Frequently Asked Questions
WEBSITE & SHIPPING
There's a problem with my order. What do I do?
Oh no! Email us at info@ondaorigins.com and let us know what's up so we can make it right! We'll get back to ya within 24 hours, or by Monday if it's a weekend.
Can I use an online gift card in your shops, or a physical gift card online?
Because we use different systems in our physical shops and online, we have different gift cards for each. (Online gift cards are here, and in-store gift cards are here.) Unfortunately there's no way to apply the same gift card. If you ended up with the wrong kind of gift card or are having an issue, email us at info@ondaorigins.com and we'll help you out!
When can I expect my order?
We ship within 24 hours of receiving your order (or Monday morning if you order over the weekend), and it really depends on USPS from there, but 4-5 days is usually a safe bet.
Do you ship internationally?
Not yet! But if you live outside the US and want our coffee, write us at info@ondaorigins.com to let us know. There may be something we can work out. And either way, it helps to hear that there's interest.
Who's behind the scenes?
Believe it or not, we're a tiny, two-person production team roasting 10 lbs of coffee at a time on a single machine. We manage all fulfillment and customer service, supply coffee to all Fresh Flours cafe locations and our flagship cafe in Hillman City, Seattle, and we do our humble best to attend to all things quality along the way. We're really proud of what we do, and would love to hear from you if you have any feedback or just want to say hey! You can always email us at info@ondaorigins.com.
GENERAL COFFEE QUESTIONS
When do you roast and ship your coffee?
We roast in small, 10 lb. batches as needed -- in other words, we're constantly roasting and our beans areveryfresh. We ship orders mid-morning Monday through Friday, so if you order before noon, it's likely your coffee will be sent out same-day.
Are your coffees light or dark roast?
All our coffees are unique and deserve special treatment, so we tend to focus on roasting for peak flavor profile rather than sticking to a one-size-fits-all light to dark roast spectrum. That tends to land our beans somewhere in the light to medium range, with our Tusitala blend at the most steadily "medium." That said, we've also got a blend for the dark roast lovers among us -- if that's you, grab a bag of Neo Noir here.
You can also learn more about the unique flavor profiles of each of our coffees on our product pages, and as always, email us at info@ondaorigins.com any time (or stop by the shop) and we'll help you pick the perfect beans.
Are you Fair Trade? How 'bout organic?
We decided early on not to seek these specific certifications, and instead to build our own model of prioritizing sustainability and shifting access and ownership in specialty coffee. Instead of adhering to guidelines that can honestly feel pretty out of touch with those goals, we not only pay up to 5x Fair Trade rates, we also make a second payment of $1/lb. once the coffee sells. That means thousands of dollars of additional income for the grower, at intervals that create income streams beyond the usual influx at harvest.
On top of all that, our close relationships with growers (some that go way back, before Onda was a thing) mean we know firsthand that our coffees are produced to environmental standards well beyond what an "organic" certification would require.
How should I store my coffee, and how long is it good for?
Our bags have a built-in valve for the off-gassing that happens naturally with coffee, so as long as it's not too hot or too cold in your kitchen, you can just store it on a dry surface in the sealed bag it comes in. (We don't recommend keeping them in the fridge or freezer because condensation can cause problems and ice in a grinder is no good.) As long as it’s stored properly, our coffee tastes great for up to a month.
Where can I learn more about the farmers?
So glad you asked! Check out our "Meet Our Growers" page for profiles on all the growers and collectives we work with. Andfollow us on instagram, where we often share about and team up with our farming partners.
HILLMAN CITY CAFE
Where are you located, and what are your hours?
Our cafe and roastery are in Seattle's Hillman City neighborhood, just south of Columbia City. Find our address, a lil map, and our updated hours here!
How are you connected to Fresh Flours Bakery?
