When we first started the Beyond the Bike series, I thought I would be writing a lot more of these articles. But, so far, I’ve only written about tacos. I thought it was a good one, and it was fun to write and hopefully just as fun to read. But I really want to try harder to write more of these. After all, we all have lives off the bike, and there’s a lot to share about that part of our lives that might also relate to yours.
Well, today I wanted to introduce you to a unique and, I think, really neat instant coffee product. I’m sure you’ve seen it around; in fact, we even covered it when it came out last year. I’m talking about NoNormal, an instant coffee that comes in a tube that you squeeze out like toothpaste.
It’s been an excellent addition to my camp kit and my #coffeeoutside kit, as it strikes a great balance between running a minimalist coffee kit and producing great coffee. It doesn’t have to be one or the other anymore.
Who is NoNormal?
NoNormal was co-founded by lifelong friends Alexander and Philippe. They enjoy spending their free time outdoors, hiking, camping, and facing the challenges that nature offers. They like to say, “There is No Normal adventure.” NoNormal grew from those shared experiences and the realization that most coffee solutions when you’re off-grid don’t deliver.
So, they moved forward to create something better.
NoNormal Coffee
NoNormal has claimed to be the “world’s first coffee paste“. And I believe this to be true. I haven’t researched it, but I’m pretty confident that’s an accurate statement.
Anywho, NoNormal sent over some coffee tubes for me to try out. They sent over two tubes of the Classic Black and one of the Sweet Black flavor. These tubes are relatively small and super portable.
The lil’ tubes fit just about anywhere, even in my small coffee bag. You need zero special gear or refrigeration to use this coffee paste. No mess either; there are no filter pods or cleaning out your French Press each time you make coffee. NoNormal calls this “coffee freedom“… I like that.
The coffee is shelf-stable for up to 15 months from the time of production. The “best before” date is stamped on the tube fold. It does not need to be refrigerated after opening. The tube itself is made from 100% recycled aluminum and is infinitely recyclable.
For all of the coffee lovers out there, let’s take a quick look at the details for each flavor.
Classic Black
Retail: $39.80 (two tubes = 60 cups)
- 30 Cups per tube
- 35 mg caffeine per serving
- Swiss Made
This flavor uses 100% Arabica coffee sourced from Colombia and is processed/produced in Switzerland. It’s a dark roast, so it tastes like a fresh brew from your Moka Pot. The Classic Black is made with 20x concentrated Arabica coffee, micro-ground coffee beans, and natural emulsifiers. And it has zero sugar.
Sweet Black (my fave)
Retail: $39.80 (two tubes = 40 cups)
- 20 Cups per tube
- 45 mg caffeine per serving
- Sustainable Energy (no crash)
- Swiss Made
The Sweet Black flavor is the flavor I’ve used the most over the past several months. I like it so much that sometimes I even use it while at home. I add a lil’ half and half with some raw sugar, and it tastes great! Basically, like the Classic Black but with a hint of sugar. Think Moka Pot in its intensity, but with a subtle hint of sweetness.
The Sweet Black flavor is made with 20x concentrated Arabica coffee, micro-ground coffee beans, beet root sugar, and natural emulsifiers. The Sweet Black doesn’t yield as many cups per tube as the Classic Black. The reason being you double the amount of coffee you use to make a cup (1 full teaspoon as opposed to 1/2 teaspoon).
Nutritional Facts
How to Use it
It’s literally only three steps for either flavor.
Step One: Squeeze the coffee onto your spoon…
Step Two: Add hot or cold water…
And, Step Three: Stir for a few seconds…
Sweet Black for the Win
I liked the Classic Black flavor, but loved the Sweet Black. It is really good straight up, with nothing added. It smells great after waking up on a cold desert morning as the sun rises. It’s so easy to use and has helped make both my overlanding coffee kit and my #coffeeoutside kit a super manageable size.
I mean, both of those kits were already pretty small, but now I don’t really need to carry my Stanley All-in-One for #coffeeoutside sessions anymore. I still carry it for my overlanding camp kit, but I don’t use the French press part; I just use the pot to boil water.
The coffee can easily be used for other things besides making a delicious cup o’ joe. NoNormal says to go ahead and try it on chocolate and fruit, and use it in recipes. I’ve tried the Sweet Black on some chocolate, and it was pretty delicious. You can check out NoNormal’s blog for recipes using the coffee.
I would recommend NoNormal coffee to any coffee lover out there. It’s a great idea that is well executed. It’s not cheap, but I’d argue that it’s worth it.
Shhhh, Hold on… Here’s a Secret!
I’m going to tell you the real reason you need to try this coffee. Freakin’ vanilla Ice cream! Yeah. A lil’ squeeze of the Classic Black into a few scoops of vanilla bean ice cream. Stop it!
That’s all I need to say… It’s a game-changer, bro.
Hit the link below and give it a try; you won’t regret it.