At Acaia, we value the network of trusted partners we work with around the globe. Our partners are accomplished coffee professionals in both their local and international communities. In this series of interviews, we highlight our resellers and who they are.
Exs Nordic is an official Acaia distributor based out of Copenhagen, Denmark. The company began a little over 17 years ago and distributes coffee equipment and knowledge across all of Scandanavia. Exs Nordic also has additional businesses based out of the capital city; coffee roasting business/cafe Yellow Bird Coffee and gastro gear distributor Spinchy.
Exs Nordic is also an integral contributor to the upcoming annual Danish Coffee Festival (April 29-May 1), which is returning for the first time since before the Covid pandemic. We spoke with Morten Hou Østergaard, a managing partner at the company.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
When and how did your company begin?
Since 2005 we have been distributing premium gastro equipment, with the coffee category being a prominent part of our portfolio. We run a family business that is now in its second generation. Our founder has a background in vending and large-scale solutions, and since then we have moved more into the domestic space.
How does Exs Nordic approach coffee and service? What other coffee places inspire you?
We recently started our own roastery, to gain more control over the value chain from bean to cup. We are conscious that we do not offer products at the lowest price point, but our customers know that we carry the best equipment on the market that money can buy. That is the reason why Acaia is such a nice fit for us.
Inspiration these days certainly comes from Australia which seems to be one of the leading coffee markets and the place to look for new coffee trends.
What is your favorite coffee that you have recently served and how was it prepared?
I really enjoy lightly roasted African beans for my milk-based espresso drink, and that is really what I drink day and night. I enjoy the fruity and acidic taste notes combined with creamy, frothed, full-fat Danish milk.
What do you think of the local Copenhagen coffee scene and how it has evolved over the past few years?
Having been living in Australia for some years I still think we have a long way to go, before the coffee culture is close to what it can perform in the Southern Hemisphere. Consumers are getting more and more aware of what good coffee tastes like, but the number of mediocre coffee outlets still defines the lack of demand for an above-average coffee experience. Odd because many consider Scandinavia as being on the forefront when it comes to coffee, but being from here it feels like we still have a long way to go.
How do you use Acaia on bar?
At our shop, roastery, and coffee bar we frequently use Acaia scales for all sorts of tasks. All the way from dosing/bagging with the Orion, to calibrating consumer espresso equipment with Lunar scales to control weighing portafilter dosing at every shot we brew at Yellow Bird Coffee.
We know that Exs Nordic will be taking part in the upcoming Danish Coffee Festival. How are you getting involved?
We are very active at the festival as we also try to give back to the community and collectively with other participants push specialty coffee forward. We have a stand with equipment and coffee where we are going to run demonstrations and a number of competitions throughout the weekend. On the commercial side, we have a number of product integrations to increase the visibility of Acaia and other premium brands.
What else is coming up next for Exs Nordic?
Summer is coming up, so soon time to wind down and recharge before the busy time of year kicks off leading into Christmas. Besides that, we are expecting several new exciting product releases from our partners that have to be introduced. And of course, World of Coffee in Milan which we look forward to visiting again after an everlasting pandemic.
Thank you for the interview, Morten!