diff --git a/src/idpi/cli.py b/src/idpi/cli.py
index 7ac23850..04b58c1b 100644
--- a/src/idpi/cli.py
+++ b/src/idpi/cli.py
@@ -69,9 +69,9 @@ def handle_vector_fields(ds):
     for u_name, v_name in pairs:
         click.echo(f"Rotating vector field components {u_name}, {v_name} to geolatlon")
         u, v = ds[u_name], ds[v_name]
-        if u.origin["x"] != 0.0:
+        if u.origin_x != 0.0:
             u = destagger.destagger(u, "x")
-        if v.origin["y"] != 0.0:
+        if v.origin_y != 0.0:
             v = destagger.destagger(v, "y")
         if u.vref == "native" and v.vref == "native":
             u_g, v_g = gis.vref_rot2geolatlon(u, v)
diff --git a/src/idpi/grib_decoder.py b/src/idpi/grib_decoder.py
index 4bf49f49..f77f3e8b 100644
--- a/src/idpi/grib_decoder.py
+++ b/src/idpi/grib_decoder.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 import xarray as xr
 
 # Local
-from . import data_source, tasking
+from . import data_source, metadata, tasking
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -26,13 +26,6 @@
     "step": "time",
 }
 INV_DIM_MAP = {v: k for k, v in DIM_MAP.items()}
-VCOORD_TYPE = {
-    "generalVertical": ("model_level", -0.5),
-    "generalVerticalLayer": ("model_level", 0.0),
-    "hybrid": ("hybrid", 0.0),
-    "isobaricInPa": ("pressure", 0.0),
-    "surface": ("surface", 0.0),
-}
 
 Request = str | tuple | dict
 
@@ -139,23 +132,6 @@ def _load_pv(self, pv_param: Request):
         for field in fs:
             return field.metadata("pv")
 
-    def _construct_metadata(self, field: typing.Any):
-        metadata: dict[str, typing.Any] = field.metadata(
-            namespace=["geography", "parameter"]
-        )
-        # https://codes.ecmwf.int/grib/format/grib2/ctables/3/3/
-        [vref_flag] = get_code_flag(field.metadata("resolutionAndComponentFlags"), [5])
-        level_type: str = field.metadata("typeOfLevel")
-        vcoord_type, zshift = VCOORD_TYPE.get(level_type, (level_type, 0.0))
-
-        metadata |= {
-            "vref": "native" if vref_flag else "geo",
-            "vcoord_type": vcoord_type,
-            "origin": {"z": zshift},
-            "message": field.message(),
-        }
-        return metadata
-
     def _load_param(
         self,
         req: Request,
@@ -164,7 +140,7 @@ def _load_param(
         fs = self.data_source.retrieve(req)
 
         hcoords: dict[str, xr.DataArray] = {}
-        metadata: dict[str, typing.Any] = {}
+        metadata_values: dict[str, typing.Any] = {}
         time_meta: dict[int, dict] = {}
         dims: tuple[str, ...] | None = None
         field_map: dict[tuple[int, ...], np.ndarray] = {}
@@ -186,8 +162,11 @@ def _load_param(
             if not dims:
                 dims = tuple(DIM_MAP[d] for d in dim_keys) + ("y", "x")
 
-            if not metadata:
-                metadata = self._construct_metadata(field)
+            if not metadata_values:
+                metadata_values = {
+                    "message": field.message(),
+                    **metadata.extract(field.metadata()),
+                }
 
             if not hcoords:
                 hcoords = {
@@ -205,7 +184,7 @@ def _load_param(
             np.array([field_map.pop(key) for key in sorted(field_map)]).reshape(shape),
             coords=coords | hcoords | tcoords,
             dims=dims,
-            attrs=metadata,
+            attrs=metadata_values,
         )
 
         return (
@@ -262,19 +241,6 @@ def load_fieldnames(
         return self.load(reqs, extract_pv)
 
 
-def _get_type_of_level(field):
-    if field.vcoord_type == "model_level":
-        if field.origin["z"] == 0.0:
-            return "generalVerticalLayer"
-        elif field.origin["z"] == -0.5:
-            return "generalVertical"
-        else:
-            raise ValueError(f"Unsupported field origin in z: {field.origin['z']}")
-    else:
-        mapping = {vc: name for name, (vc, _) in VCOORD_TYPE.items()}
-        return mapping.get(field.vcoord_type, field.vcoord_type)
-
-
 def save(field: xr.DataArray, file_handle: io.BufferedWriter, bits_per_value: int = 16):
     """Write field to file in GRIB format.
 
