coffee generally has a shelf life of at least one year from the date of purchase.
So you have plenty of time to enjoy your coffee... Our sachets and our 60g & 150g packs have a particularly robust barrier, making them ideal all-rounders that can be enjoyed for a long time, even in high humidity.
However, we recommend paying particular attention to ensuring the zippers on the packages are securely closed. This prevents moisture from entering the packaging.
As you might guess, the Danish letter Æ, a combination of A and E, is very similar to the German letter Ä. That's why we say BLÄK [bläck].
As outdoor enthusiasts and coffee nerds, we believe that a delicious cup of coffee is essential for all our adventures, big and small, and is therefore part of our history. It's not without reason that "great coffee anywhere" is a BLÆK motto! An outdoor adventure without delicious coffee is like bread without butter. BLÆK is essentially the idea of creating a coffee experience that fits into even the fullest hiking backpack. We're especially pleased that BLÆK is also gaining traction in the hiking and cycling community and that we can sweeten up the occasional adventure on your bike or on foot!
Indeed. We're surprised and very proud of it, too. Our NØ.4 Decaf has notes of apricot and brown sugar, a real treat among the run-of-the-mill decaffeinated coffees! Be sure to try it!
Although we love and live the Scandi look and our founders lived in beautiful Copenhagen, they both come from Hamburg (Edgar) and Vienna (Luis).
The welfare of coffee farmers in the producing countries is our highest priority, which is why we source our coffee beans from small cooperatives, which are often too small to earn the Fairtrade certification. We are proud to know that our coffee is not grown as a monoculture and does not disrupt natural biodiversity. Our NØ.2 and NØ.3 coffees are certified organic, and we always work to source at least 75% of our coffee beans from Fairtrade sources. We also aim to maintain direct contact with farmers to ensure good working conditions on the farms.
Our smallest and most challenging packaging is the small BLÆK sachets. Our sachets are made of a monomaterial optimized with different surfaces. This preserves the delicious coffee aroma within the sachet and prevents it from exchanging with water vapor. It is functional and environmentally friendly. The packaging is easily recycled and therefore belongs in the yellow bin. Packaging food, especially delicate products like instant coffee, is a major challenge. We are always looking for new, more sustainable materials that provide a robust barrier and meet sustainability requirements.
We offer our first shirt design in three unisex sizes: S, M, and L, based on the US size chart. However, we recommend ordering a size larger, as there may be discrepancies between the EU and US size guides. For exact measurements and size recommendations, please contact us on social media or at hello@blaek.coffee.
Within Germany, shipping usually takes 2 - 4 working days from the date of order.
Worldwide shipping can take up to 9 business days.
Payment is possible via credit or debit card, PayPal, SEPA transfer, direct debit, Amazon Pay, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Amex, and Klarna. You can find more information in our Terms and Conditions .
If you have any questions, please contact us via the contact form or chat.