The subscription commerce model has done wonders for everything from clothing to cheese and, yes, coffee. These subscription services send you fresh-roasted beans delivered right to your door, typically at a set interval. Some are designed to help you find the right roasts and beans, with questionnaires or rating systems, while others like Trade and MistoBox focus on sending a mix of different coffee types and small-roaster beans.
Most of the subscriptions we tested let you select a grind and flavor preference, and some ask about your coffee drinking style (drip or espresso), as well as whether you prefer blends or single-origin beans. You can also tag favorite blends in your account and order them easily. Most of the services allow you to go month-to-month, but some offer three-, six- and 12-month subscriptions at a discounted monthly rate (you can switch or cancel at any time).
One of the best-designed subscriptions we tried is Driftaway Coffee, which offers a free Explorer kit that lets you try five two-ounce bags of a different blend from around the world. You can taste each coffee on your own, jot down notes and compare them against each other in an easy-to-read chart or even do it alongside experts on a Zoom call. Then you can dial in your preferences to get a larger bag of the brew you love most.
Atlas Coffee Club is another good option, letting you choose a grinder and frequency of deliveries. Its expert panel selects a new coffee each week, and you can choose to receive a bag or two each month. It’s an excellent choice for someone who loves to brew at home but doesn’t have the equipment of a commercial coffee shop.