OUR STORY
BORN IN YORK. BUILT BY COFFEE PEOPLE.
NORSE CODE brings together a city shaped by Norse history, decades of speciality coffee expertise and a shared belief that coffee deserves to be treated as more than just a flavour.
COFFEE FIRST. NO SHORTCUTS.
Coffee Spirit Co was created to make spirits that begin with the coffee. Origin, roasting, extraction and flavour matter in the cup. We believe they should matter just as much in the bottle.
A NAME ROOTED IN A THOUSAND YEARS OF HISTORY.
York was known as Jorvik during the Viking age and became an important centre of Norse trade, craft and political power. Our connection is especially close to home: King's Square, where Gordon continues to brew and serve coffee, sits within this historic part of the city.
MORE THAN VIKING HERITAGE.
Nordic speciality coffee helped influence our approach to flavour clarity and brewing precision. Scandinavian craft beer also shaped Yan's early drinks career, including working with producers such as To Øl and Evil Twin. NORSE CODE brings these influences together.
TWO PEOPLE. ONE IDEA.
Yan brought experience in the drinks industry. Gordon Howell brought championship-level coffee expertise, brewing knowledge and a career devoted to speciality coffee. Together, they created Coffee Spirit Co and its first range, NORSE CODE.
WHY NORSE CODE?
NORSE reflects York's history and our Nordic influences. CODE reflects the knowledge, precision and carefully developed methods behind our coffee. Together, they express where we come from and how we approach what we make.
HEL ABOVE. HEL BELOW.
Inspired by Norse mythology, the names distinguish two different expressions of our coffee-first approach. Hel Above is brighter and more structured at 22% ABV, particularly suited to Espresso Martinis. Hel Below is richer and rounder at 16% ABV, particularly suited to Baby Guinness and richer Espresso Martinis.
FROM YORKSHIRE TO AWARD-WINNING COFFEE LIQUEUR.
Hel Above received IWSC Gold with 95 points in 2026. Hel Below was named England Country Winner at the 2026 World Liqueur Awards. Recognition that reflects the coffee expertise and care behind the range.
OUR STORY STARTS WITH COFFEE.
Real brewed coffee. Controlled extraction. Distinctive liqueurs created by coffee people in Yorkshire.