You’ve Got Mail! Three little words that fill you with excitement and anticipation, and possibly even remind you of an old Meg Ryan movie.
Everyone gets excited about a gift-wrapped bundle of goodies – especially crafted for you. And just when that bundle happens to include coffee in it, the world does get a little bit better!
Walking down the coffee aisle at your local supermarket can at times leave you with more questions than answers. Have you ever wondered if there could be a simpler way to wade through all the jargon and get the best brown beans that are just right for you?
Coffee subscription services might just be the right answer and we are here to tell you about the best of them! Yep, and many of these might not be listed elsewhere, but we do.
Best Coffee Subscription Box Services
What Type of Coffee Subscriber Are You? When it comes to your daily cup of perfection, some have a very clear idea of everything; from where must the beans hail, to the size of the beans and the level of roast.
The ‘experimental’ ones are open to trying new flavors while the ‘set minds’ will never waiver from their choice. Then there are the ‘explorative kinds’, who don’t know what they want; till they try their hand at a few samples. Whatever your demands, chances are you’ll find what you’re looking for with one of these subscriptions.
1. Spirit Animal Coffee Subscription
The coffee that you will get from this brand is unique because it is a combination of luxury and sustainability. They are concerned about the farmers who grow excellent coffee plantations and provide high-grade coffee at your doorstep.
If you have a special corner for Honduran beans, this is the one you need. The beans are grown roasted and packed on-site and then shipped by air. Hence the freshness of the beans is preserved.
Additionally, all of the beans by Spirit Animal Coffee are naturally low acidic making them among the most healthy ones that don’t upset the stomach.
Another great thing about the brand is that all the beans are tested for mycotoxins and pesticides which many brands and roasters just don’t talk about. Each of their product has a testing report on their website for proof.
A unique collection of beans from a precise new brand that has the Spirit to give you the Best Beans, Always!
Subscription offers 50% off on the first batch of orders which will apply automatically once you checkout. As a member, you have a chance to save a lot compared to other non-members.
Another important thing that you must note is that you can swap a variety of coffee at any time and don’t just have to stick to only a single flavor. Like many other brands, they also provide 100% free shipping for a lifetime.
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There is no middleman between the brand and the farmers. The small-scale farmers have only 2 hectares of land each. Therefore, the beans you will get are picked properly, organic and shade-grown. There is no chance of getting bad beans in the package.
The farmers are properly paid for the hectic work they do. Additionally, the company confirms proper testing of the beans for mycotoxins.
2. Trade Coffee Subscription
With more than four hundred varieties from fifty different roasters to its name, Trade Coffee promises to find you your one true caffeine match. The official site provides an easy-to-understand questionnaire to start you off. It should help you navigate through the various options available to lock onto the one that suits your tastes best.
Subscribe to one of the largest variety providers and you will always taste something new.
Should you feel intimidated by the sure volume of choices, the customer care department is very friendly and eager to help in any way.
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Apart from coffee beans, you can also find everything from coffee pots, scales, and filters to cold coffee brewing kits. Regardless of which package you decide to subscribe to, you are treated to complimentary cold brew bags.
The site also offers a guarantee that you’re going to fall in love with the first batch delivered to your house. If they are wrong, they offer the next delivery for free.
3. Koa Coffee subscription
Running for over two decades, Koa coffee brings you high-quality coffee beans hand-picked from the tropical paradise of Hawaii. They have the perfect starter pack offering three varieties to introduce new coffee drinkers to the world of Kona beans. Their star product the Grande Domaine is sourced from plants that have been alive for over a hundred years.
The company has been a winner of many awards for its brilliant coffee quality.
Once a member of the Koa coffee club, you can pick how often you want the beans to arrive at your home. They have the general monthly supply option, if however, you are someone who guzzles a number of cups a day, you can opt for the fortnightly deal. They also deliver once every two months if you’d rather relish a cup slowly.
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Koa Coffee has a number of awards to its name including the Gevalia Cupping Competition and the Pacific Coast Coffee Association Coffee of the year.
4. Cooper’s Cask Coffee Subscription
One of the newer ventures to grace this list Cooper’s Cask has managed to unite coffee aficionados, with whisky and wine connoisseurs. The coffee at Cooper’s Cask is aged in barrels that have been previously used to age whisky, wine, bourbon, beer, and rum. This throws its subscribers into a new and exciting world where they are exposed to a whole new range of flavor profiles.
Discover a whole new range of flavor profiles with Cooper’s concept of aged barrels.
You can choose to have this single-origin coffee delivered in whole beans, as well as the ground option. Cooper’s cask allows subscribers to choose to receive their coffee in one, two, three, or four weekly intervals.
