We looked at several coffee subscription boxes and covered all the bases, from gifting to fast delivery. Many of the companies we chose put a strong emphasis on fair trade and organic beans. Our roundup of top picks will help you navigate your next cup of joe smoothly.
Best Coffee Subscriptions of 2022
Best Overall: Bean Box Best for Gifting: Driftaway Coffee Best for Craft Coffee: Trade Coffee Best for Organic Coffee: Conscious Coffee Best for Fair Trade Coffee: Grounds for Change Best for Single-Origin Beans: Modest Coffee Roasters Best for Fast Delivery: La Colombe
Why We Chose It: Bean Box ticked multiple boxes on our list of criteria for a coffee subscription service. The tipping point was the company’s transparency on fair trade vs. direct trade policies and the ability to read ratings and reviews of the coffees it sells. ProsRewards programFree shippingCoffee is roasted to order ConsSlow response time from customer service The Seattle-based Bean Box allows customers to customize their coffee subscriptions based on roast levels and flavor profiles. Each Bean Box is chosen by the company’s in-house curator and coffee expert, Maryna Gray. Single-origin and decaf bans are available, and all beans are roasted to order. You can select whole beans or ground coffee for your subscription. Bean Box guarantees peak freshness and flavor in every bag. Customers choose the delivery frequency—weekly ($20 per shipment), biweeky ($22 per shipment), or monthly ($24 per shipment)—and receive a 12-ounce bag with each delivery that brews 24 to 36 cups. Subscriptions can be paused, skipped, or canceled any time before 5 p.m. PST on Thursday the week before any scheduled shipments. The extent of customizing your coffees is limited to roast preference (light to dark), and any blends you fall in love with can be purchased in larger bags via Bean Box’s online shop. We also appreciate the transparency of the website; both positive and negative reviews appear equally. Why We Chose It: Among the list of companies on our list, Driftaway has the most options for gift-giving. From personalization to coffee gear, this is a one-stop-shop for bringing a smile to any coffee lover’s face. ProsGift recipients receive an explorer kitUses 100% compostable packagingWebsite is ADA compliant ConsCoffees aren’t roasted to orderNot a ton of coffees to choose from Driftaway Coffee is as personalized as it gets, initially sending your gift recipient a Coffee Explorer Kit so they can try out the nuances of four different coffees based on where they’re from and how they were roasted. Customers can personalize their gifts with the recipient’s name, and because gift subscriptions don’t automatically renew, you don’t have to worry about keeping tabs on your account. Gift subscriptions are the site’s bestsellers, allowing you to have the first delivery shipped to you (so you can present it to the recipient yourself) or shipped directly to them. E-gift cards and gift sets are also available. Pricing varies depending on the size of the bag you choose and your delivery frequency, but it starts at $44 per month. Apart from the gift subscription, Driftaway offers virtual tasting parties to allow you to sip and learn with your family and friends. The host purchases a date and time for their session, and then Driftaway ships out kits of four unlabeled coffee brews to everyone in your party to taste while guided by the shop’s in-house brewmaster. The “farmer feedback” option on the site is also a nice way to let customers share their opinions on a particular coffee bean with the grower. Special Offer: Use code SIMPLY20 for $20 off your first three bags plus free shipping. Why We Chose It: Trade Coffee matches subscribers to roasters who will roast their perfect cup of joe for the ultimate craft coffee. ProsYou can reorder a favorite coffeeSeveral choices for shipping frequencyExposure to new roasters with every delivery ConsDifficult to find subscription cost Trade Coffee actually ships coffee from some of the companies on this list, so its dedication to craft coffee is what landed it in our roundup. The company’s mission is to help its customers discover and prepare better coffee at home. The first step in your Trade craft coffee journey is to get matched with a roaster. First-time buyers will receive 30% off of their first bag and 15% off of every order placed within 30 days from that first order, as well as free shipping. A First Match Guarantee means that if you don’t love your first coffee, the company will replace it for free. Trade lists its roasters and their blends on the site. Each bag tells the backstory of the roaster in charge of the coffee, so in addition to tasting each product, you get to learn about the folks who roasted it. Why We Chose It: Conscious Coffee sells nothing but organic, above fair trade coffees. It is fully committed to providing pure, clean coffees to its customers and to helping its farm partners to grow. This Certified B Corp craft roasting company is a family-owned business that focuses heavily on its social and environmental impact. The beans are 100% organic with no harsh chemicals, and they all come from cooperatives. Conscious coffee imports directly from farmers, which allows them to maintain