5 Best Coffee Subscription Services

You’re missing out if you’re not currently ordering your coffee online. Signing up for a coffee subscription service provides access to a wide selection of fresh and top-quality coffees. To find out about the best coffee subscription services, read on.

two friends using a tablet while having coffee - best coffee subscription services
You can have your favorite coffee beans delivered by joining a subscription service

Coffee lovers like me don’t only drink coffee for the caffeine kick. From the smell of freshly-ground coffee to the joy of taking that first sip of a creamy latte, we view coffee drinking as an experience and a beloved ritual. We like to try coffee beans from different roasters and regions; regardless of where we source our coffee, you can be sure that only the freshest beans will do.

The problem with buying coffee beans from a grocery store, even if they’re whole, is that the coffee is most likely not fresh. To brew top-quality cups of coffee, you want to use coffee that’s been roasted within the last month, which is usually not the case when coffee products have been sitting on shop shelves. By joining a coffee subscription service, you can have your favorite coffee beans delivered to your doorstep.

Over the years, I have tested several coffee subscription services, so I thought it might be good to share a selection of some of the best coffee subscription boxes I’ve come across. You might also be interested in our explainer on are coffee subscriptions worth it?

What To Look For In A Coffee Subscription Service

One of the biggest benefits of ordering your coffee online is your sheer wealth of options when choosing a coffee subscription service. You can order from small craft roasters to large coffee emporiums and companies that fall somewhere in between. Whether you like your coffee light and subtle or bold and robust, and whether you prefer drip coffee or espresso, you can rest assured that there’s a subscription service that will cater to your taste.

Since different coffee subscription services tend to focus on different things, deciding your priorities is a good place to start. For instance, is it important to you that a subscription service delivers often, or are you into buying quality coffee beans from small roasters?

a courier making a delivery to a customer at her home
You might also consider how often your subscription is delivered

Other considerations include whether a company offers ethical fair-trade products and whether the coffee products on offer suit your budget. Also, is it important for you to choose from a wide array of roasters, or are you open to buying coffee from one specific roaster exclusively?

You can also consider the customer support a subscription service offers. For instance, if you’re a newbie coffee drinker who is unsure what types of coffee you like, some companies offer customer surveys to provide you with customized recommendations of products you might enjoy.

Check out our round-up of the best tea subscription services.

How To Pick The Best Coffee Subscription Service

Delivery Frequency

Since different subscription services offer different delivery options, you need to decide how often you’d want fresh coffee beans delivered. While some companies only deliver twice a month, others deliver weekly or biweekly. How often you want your coffee delivered depends on your family’s size and how often you all drink coffee. 

Your Budget

Your budget constraints may also be a consideration when deciding on a coffee subscription service. Some companies offer more affordable selections than others. Remember, even a small difference in price can add up when you’re regularly purchasing coffee over time.

In addition, shipping costs vary from company to company. While some offer free shopping, others charge a shipping fee per delivery.

Variety Of Coffee

Before you decide on a subscription service, you want to ensure a company offers products you’d like to buy. Do you already have a favorite product that you want to be delivered regularly, or would you like to try different and new coffees?

Top view of the different types of coffee
The variety of coffee they offered might be a deal breaker for you

The selection that companies offer varies. While some source coffees from a single roaster, others offer a wide selection from different roasters. Also, the selections of coffee on offer can vary from good-quality blends to hard-to-find artisan coffees.

Types Of Coffee

You’ll also want to check what types of coffee a company provides. Although most companies I have come across offer both whole beans and ground coffee, it is tricky to find a subscription service that includes cold brews or decaffeinated options. If you have specific needs, find out whether a company can supply what you want before signing up.

Best Coffee Subscription Services

1. Trade Coffee

With over 450 curated coffees to choose from, Trade Coffee is one of the best subscription services to go for if you’d like a wide selection of coffees from America’s top roasters. Since their coffee beans are roasted to order, you can also be sure that you’ll receive only the freshest products.

Trade Coffee provides a quick survey for new customers. You need to select your favorite brewing method from various options, including the French Press, Chemex, and AeroPress. They also ask about your coffee experience level, whether you drink your coffee black or with cream, and what roast level you enjoy.

Once you’ve answered all the questions, a selection of products that match your preferences pops up. To further streamline future recommendations, customers can leave notes and rate a product after they’ve tried it.

You can easily customize deliveries to suit your needs. You can, for instance, adjust the grind size of the beans, and you can also change the frequency of deliveries. Options include once every week, one and a half weeks, two weeks, or three weeks.

Pros

  • You can choose from a wide variety of coffee from high-end roasters
  • They have flexible delivery times
  • Coffees are roasted to order
  • They offer free shipping

Cons

  • Some of their coffees are on the pricey side
  • The available selection may vary depending on the inventory of roasters

2. MistoBox

MistoBox is another company that offers a wide selection of coffee. With a choice of more than 600 coffee varieties from around 60 different roasters, you’re sure to find a coffee product that you love.

To help you with the selection process, you’re paired with a coffee expert when you sign up for a MistoBox subscription. Their job is to learn about your preferences and then make suggestions regarding coffees you may like.

Since the company is continually searching for and testing new coffees from different roasters, the coffee selection is often updated with exciting options. As with Trade Coffee, you’re presented with a short survey when you first sign up. Once you’ve answered questions regarding preferred grind size, roast level, and so on, you can choose from two tiers: Basic and Deluxe.

Opt for the Basic tier if you’d like affordable options. However, go for the Deluxe tier if you’re a coffee connoisseur and want access to limited roasts.