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The company also provides mugs, hats, shirts, tank tops, and hoodies should you be in the mood for some merchandise.
If you’re looking to be educated on the whole process we’re afraid you’re going to be a tad bit disappointed. We would love to see the official website update to provide more information on the roasting, aging, and storing process.
5. Amor Perfecto Coffee Subscription
Are you in love with the coffee flavors of Colombia? If so, this particular subscription is for you. The brand promises that every bean is harvested, roasted, and shipped at your doorstep direct from Colombia. This means the packaging is done on-site to guarantee freshness. They also assure that they provide each bag with fresh coffee roasted and shipped on the same day as that of the purchase date.
As the name sounds so artistic, the coffee is also crafted like an art. Prepare to fall in love with their beans.
Now the best part is the gifting policy. The subscription comes in various options. You can get a 3-months, 6-months, and 12-months subscription to gift your near and dear ones. Therefore, whether it is a New Year, Christmas, or any other special occasion, what can be better than to gift the subscription.
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Each subscriber gets two new and unique single farm coffees every month. The expert team makes sure that each and every bean is perfect and gives the full flavor of the coffee. Whether is the procurement team, excellent baristas, or the maestro roasters, you can completely rely on the outcome. There is no penalty for the cancellation of the subscription. Subscribers can take it back any time without giving any charges.
6. Onda Coffee Subscription
The beauty of Onda is the concern that they show for the farmers. Therefore, when you are getting the subscription, you are indirectly helping the farmers who grew them.
The revenue from every bag is shared with farmers for their well-being.
The freshly roasted coffees have diverse origins. Packaging includes the name and region from where they are procured. Both whole beans and ground forms are available. The grounds have variants for drip and French Press. The brand suggests taking the whole beans in case you have a good grinder at home.
You can customize or cancel the subscription anytime. There are no hard and fast rules on the cancellation policy.
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The Onda coffee is like a world tour of the coffee. Starting from Brazil, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Burundi to Laos, you will get the maximum variety. The amount in the package goes well for 2 weeks for 2 people in general. Now, the reason you will subscribe is the free shipment policy by the company. No charges are required to pay for the delivery. However, for each shipment, farmers can get up to 12 times more bonus than the Fair Trade Wages.
7. BeanBox
Hope you have already heard this name before. Based in Seattle, this company or concept was founded by Ryan and Matthew, who are software engineers at the core but have blended their programming skills with coffee.
Seattle where coffee roasters can be found on every street. Each and every roaster has its own specialties and collections. And so, the concept was to bring the beans from Seattle to the whole world. Yes, they ship internationally.
Discover some of the most exciting varieties covered from all over the world at BeanBox.
BeanBox is known for its coffee subscriptions as they have numerous varieties and an easy-to-use interface that allows you to pick your type of coffee, easily. Just navigate through them and you will yourself know what we are talking about.
8. MistoBox Coffee Subscription
MistoBox, founded in 2011 and appeared on Shark Tank in 2013, is the best coffee subscription for just about any coffee lover. They offer the largest variety of coffee with over 53 partnerships with Roasters from all across the US and are currently serving up 564 coffees!
Customers at Mistobox can illustrate their preferences at the signup process and a coffee curator would then help in getting you the best coffees!
The customer plays a big role in what coffee they receive in each delivery by filling out a short quiz at signup, illustrating their coffee preferences, and giving feedback. Customers are paired with a coffee curator to help create the perfect mix of coffees in your to suit your coffee taste palette. Want to choose your own coffees? No sweat. Use MistoBox’s Brew Queue to handpick your own coffee.
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We love their super flexible delivery schedule and full transparency. You can get coffee every week or as infrequently as every 45 days, and anything in between. In addition, they’re in communication every step of the way letting you know when your coffee beans are being roasted and when to expect delivery. And, you can even manage your Mistobox coffee subscription with your Amazon Echo using the Alexa App! Pretty cool :)
9. Blue Bottle Coffee Subscription
Born out of Oakland, California, the team at Blue Bottle believes there is a peak time once a coffee bean is roasted during which you get the most flavor out of the bean. They deliver the goods to your door right before this period begins. They also provide a note with your batch of coffee how long the coffee you have will retain its peak flavor.
One of the marvels in collecting the best coffee from all over.
On the site, you are offered the option of selecting precisely the kind of coffee you want to be brought to your home. If you’re unsure of your tastes or wish to be brave slash brazen and experiment, there is also a fun quiz you can answer which allows the computer to pick your subscription for you.
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Those of you who have a bit of OCD when it comes to their coffee preparation, celebrate; The beans delivered come with instructions on the precise brewing temperature, the espresso is measured in gms along with a measure of its extraction process down to the last second.
