Are Coffee Subscriptions Worth It?
Let us talk you through whether Coffee subscriptions are worth it and right for you.
Coffee subscriptions have been around for some time no doubt. Even as the third wave coffee scene was breaking into the highstreets of the world, coffee subscriptions were still around, albeit on a much smaller scale.
Very much like the independent cafe scene, coffee subscriptions are now everywhere, with new ones offering various different options popping up all the time.
But are coffee subscriptions worth it and if they are which one best suits you.
Before I dive into all the different factors of the best coffee subscriptions and which one may work best for you, here are the topics we’ll cover and the breakdown of
What is a coffee subscription?
So this may sound obvious but the answer actually goes a little deeper than the obvious.
A coffee subscription is a service that usually delivers coffee (occasionally you can opt to pick the coffee up) on a specified frequency to your desired location. This is normally in the form of coffee beans, ground or pods and designed for home use.
Now, there are also coffee subscriptions, very much like the Pret Coffee Subscription, where you pay a certain amount per month and receive coffees back (in the form of a drink).
Since the launch of the Pret coffee subscription this has fallen into the category of coffee subscription but, for me it should have adopted a different name as one may fall into the trap of purchasing a coffee subscription and receiving unlimited lattes at Pret rather than some light roasted coffee beans for a home espresso machine and visa versa.
There are different types of coffee subscriptions which we will cover below.
Benefits of Coffee Subscriptions
Here are the benefits and why maybe coffee subscriptions are worth it for you.
Fresh coffee
Ordering a coffee subscription means that you’ll be receiving fresh coffee in your prespecified frequency. Coffee has an optimal freshness which is usually between 7 - 28 days after the roast date. The majority of coffee subscriptions will send coffee out for you to consume during that peak period.
Discover new coffee
Depending on the coffee subscription that you select you can opt for a selection of coffee to try and experience different coffee roasters, coffee origins and flavours.
Ease and Convenience
This is primarily for quality specialty coffee as you can only really purchase this from specialty shops or directly from the coffee roaster (certainly not supermarkets). As you may struggle to pick this up in your weekly big shop, a coffee subscription can save a lot of time with just receiving your coffee delivered to your door.
Drawbacks of Coffee Subscriptions.
Subscription Costs
Let’s be honest, most subscriptions in whichever form they take are luxury items. We don’t ‘need’ a sky sports subscription right? Well coffee subscriptions fall into this bracket for sure and when belts are tightened, a specialty coffee subscription may be one of the first things to cut back on.
Badly Managed Frequency
If you receive coffee to often and you end up with coffee coming out of your ears, then you may end up drinking old coffee or it may become wasteful. This can always be easily fixed however by altering the amount or the frequency of a coffee subscription.
Types of coffee subscription
If you're a believer and think that a coffee subscription is worth it for your lifestyle then now comes the part where you decide which coffee subscription best suits you.
You need to decide on how you’re going to be brewing your coffee, what you want out of your coffee subscription and who you are going to trust with your morning cup of joe.
Most coffee subscriptions fall into the bracket of a coffee subscription brand or a coffee roaster offering a coffee subscription.
Coffee Subscription Brand
A coffee subscription brand will offer coffee roasted by other brands from a variety of origins. There are many of these on the market (Batch Coffee Subscription being one of them). They are also referred to as discover coffee subscriptions and usually you’ll receive a number of different coffees to enjoy.
Coffee Roaster
A coffee roaster can also offer a coffee subscription. This is great if you have a favourite coffee roaster or you like a particular blend. This is fairly common for people with home espresso machines that have found an espresso blend that they like.
Final Thoughts
I personally think that a coffee subscription is worth it (although I a little biased). Coffee subs not only take you on a voyage of coffee discovery but also keep your coffee fresh and save you remembering one more thing on the shopping list.
