Coffee FAQ
What is the shelf life of your coffee?
All of our bags have a one-way valve which allows the coffee to release carbon dioxide but keeps oxygen out the bag which will stale the coffee. Once opened, we recommend roasted beans to be used within three months from the roast date (and within one month to enjoy them at their absolute best).
How should I store my coffee?
Once opened, your beans should be airtight (either in our 250g zip-lock bags or a seal-able container) and kept in a cool, dry place. We do not recommend refrigerating your coffee as it will take in other aromas very easily and will go through extremes in temperature which will age it quicker.
How do you source your coffee?
Please see our philosophy page which details how we work with our producing partners.
What is your roast style?
At North Star we roast most of our coffees to what you would call a ‘medium’ level with some of single origins roasted light to medium. Our intention is to bring out the inherent flavour within the bean rather than to add or impart flavour from the roasting process. When coffee is roasted to a darker level, you tend to see roasty taints coming through into your cup, we feel it more than possible to replicate the flavour profile of some of the more traditional coffees through clever sourcing and roasting. Our house blend, ‘The Docks’ or the ‘Brazil Fazenda Rainha da Paz’ display natural characteristics of chocolate and toasted nuts and come through with more depth and body in the cup. The rest of our range tends to sit more on the contemporary end of the scale with fruit and floral notes.
Do you advise a rest period for your coffee?
All our coffee is roasted to order which means it is packed and dispatched before it has had time adequately 'de-gas'. This process is important in ensuring you get the most from your bag. If the coffee does not de-gas, it can be inconsistent and tough to work with leading to unnecessary wastage when dialling in. We recommend a 5-7 day rest time from the roast date before you use your coffee to get the best out of it right from the get go.
Do you have a cafe?
Yes we do! The North Star Coffee Shop & General Store opened up as our first ever retail space in July 2017. We serve a range of single origin espressos and filter coffees and often feature exclusive micro lots that you won't be able to try elsewhere. There is a delicious breakfast and lunch menu, and the occasional evening popup too. Follow @northstarcoffeeshop on Instagram or North Star Coffee Shop & General Store on Facebook to stay up to date with what is happening.
Shipping questions
How much does it cost to post my order?
For orders under £25 in value, shipping is £4.10 For orders over £25, shipping is free !
I have ordered from your online shop and have selected the Local Pickup option for collection, where do I come to collect my order?
Local pickups can be collected directly from the Roastery at Unit 10, 280 Tong Road, Leeds, LS12 3BG. Collection times Monday-Friday between 9am and 5pm. Just knock on the door when you get there, and someone will be able to let you in. Unfortunately, we cannot deliver your order to a local customer for you to collect from.
When can I expect to receive my order?
Once you have placed your order, you will receive an email to confirm it is being processed and then another one to let you know when it has been dispatched.
If you place your order before 12pm, we'll dispatch it the same working day! All orders are shipped with DPD next working day delivery as standard. Fully tracked delivery, with a one hour delivery window and real time delivery updates.
DPD offers the ability to change delivery address and date, opt for delivery to a neighbour or safe place, or redirect to a DPD Pickup shop, all while it's on the way to you! DPD aim to be the UK's most sustainable delivery company.
Operating times are 9am-5pm Mon-Friday. Orders placed after 12pm on Friday will not be processed until 9am Monday morning.
How will my order be delivered?
All orders shipped with DPD next working day delivery as standard!
If you place your order before 12pm, we'll dispatch it the same working day!
Fully tracked delivery, with a one hour delivery window and real time delivery updates.
DPD offers the ability to change delivery address and date, opt for delivery to a neighbour or safe place, or redirect to a DPD Pickup shop, all while it's on the way to you! DPD aim to be the UK's most sustainable delivery company.
Operating times are 9am-5pm Mon-Friday. Orders placed after 12pm on Friday will not be processed until 9am Monday morning.
Subcription FAQ
I have signed up to a subscription with you, when will it be sent out?
Great news! Thanks so much we are excited to have you on board! Your order is now on our system and is usually dispatched between 1-3 working days of us having received it depending on how busy we are! We work so hard to get your order out to you as soon as we possibly can and it will be sent with the Royal Mail 1st Class service.
Are your packages letterbox friendly?
Yes for 1-2 x 250g bags – if you order a 250g subscription and have a standard size letterbox, your coffee will be posted through your door. If you have a 1kg subscription or do not have a standard size letterbox, you can include a note for where you would like it leaving and we can include this in our shipping instructions.
I need to change my address details..
Sure thing! Just drop us a line to hello@northstarroast.com and we will sort that for you
Packaging
How do I dispose of my coffee bag?
250g Packs
Our 250g packs (whilst not yet certified home compostable due to being a relatively new mix of material) will degrade in around 6 months in a well-managed home compost setup (with oxygen, soil, nitrogen, co2, heat, moisture).
1kg and 3kg Packs
Unfortunately, we are not yet able to offer a home compostable 1kg or 3kg option which remains to be LDPE recyclable plastic in waste stream 4. We have ordered 500 units of a home compostable 1kg bags with our first order as a test and if they are strong enough, we will make the switch longer term – keep your eye on our newsletter or social media for updates here.
For the time being, recycle them at your local supermarket or please send them back to us at the Roastery (Unit 10, 280 Tong Road, LS12 3BG) or drop them off at our coffee shop (Unit 32 The Blvd, Leeds LS10 1PZ ) and we will recycle them with First Mile.
What if I don’t have a compost bin?
Currently, only 3 percent of the UK population have a compost bin. We know many of you will not have the space or need to produce compost in your home and some of the bags may still end up in landfills where they will not break down. Ultimately, there is no perfect solution to this problem until we see wider, infrastructural changes with government support but in the meantime help us close the loop by:
1. Sending back your packaging to either our roastery or coffee shop and we will compost it for you with our food waste collections.
Roastery address: Unit 10, 280 Tong Road, LS12 3BG
Coffee Shop Address: Unit 32 The Blvd, Leeds LS10 1PZ
2. Write to your local MP to appeal for composting collections with your local council. You can use this template here > Letter to MP
3. Get a discounted (by your local council) compost bin and get composting!
Can the bags be re-used?
Our bags still have a zip lock seal and are therefore perfect for reusing – we use them for storing dry goods such as nuts/grains. Our 1kg bags are plastic and are therefore suitable for general food storage and freezing.
Returns
Can I return my order?
We will accept returns of any equipment or faulty goods. Equipment or merchandise must be returned unused in its original packaging to The Roastery, Unit 10, 280 Tong Rd, Leeds LS12 3BG. Returns must be made within 14 days of purchase at your own cost.
Whilst we want you to be happy with your order, as coffee is a consumable good, we will only replace or refund coffee if it is faulty or damaged in any way. This is subject to assessment by our Customer Service team, as applicable. Please contact our Customer Service team on 0113 824 4230 in this instance.
My order is damaged. Can you help?
We do our utmost to ensure that the goods you receive are in perfect condition, however, in the instance that an order is received damaged please contact our Customer Service team on 0113 824 4230 who will be able to help.
Contact
Where are you based?
Our Roastery is based in Armley, Leeds. We also own and operate coffee shops throughout Leeds (hyperlink to coffee shops page)
How can I contact you?
Please see our Contact page for the appropriate details
Other
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