You have the option to choose between any of their eight blends. There is also a decaf coffee option should that be more your requirement.
10. Lifeboost Coffee Subscription
Many of us have a special taste for coffee. You may be one of them who does not like the blended flavor of the coffee. With Lifeboost you will get single-origin beans. It is very exciting to know that the company says that your bag of coffee has beans from the same farm, the same roast, and from the same plant. This very preciseness is the reason; you have to get a subscription.
If you are not satisfied with Lifeboost, just return their left-over coffee or even empty bags within 30 days of your subscription, and you will be refunded!
With the advent of modernization, a lot of pesticides and herbicides are applied to the plantations. However, this is not the case for Lifeboost. They are among the 3%, who grow coffee plantations naturally without any harmful chemicals. Additionally, the plants are grown in shades allowing the process of natural maturation. The coffee cherries are picked by hand with perfection and hence, it is safe for your stomach. No acidity, no digestion issues with the coffee.
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The reliability of this coffee subscription is based on the very minute yet specific actions they have taken. Even the percentage of the internal humidity (11.5%) is maintained so that the beans are not affected by mycotoxins. Therefore for the goodness of health, purely organic beans from Nicaragua, and the energy boost, this subscription can definitely be added to the list.
11. Driftaway Coffee Subscription
Who doesn’t love supporting a cozy small business that’s fighting its way amongst the corporate giants? Driftway coffee is just that and more. Leading the industry into a more eco-friendly territory, Driftaway packaging is 100% compostable.
One of the leaders in providing some of the most interesting beans at home.
Committed to offering you the perfect match, Driftaway sends a testing kit before you subscribe. The kit includes four different types of coffee for assessment. You can rate-review them and also provide your own notes on the Driftaway-app to create your own taste profile.
The beans are roasted only six hours before they are being shipped out for delivery. This guarantees freshness along with a postcard providing an origin story.
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If you’re someone who prefers their beverage on the icy side, Driftaway has expanded its range with a unique cold brew starter kit that includes a cold brew dispenser.
The company also has a system that allows you to directly get in touch with the coffee farmers should you be in the mood for a chat or offer feedback.
12. Coffee.Org Subscription
Sourcing beans from South America and Central Asia for their signature brand of coffee, Coffee.Org melds the comfort of a warm cup of coffee or tea with traditional southern hospitality.
An old leader of the coffee industry with wise hands-on selection.
If that didn’t sound indulgent enough, they also tempt you to treat yourself to teas, cakes, cookies, hot chocolate, and other goodies. Apart from their own unique blend of Miss Ellie’s coffee and teas, they also stock items from other brands including Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Maxwell House, and Folgers.
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You can also get yourself themed mugs and tote bags from the site.
The site also has a blog that addresses questions on the coffee industry and relevant trends going around. Tips and tricks for storage and how to get the best out of your beans.
Your monthly shipment of coffee often has a hidden surprise within. The brand is very active on social media platforms like Google Plus, Twitter, and Facebook which make them extremely easy to approach.
13. Hawaii Coffee Company
Running for a hundred and fifty-two years, Hawaii Coffee Company is the oldest on our list and also one of the largest roasters of Kona coffee beans in the world. They offer an extensive range of coffees that have been roughly grouped into six club options. If none of the groups are to your liking, you can also customize your own.
One of the oldest Coffee companies on the list and they are all versed in what they give.
Growing and roasting their own beans, the company boasts of a two-way valve design in their packaging that claims to allow the shelf life of the coffee to last an entire year. Each bag comes with a note that tells you all the ingredients that are included, which come in use especially in the flavored varieties.
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In case you’ve got a tea lover in the house, they also do a range of black, green, and herbal teas. There is a geographical limitation if you choose to subscribe to this company. You will only be exposed to coffee from the reign of Hawaii.
14. Atlas Coffee Subscription
As the name suggests, Atlas coffee can get you beans from all across the world.
With its base in Austin, Texas, they source the best beans from farms in the topmost coffee-growing regions on the globe. They allow you to choose everything from how often and how much to the whole bean vs pre-ground and the type of roast and you wish to be shipped.
Inspired by travel frequent flyer points, Atlas coffee also offers its buyers a rewards program that can be redeemed through credit, products, or free shipping. With Atlas, you can explore the world from the comfort of your home, one steaming cup at a time.
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The monthly delivery arrives in a customized casing that reflects the culture of the world you are sampling. There will also be an entertaining postcard with it that provides tasting and flavor notes along with brewing information.
Apart from subscription fees, you do have to pay an additional amount for shipping. Given that the beans are often traveling from overseas, that is an expenditure you should make note of.