@@ -307,8 +273,7 @@ def save(field: xr.DataArray, file_handle: io.BufferedWriter, bits_per_value: in
     }
 
     def to_grib(loc: dict[str, xr.DataArray]):
-        result = {INV_DIM_MAP[key]: value.item() for key, value in loc.items()}
-        return result | {"typeOfLevel": _get_type_of_level(field)}
+        return {INV_DIM_MAP[key]: value.item() for key, value in loc.items()}
 
     for idx_slice in product(*idx.values()):
         loc = {dim: value for dim, value in zip(idx.keys(), idx_slice)}
diff --git a/src/idpi/metadata.py b/src/idpi/metadata.py
index 333f4d87..76ef34ce 100644
--- a/src/idpi/metadata.py
+++ b/src/idpi/metadata.py
@@ -11,12 +11,38 @@
 import xarray as xr
 from earthkit.data.writers import write  # type: ignore
 
+# Local
+from . import grib_decoder
+
+VCOORD_TYPE = {
+    "generalVertical": ("model_level", -0.5),
+    "generalVerticalLayer": ("model_level", 0.0),
+    "isobaricInPa": ("pressure", 0.0),
+}
+
+
+def extract(metadata):
+    [vref_flag] = grib_decoder.get_code_flag(
+        metadata.get("resolutionAndComponentFlags"), [5]
+    )
+    level_type = metadata.get("typeOfLevel")
+    vcoord_type, zshift = VCOORD_TYPE.get(level_type, (level_type, 0.0))
+
+    return {
+        "parameter": metadata.as_namespace("parameter"),
+        "geography": metadata.as_namespace("geography"),
+        "vref": "native" if vref_flag else "geo",
+        "vcoord_type": vcoord_type,
+        "origin_z": zshift,
+    }
+
 
 def override(message: bytes, **kwargs: typing.Any) -> dict[str, typing.Any]:
     """Override GRIB metadata contained in message.
 
     Note that no special consideration is made for maintaining consistency when
     overriding template definition keys such as productDefinitionTemplateNumber.
+    Note that the origin components in x and y will be unset.
 
     Parameters
     ----------
@@ -40,8 +66,7 @@ def override(message: bytes, **kwargs: typing.Any) -> dict[str, typing.Any]:
 
     return {
         "message": out.getvalue(),
-        "geography": md.as_namespace("geography"),
-        "parameter": md.as_namespace("parameter"),
+        **extract(md),
     }
 
 
@@ -112,8 +137,8 @@ def compute_origin(ref_grid: Grid, field: xr.DataArray) -> dict[str, float]:
     y0_key = "latitudeOfFirstGridPointInDegrees"
 
     return {
-        "x": np.round((geo[x0_key] % 360 - x0) / dx, 1),
-        "y": np.round((geo[y0_key] - y0) / dy, 1),
+        "origin_x": np.round((geo[x0_key] % 360 - x0) / dx, 1),
+        "origin_y": np.round((geo[y0_key] - y0) / dy, 1),
     }
 
 
@@ -138,4 +163,4 @@ def set_origin_xy(ds: dict[str, xr.DataArray], ref_param: str) -> None:
 
     ref_grid = load_grid_reference(ds[ref_param].message)
     for field in ds.values():
-        field.attrs["origin"] |= compute_origin(ref_grid, field)
+        field.attrs |= compute_origin(ref_grid, field)
diff --git a/src/idpi/operators/destagger.py b/src/idpi/operators/destagger.py
index e95931b9..27746272 100644
--- a/src/idpi/operators/destagger.py
+++ b/src/idpi/operators/destagger.py
@@ -96,6 +96,15 @@ def _update_grid(field: xr.DataArray, dim: Literal["x", "y"]) -> dict[str, Any]:
         )
 
 
+def _update_vertical(field) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    if field.vcoord_type != "model_level":
+        raise ValueError("Field.vcoord_type must model_level")
+    return metadata.override(
+        field.message,
+        typeOfLevel="generalVerticalLayer",
+    )
+
+
 def destagger(
     field: xr.DataArray,
     dim: Literal["x", "y", "z"],
@@ -128,7 +137,7 @@ def destagger(
     """
     dims = list(field.sizes.keys())
     if dim == "x" or dim == "y":
-        if field.origin[dim] != 0.5:
+        if field.attrs[f"origin_{dim}"] != 0.5:
             raise ValueError
         return (
             xr.apply_ufunc(
@@ -140,10 +149,10 @@ def destagger(
                 keep_attrs=True,
             )
             .transpose(*dims)
-            .assign_attrs(origin=field.origin | {dim: 0.0}, **_update_grid(field, dim))
+            .assign_attrs({f"origin_{dim}": 0.0}, **_update_grid(field, dim))
         )
     elif dim == "z":
-        if field.origin[dim] != -0.5:
+        if field.origin_z != -0.5:
             raise ValueError
         return (
             xr.apply_ufunc(
@@ -155,7 +164,7 @@ def destagger(
                 keep_attrs=True,
             )
             .transpose(*dims)
-            .assign_attrs(origin=field.origin | {dim: 0.0})
+            .assign_attrs({f"origin_{dim}": 0.0}, **_update_vertical(field))
         )
 
     raise ValueError("Unknown dimension", dim)
diff --git a/src/idpi/operators/gis.py b/src/idpi/operators/gis.py
index e9f03a92..7de1c079 100644
--- a/src/idpi/operators/gis.py
+++ b/src/idpi/operators/gis.py
@@ -211,8 +211,7 @@ def vref_rot2geolatlon(
         x and y components of the vector field w.r.t. the geo lat lon coords.
 
