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Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
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By
Bryan Huynh
Key Takeaways
Just about every coffee drinker knows that coffee is a big business. Whether you brew your coffee at home each morning or drive to your favorite coffee shop, most Americans start their day with a cup of joe. Many are also joining subscription coffee clubs that enable them to enjoy a variety of blends to find the exact type of coffee they prefer.
Coffee has been enjoyed for thousands of years. Today, more people are drinking coffee than ever. Those who consider themselves coffee connoisseurs often tire of purchasing the same type of coffee each time from their local box stores. Many join subscription coffee clubs to try an array of different types of coffee to see what types of coffee they like best. Consumers can sign up for a monthly coffee club that enables them to try different types of coffee each month.
These clubs often offer different types of beans, flavors, and coffee from different regions and at different price points. Some clubs even curate your orders based on feedback on samples. This enables them to send coffee that best suits the taste of the coffee drinker, according to TopConsumerReviews.com.
There are many different types of subscription clubs. Some of the most popular include:
Bluecart.com has some staggering statistics regarding coffee and how much Americans consume.
· 83% of Americans drink coffee regularly. Of those, 64$ drink at least one cup of coffee every day.
· The average coffee drinker has over three cups of coffee a day.
· The cost of a cup of coffee varies greatly. A cup of coffee made at home costs approximately $0.58; at a coffee shop, that same cup will cost at least $1.75.
· Consumers spend over $74 billion on coffee each year, and that number is steadily increasing.
· The coffee industry itself garners over $68 billion of income for workers each year.
· 79% of coffee drinkers prefer to drink coffee at home.
· Fewer people are drinking coffee today to get a boost from caffeine and more are drinking coffee because they enjoy the taste.
· Millennials and younger coffee drinkers choose to drink artisnal and gourmet coffee. This is often considered “third-wave” coffee.
· Coffee drinkers are willing to pay for good coffee, such as those with significant characteristics and from key coffee-growing regions.
· More people are joining coffee clubs or subscription-based coffee clubs that offer a wide range of different coffee options.
· The more coffee you drink, the less you are willing to spend on it. Daily coffee drinkers spend around $50 per month. Those who drink it weekly are willing to spend approximately $103 per month, which is the majority of those who join monthly coffee subscriptions.
· According to Statista, there were over 38.4 thousand coffee shops in the U.S. Just look on just about any streetcorner or your favorite grocery store and chances are you will see a coffee shop nearby.
With people joining coffee subscription clubs, some trends are being seen as reported by Bluecart.com.
We have discussed why consumers are joining subscription coffee clubs and the variety of coffee clubs available to the public. Two highly acclaimed coffee clubs are Atlas Coffee and Peace Coffee and we are going to dissect each brand to see what they offer, what they cost, and which monthly club may be best for the home consumer.
Both companies seem to be dedicated to bringing quality coffee into the homes of consumers while keeping a keen eye on sustainability and fair trade policies.
Atlas Coffee Club was started in 2015 after one of the founders was traveling through Panama and noticed how different the coffee in the U.S. was. This sparked Micheal Shewmake to discuss importing coffee from various regions with Jon Weirman, who had a background in coffee roasting. This was the start of the Atlas Coffee Club. The partners’ goal was to feature coffee from various locations across the world and share the stories of the growing region.
When the Atlas Coffee Club was in its infancy, Shewmake and Weirman wanted to focus on coffee that was ethically sourced from sustainable plants/environments. They began collaborating with coffee growers and farmers from over 50 different coffee-growing countries. With each shipment, they include educational resources that promote education, the growing community, and the ability to try different types of coffee not readily available.
In addition to coffee, the company now offers various coffee-making equipment, coffee accessories, and a variety of coffee gift sets.
From the onset, Atlas Coffee Club became popular because of the quality products it offers each month. The coffee subscription provides freshly roasted, high-quality coffee beans from around the world, without ever leaving home. They focus on different growing regions and single-origin coffee. The company provides information on the growth and history of each blend. Some of the coffee they feature has come from places like Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, Costa Rica, and Malawi.
There are several plans to choose from:
Along with each delivery, the consumer will receive brewing tips and tasting notes. Because the company believes in sustainability, they work directly with farmers that ensure fair wages for their workers and sustainable growing processes. They also use eco-friendly packaging and shipping methods.
With the Atlas Coffee Club, you can cancel, upgrade frequency, or skip a shipment at any time.
They also offer a reward program that awards points based on the type of coffee purchased.
Just like many popular coffee houses, Peace Coffee now offers a subscription club so coffee lovers can enjoy small-scale coffee from around the globe. The company stands out from other coffee clubs because it features unique flavored coffee made from sustainably sourced coffee beans.
With Peace Coffee Club, consumers get to choose the frequency of their deliveries. If you are a coffee connoisseur who drinks copious amounts of coffee you can choose more frequent deliveries. Then, the coffee lover can choose the grind of their coffee. Then the hard part comes… waiting for your coffee to arrive at your door for you to enjoy.
Lee Wallace is the current CEO of Peace Coffee, she officially purchased the company in 2018, when it became an independently owned company.
The company began in 1999 as a cooperative-based company that would pair coffee growers and roasters with the company, which shared their vision for fair, transparent, and sustainable farms that did right by their employees. This was the beginning of Cooperative Coffees. Today, the cooperative has over 20 members in the U.S. and Canada.
As the cooperative grew in coffee-growing regions, the company began to expand, selling organic, fair-trade coffee in local food coops and natural food stores, primarily located in the Twin Cities. Today, thanks to the coffee club, Peace Coffee can be enjoyed just about anywhere, without leaving home.
The company received a load of publicity when the actor/rapper Ice Cube stated that he often made Peace Coffee to start his mornings out right.
Sustainability and fair trade is the cornerstone of Peace Coffee. Before there was a coffee company, the cooperative was intent on working with farmers who shared the same ideals and goals. The founding partner was the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, which began working with farmers during the American farm crisis in the mid-1980s. Through that vision, the company had an unrelenting goal of only dealing with those who shared their passion to protect the coffee farmers, the culture, and the environment, while educating consumers.
The company still works with farmers to ensure that they are receiving fair market value for their coffee while sustaining the farmers’ lifestyles and their crops for future generations.
Just like most coffee clubs, Peace Coffee Club offers several different options to choose from and the frequency on which you receive your deliveries.
There are several plans to choose from:
Additionally, subscribers get a 15% discount on their subscriptions program.
Orders over $40 get the benefit of free shipping, orders under $40 incur a $5.00 shipping fee.
If you enjoy coffee and finding new blends, single-sourced, or unique types of coffee, a subscription coffee club may be a great way to explore the different types of coffee available throughout the world. In many cases, you can even get a glimpse into where the coffee comes from, how it is grown, and a bit about the country it comes from.
With more and more viable coffee clubs on the market, it is wise to look at a variety of subscription clubs, determine what you like about each of them and then make a decision. It is also smart to review the cancellation policy of them in case you don't enjoy their offerings.
This not only enables you to enjoy some wonderful, unique coffee but learn a little about its history as well.
Bryan Huynh
Product Tester & Writer
Bryan Huynh is a determined Product Tester & Writer. Being a coffee addict, it is only right that he mainly tests and reviews different coffee from around the world and coffee subscription services.
Bryan Huynh is a determined Product Tester & Writer. Being a coffee addict, it is only right that he mainly tests and reviews different coffee from around the world and coffee subscription services.
Edited by:
Bryan Huynh
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Product Tester & Writer