We're sister companies! That means we're different but important parts of the same family operation. Our staff is connected (you may see some baristas at Fresh Flours one day and Onda the next), and our coffee and pastries are staples at all our shops. After roasting, Onda coffee is delivered day-of to each Fresh Flours cafe. Likewise, Fresh Flours pastries are baked daily in White Center then delivered to all the shops (Onda included) first thing every single morning.
Are you closed on federal holidays?
Sometimes. The best way to keep up with our hours is via our instagram (@ondaorigins). We also always post changes to our hours on our cafe doors. And you can always shoot us an email atinfo@ondaorigins.comif you're not sure.
Are pets allowed in the cafe?
Unfortunately, not anymore. Welovepups and pets of all kinds, but the health department isn't having it. In order to keep our shops open, we've had to shift our policies and are no longer able to have pets hang out inside.
Do you serve food?
We've got a few bites on offer, including Fresh Flours pastries (some sweet, some savory), Okazu Pan stuffed breads, Sunrise Tacos, and single-serve greek yogurt. We do prioritize quality coffee and Fresh Flours pastries in our lil shop, though, so you won't find full meals on our menu. But Hillman City has so much delicious food to offer -- there's no shortage of full-meal options around!
I don't drink coffee. Do you have other options?
Oh yes. Our matcha lattes (made from scratch, sweetened to order) and chai lattes are our top recs, but we've also got an assortment of black, herbal, and green teas, plus some bottled bevis in our help-yourself fridge. And if it's caffeine you're avoiding, our decaf is legitimately really good. We can make you any coffee drink with decaf espresso.
ONDA COFFEE CLUB
What Is the Coffee Club?
It's a coffee subscription, sure, but it's more like... a big beautiful community of coffee lovers, with regular fresh-roasted specialty coffee deliveries at its center. Members get all kinds of perks, but some big ones are:
- Automated delivery of up to 4 bags of coffee, hand-selected just for Club members by our experienced roasting team
- An Onda Origins diner mug *on us* with your first order <3
- Free Shipping (up to a $15 discount depending on where you live)
- Monthly gifts and goodies, like merch and tasters of custom coffee blends/unreleased coffees
- Monthly email newsletter with insider info, resources, and discounts
- The knowledge that you're contributing in a real way to shifting grower access to revenue (more here) and changing the specialty coffee industry in a real way.
I signed up! When will I get my coffee?
Hooray! Happy to have you. We process orders Monday thru Friday between 10a and noon PST, so that should help you gauge when we'll get your first order in the mail. The closer to Seattle you live, the sooner you'll see it, but you can pretty much count on your coffee arriving within 5 business days. And since we're shipping the same day we roast, this gives your beans the perfect amount of rest time. Email us at info@ondaorigins.com if you have specific questions.
How fresh is this coffee, really?
Preeeetty much couldn't be fresher. We roast and ship same-day, so it's literally hot off the press – I mean machine. The few days it takes USPS to get you your beans is the perfect amount of time for the coffee to “rest.”
Why can't I choose specific coffees?
Our Coffee Club is built on a “Roaster’s Choice” model meant for those who want to explore a range of varietals, processes, and origins – and who don’t want to have to make those selections themselves.
If you’re more of an “I know what I like” type of person, you’re probably better off with our “Subscribe & Save” option, which lets you automate delivery of any specific coffee you choose.
To sign up, just go to the coffee’s product page and choose “Subscribe & Save” before adding it to your cart. (Hot tip: You’ll get $3 off your bag each time.)
And if at some point you want to change it up, just cancel that original subscription and do it all over again with a new coffee.
Can I cancel, pause, or skip a delivery on my membership?
Yes! We use a streamlined, user friendly membership portal that lets you change things up at any time, so go for it. You can request a unique, private login link here, or access your membership via your ondaorigins.com customer page.
And if you need help making changes, just email us at info@ondaorigins.com and we’ll get back to you asap.
Something's gone awry! What do I do?
We're here for you Monday thru Friday, 9-4 PST! Just email us at info@ondaorigins.com and let us know what's up. We'll get back to you verrrry speedily.