Pros

  • They offer a wide variety of coffees
  • They deliver every week, two weeks, three weeks, or four weeks
  • You receive a personally assigned coffee curator
  • The system is easy to use, and you can change your preference whenever you like
  • Coffees are roasted to order

Cons

  • They charge shipping
  • Their customer service is not always on point

3. Atlas Coffee Club

The emphasis at Atlas Coffee Club falls on sourcing coffee from a wide variety of destinations. If you like the idea of sipping on a new coffee that’s sourced from an exotic destination each month, you’ll enjoy this subscription service. However, if the flavor profile of your coffee is more important to you than where the coffee is sourced from, you might do better signing up with one of the other subscription services on this list.

Atlas Coffee Club website front page
Atlas Coffee Club

You can also opt for a single-bag or double-bag delivery. You get to try a new country’s coffee each month, which you won’t find on store shelves. Each delivery includes a single-origin coffee, information on its flavor profile, a postcard, and brewing tips.

You can choose whether you want whole bean or ground coffee and prefer a light-to-medium or medium-to-dark roast. Apart from the monthly coffee, you can also choose from a selection of coffees that were offered in the past. Tea drinkers will be happy to hear that Atlas coffee now also offers a tea subscription service.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • They offer a unique subscription experience
  • Their system is straightforward and easy to use

Cons

  • The quality of the coffee is not the main consideration
  • They deliver less frequently, every two or four weeks
  • Customers pay for shipping

4. Driftaway Coffee

Driftaway’s collection consists of freshly roasted and curated single-origin beans sourced from around the world. This company distinguishes itself from the competition by sending new customers a tasting kit that includes five coffees.

Customers try the coffees, rate them, and add notes for each option. Driftaway uses this feedback to learn about a customer’s preferences and select the best varieties to match these.

Unlike the other companies mentioned in this list, Driftaway Coffee roasts the coffee beans themselves. This means you can be assured of receiving fresh coffee. They deliver every week, every two weeks, or once a month.

Your freshly roasted coffee beans will also receive detailed information about the coffee and the farm on which it’s grown. What’s more, the company runs sustainability programs supporting coffee farmers.

A nice added service that you’ll get with a Driftaway subscription is access to customer-exclusive virtual tastings with World Brewers Cup champion James McCarthy.

Pros

  • They provide detailed information about the coffee and the farms
  • If you pay for 12 months upfront, you receive a discount
  • They offer a cold-brew subscription service

Cons

  • They only offer whole-bean products
  • Their coffees are more expensive than those of many competitors

5. Bean Box

Bean Box is a Seattle-based company that mainly works with small-batch roasters across the US. Although the company doesn’t provide new customers with a survey, they give you a few options when you order.

You select either whole beans or ground coffee and must then opt for a light, medium, or dark roast. Espresso or decaf beans are also available. Or, if you’d like to receive a variety of seasonal favorites, go for the Curator’s Choice. All beans are roasted to order. 

Customers who purchase a subscription service can order a free Tasting Flight, which consists of four bags of Artisan coffee. You can receive fresh coffee weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. You can also order coffee from their website without a subscription, but you will pay for shipping and won’t receive members-only promotions, surprise gifts, and so on.

Pros

  • They offer free shipping on all subscription orders
  • You earn 5% back in credits each time you place an order
  • They offer a flexible and user-friendly subscription service

Cons

  • More pricey than some competitors 
  • They don’t provide a survey for new customers
Bean Box Gourmet Coffee Sample
$28.99 ($4.03 / Ounce)
  • Gourmet Coffee Sampler
  • Specialty Coffee Gift Basket
  • Whole Bean Coffee
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03/07/2024 09:20 pm GMT

Testing Criteria

When I was thinking about which subscription services to select for this list, I considered various factors. It goes without saying that all the companies that made a list offer fresh and high-quality coffee. I only chose subscription services that offer an easy-to-use online system and consistently good customer service.

Last, I also tried to list varied subscription services that all have a slightly different focus and may appeal to customers with varying needs and preferences. This list is by no means comprehensive. My aim has been to provide you with an idea of what’s available and what you can expect from a good coffee subscription service.

Why You Can Trust Me

Although I am not a professional barista or coffee roaster, I consider myself a coffee connoisseur. As my parents were coffee lovers, I grew up in a house where we made our coffee in a Chemex and took our Moka pot with us when we went camping. Over the years, I have tried many different brewing methods, coffee makers, and coffee varieties and blends, and I will no doubt continue doing so in the years to come.

Signing up for various coffee subscription services has provided me with a wider selection of coffees than I could ever have dreamt of having back in the ’80s and ’90s. This makes me very happy.

The Final Word On The Best Coffee Subscription Services 

Choosing a coffee subscription service that’s a good fit for your pocket requires a bit of homework. As the list, I provide in this article shows, different subscription services cater to the preferences and tastes of different coffee drinkers. Before you choose a service, you need to determine what kind of coffee drinker you are.

For instance, Atlas Coffee Club would be a good fit if you’d like to try an exotic new coffee each week. Those who prefer to buy their coffee from a company that prioritizes fair-trading practices may want to sign up for a Driftaway subscription service. If you’d like access to a wide selection of high-quality coffees from top roasters all over the country, take a closer look at Trade Coffee or MistoBox.

Author

  • Niki B

    Born and bred in South Africa, Niki B now does her writing from the distant shores of South Korea. A self-proclaimed coffee addict by day, and a writer by night, she gladly shares her knowledge with fellow coffee lovers.