consistent levels of quality and ensures that farmers can continue to sell their harvests at a fair price. Biweekly, monthly, and quarterly subscriptions are available, and prices start at $14 per delivery. We appreciate the simplicity of the beans available, but the smaller selection may result in repeats, which might become an issue—especially for biweekly subscribers. The site itself is also lean on information about the specific blends included in past subscriptions, though the response time to email queries from the company was quick. Why We Chose It: In addition to being a Fair Trade for Life and organic certified, family-owned and operated business, Grounds for Change’s commitment to ethics, the environment, and equity really sets it apart. Grounds for Change focuses heavily on fair trade because it recognizes that fair-trade certified coffee promotes and sustains a better life for coffee farmers by allowing them to invest back into their farms and families. The company supports fair-trade organic co-ops, uses 100% renewable energy, and composts all of its organic waste. Since its formation in 2003, the company has promoted fair-trade practices and the exclusive roasting of organic coffees. It requires its producers to have a Fairtrade Labeling Organization Certificate in addition to mandatory minimums of quality standards that are assessed with every lot of beans it purchases. Customers rave about the fast shipping times, the bean quality, and the company’s commitment to supporting partner growers. Decaf coffee drinkers will find a good selection of roasts to choose from. Why We Chose It: Modest Coffee Roasters focuses on single-origin beans and doesn’t add any supplemental flavors to them. ProsEthically sourced beansAll bags ship for $1, orders over $35 ship freeVarying price points ConsCold brew options not available in subscriptionsLimited selection Modest Coffee Roasters specializes in single-origin beans. Because it recognizes that your morning coffee is a global effort, the company is committed to finding ways to support the environment, community, and farmers. Employees constantly sample new lots of coffees to find the best ones to include in subscriptions. Subscriptions are available in varying roasts and varieties. The Sampler gives you a choice of three basic levels of coffee every month. On the opposite end, The Collector includes the highest quality, award-winning coffees from around the world. Dark roasted and decaf subscriptions are available as well. The only downside is that cold brews are not part of subscriptions; a chat with the company’s owner revealed that’s because these beverages are not homogenized. Why We Chose It: La Colombe often ships orders received before noon on the same day. There’s also free shipping on new subscriptions. ProsMany subscription types and schedulesOffers cold brews as well as traditional coffeeGift subscriptions available ConsCold brews are expensiveNo decaf options in subscriptions La Colombe has the fastest shipping options among the companies we reviewed, with a same-day shipping policy for orders placed before midday. La Colombe is the self-proclaimed creator of the draft latte in a can, and you can subscribe to receive cold brews and blends of coffee beans in a variety of roasts and flavors. Though the cold brew selection is enticing, the options are a bit expensive. Workshop coffees that highlight rare blends are available in a subscription and brew guides on the site help you get the most out of each bag. Gift subscriptions come in three-, six-, or 12-month frequencies and are prepaid. In addition to the subscription, the company also sells equipment such as grinders, french presses, and more.
How Much Do Coffee Subscriptions Cost?
Most coffee subscriptions begin at $13 per month, while the gift subscriptions or subscriptions of multiple months can range from $16 to $32 per month. When looking at monthly subscription costs, the longer the commitment, the more of a discount you’ll receive on your purchase.
Are Coffee Subscriptions Worth It?
Coffee subscriptions are definitely worth it if you enjoy trying new roasts or blends or if you love craft coffees from all over the world.
What Comes in a Coffee Subscription Box?
Most coffee subscription boxes contain one bag of coffee. Gift subscriptions include the coffee, a preference sheet for your recipient to select their roasts and blends, and a message or card.
How Are Coffee Subscriptions Packaged?
Most of the coffee subscription companies we highlighted roast and pack their coffee beans to order. If you opt for a ground coffee, you can make that selection on the website when choosing your subscription. Both whole and ground coffees are packaged in vacuum-sealed bags and are shipped in eco-friendly, compostable boxes.
Methodology
To select the best coffee subscription services, we looked at the packages and reviews of dozens of coffee roasting companies to see which ones offer subscription services. From there, we analyzed the companies’ websites to gather information on the blends, source of the beans, fair trade practices, and shipping speed and scope. We also considered product reviews, the types of coffee shipped, and how responsive companies are to email requests and questions.