15. Craft Coffee Subscription
While we would all love a supply of heaven in a cup, a few cautious coffee drinkers might be concerned; about the pinch on their pocket. Craft coffee offers a compromise offering good quality for a price that will not require you to break the bank. One of the pioneers of online coffee subscriptions, craft coffee promises to provide the highest quality of the product for low-costs. Whether you need beans for French Press or maybe for the drip coffee, just tell your preference and they will adapt to it.
The website offers personalized tests to ensure you are being paired with produce that is just right for you. Providing coffee at your door within 1 to 3 days of roasting. Craft coffee hopes to save you a trip to the supermarket offering artisan quality coffee at grocery store prices.
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Almost a decade old, craft coffee provides free shipping so there are no overhead costs. They even promise a price match if you manage to find a cheaper offer in stores. The official site of craft coffee also provides informative reviews on the various coffee brewing styles.
16. Strong Coffee Subscription (Instant Coffee)
As their main tagline goes, it is the ‘coffee with benefits’. This coffee subscription gives you 20% OFF on every purchase. Besides, the free samples obviously add interest to the buyer. The unique nomenclature and bright packaging make it more attractive. Instant and organic coffee is very easy to prepare. It is strong, super smooth, and aromatic. (We don’t say that Instant is bad, as every person has their preferences and sometimes Instant works better)
Whether it is the start of the day or the second half of the day, every packet is designed based on the mood and time.
Once you subscribe with strong coffee, as per their mentions, you will become a part of a loyal reward program. The points collected can be used for future purchases. However, the most eye-catching matter is their 100% money-back guarantee policy. In addition, you have the opportunity to skip, pause, or even cancel anytime you want. With these criteria, who would not give it a chance!
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The Strong Coffee subscription comes with free access to the STRRONGWORX, which means you can be fit and strong now. The app includes videos of workouts which unless otherwise is not free to get. Besides, the subscription will also allow getting access to the apparel and new products.
How to Choose the Best Coffee Subscription Box
It is easy to feel spoiled for choice with so many options covering everything you can and cannot think of. In case you find yourself getting a little bit lost, there are a few things to think about that should hopefully help you make a decision.
Ground or Whole Beans
Most of the subscribers in the list above provide the option of both whole beans, as well as ground coffee. You could, however, come across a few that don’t. While grinding the beans at home is considered a fresher and better option by some, make sure you have the correct tools at home should you choose that.
The Customization Part
While no one can deny the satisfaction of having your perfect cup ready and gift wrapped for you, there are some who opt to be part of the process. Different subscribers offer different levels of control when it comes to customizing your packages.
If you’re someone who wants to have their hands all the way in, you can find a subscription that offers you a voice in deciding the size of the beans, where they are sourced from, what the roast on the bean will be, how often you can have it delivered to home and much more. If you’d rather have all the nitty-gritty decided for you, you can find a subscriber that has that all worked out for you too.
Blend vs Single Origin
While mixing beans from different locations and roasting them together helps bring out more complex coffee profiles, a variety of beans also helps fill in the favor gaps that would otherwise be exposed in single-origin coffee. There are off course those that have a more tailored taste and prefer their beans be sourced from a single location and roasted in isolation. Fortunately, there are subscriptions available to match both needs.
Single vs Multiple Roaster
Would you prefer the company have their coffee roasted at a single central location from where it is then shipped all across the country and/or the world?
On the other side, companies that employ multiple roasters will test products from a range of roasters that vary in location and size. They will test the product for you and try to provide its subscribers with an overview encompassing various taste profiles.
Exactly When do you need
How many coffee drinkers are there in your household?
The number of cups you enjoy in a day! How much does the freshness of the beans matter to you?
These are questions you’re going to have to ask yourself before committing to a subscription. While all companies offer a monthly dose of goodies delivered to your door, there are others that provide coffee every two weeks, or two months should the need arise.
Is it Fair Trade?
Money matters when we make any decision. We are always aware and cautious about whether we are getting the right value for our money. While most companies have the beans roasted in a developed part of the world, the actual beans are often sourced from developing countries. It won’t hurt to take a peek to see if the workers are treated and paid fairly before deciding on a subscription. The Fair Trade coffee certification ensures that.
Ready to Test the Beans?
The mystical world of coffee can be a scary, confusing and at times an intimidating place. If you’re someone who is just dipping their toes in for the first time and don’t know up-from-down and right-from-wrong, a coffee subscription is the best solution to test the waters and help you find the perfect fit. If on the other hand, you’ve always been more of a tea drinker yourself, coffee subscriptions make great gifts if you’re ever in a fix.