     """
-    valid_origin = {d: 0.0 for d in tuple("xyz")}
-    if u.origin != valid_origin or v.origin != valid_origin:
+    if u.origin_x != 0.0 or v.origin_y != 0.0:
         raise ValueError("The vector fields must be destaggered.")
 
     grid = get_grid(u.geography)
diff --git a/src/idpi/operators/vertical_interpolation.py b/src/idpi/operators/vertical_interpolation.py
index de7403bc..18709b4b 100644
--- a/src/idpi/operators/vertical_interpolation.py
+++ b/src/idpi/operators/vertical_interpolation.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def interpolate_k2p(
         )
     # Check that dimensions are the same for field and p_field
     if (
-        field.origin != p_field.origin
+        field.origin_z != p_field.origin_z
         or field.dims != p_field.dims
         or field.size != p_field.size
     ):
@@ -253,16 +253,16 @@ def interpolate_k2theta(
     )
 
     # Check that typeOfLevel is supported and equal for field, th_field, and h_field
-    if field.vcoord_type != "model_level" or field.origin["z"] != 0.0:
+    if field.vcoord_type != "model_level" or field.origin_z != 0.0:
         raise RuntimeError(
             "interpolate_k2theta: field to interpolate must "
             "be defined on model_level layers"
         )
-    if th_field.vcoord_type != "model_level" or th_field.origin["z"] != 0.0:
+    if th_field.vcoord_type != "model_level" or th_field.origin_z != 0.0:
         raise RuntimeError(
             "interpolate_k2theta: theta field must be defined on model_level layers"
         )
-    if h_field.vcoord_type != "model_level" or h_field.origin["z"] != 0.0:
+    if h_field.vcoord_type != "model_level" or h_field.origin_z != 0.0:
         raise RuntimeError(
             "interpolate_k2theta: height field must be defined on model_level layers"
         )
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ def interpolate_k2any(
         raise ValueError(f"Unsupported mode: {mode}")
 
     for f in (field, tc_field, h_field):
-        if f.vcoord_type != "model_level" or f.origin["z"] != 0.0:
+        if f.vcoord_type != "model_level" or f.origin_z != 0.0:
             raise ValueError("Input fields must be defined on full model levels")
 
     # ... tc values outside range of meaningful values of height,
diff --git a/src/idpi/operators/vertical_reduction.py b/src/idpi/operators/vertical_reduction.py
index 842374e4..a57e0896 100644
--- a/src/idpi/operators/vertical_reduction.py
+++ b/src/idpi/operators/vertical_reduction.py
@@ -95,10 +95,7 @@ def minmax_k(field, operator, mode, height, h_bounds, hsurf=None):
     #  levels included in the height interval, and at the interval boundaries
     #     after linear interpolation wrt height; f and auxiliary height fields
     #     must either both be defined on full levels or half levels
-    if (
-        field.vcoord_type != height.vcoord_type
-        or field.origin["z"] != height.origin["z"]
-    ):
+    if field.vcoord_type != height.vcoord_type or field.origin_z != height.origin_z:
         raise RuntimeError(
             "minmax_k: height is not defined for the same level type as field."
         )
@@ -256,7 +253,7 @@ def integrate_k(field, operator, mode, height, h_bounds, hsurf=None):
             "integrate_k: field must be defined for level type "
             "generalVertical or generalVerticalLayer"
         )
-    if field.origin["z"] != 0.0:
+    if field.origin_z != 0.0:
         field_on_fl = destagger(field, "z")
     else:
         field_on_fl = field
diff --git a/src/idpi/operators/wind.py b/src/idpi/operators/wind.py
index 2d71142b..b03ee747 100644
--- a/src/idpi/operators/wind.py
+++ b/src/idpi/operators/wind.py
@@ -35,9 +35,7 @@ def speed(u: xr.DataArray, v: xr.DataArray) -> xr.DataArray:
         the horizontal wind speed [m/s].
 
     """
-    centered = {dim: 0.0 for dim in tuple("xyz")}
-
-    if u.origin != centered or v.origin != centered:
+    if u.origin_x != 0.0 or v.origin_y != 0.0:
         raise ValueError("The wind components should not be staggered.")
 
     name = {"U": "SP", "U_10M": "SP_10M"}[u.parameter["shortName"]]
diff --git a/tests/test_idpi/test_destagger.py b/tests/test_idpi/test_destagger.py
index 13131460..2ab91a02 100644
--- a/tests/test_idpi/test_destagger.py
+++ b/tests/test_idpi/test_destagger.py
@@ -27,6 +27,6 @@ def test_destagger(data_dir, fieldextra):
     assert_allclose(fs_ds["V"], v, rtol=1e-12, atol=1e-9)
     assert_allclose(fs_ds["HFL"], hfl, rtol=1e-12, atol=1e-9)
 
-    assert u.origin["x"] == 0.0
-    assert v.origin["y"] == 0.0
-    assert hfl.origin["z"] == 0.0
+    assert u.origin_x == 0.0
+    assert v.origin_y == 0.0
+    assert hfl.origin_z == 0.0