UK Coffee subscriptions: how do they work?

Coffee is sent to your mailbox on a weekly, monthly, or other pre-determined basis by a coffee subscription service. The coffee is received directly from the coffee roaster or from the curator of the subscription.

The UK coffee subscriptions are popular these days and there is a good reason for that. Of all the methods available to get coffee, a coffee subscription seems to be the easiest and probably the fastest. For people residing in the UK, there are several options available for coffee lovers to choose from when it comes to coffee subscriptions.

With all the choices available, there is a coffee subscription for everyone out there. The problem however is, with so many options, it becomes difficult picking the right one. So, how do you pick the proper coffee subscription? The answer to that is simple. First, you need to understand the details of coffee subscriptions and how they work. Thereafter, you can find out which one suits you the most.

In this article, you will discover all you need to know about coffee subscriptions and how you can select one that meets your needs.

What are Coffee Subscription Services?

A coffee subscription service like any other subscription service. The only difference is; this subscription helps you get coffee delivered to your coffee subscription box on a predetermined basis. it could be weekly, monthly or annually. It's all about what you want. The coffee you get could either be from the curator of the subscription or from the coffee roaster.

In most cases, people get their coffee from their coffee subscription service at the beginning of the month. That is, most coffee subscription services send the coffee at the same time to all their subscribers. However, subscribers can also request to have their coffee sent to them on a special schedule at different frequencies and times.

The idea is that, before you choose a coffee subscription service, you must ensure you fully understand your personal coffee consumption. That way, you will know how much coffee you need and when exactly you need the coffee.

Types of Coffee Subscription service

Coffee subscription service are usually of two types

• Single roaster subscription
• Multi roaster subscription

Single Roaster Subscription

Like the name, a single roaster subscription is a coffee subscription that is provided by a single coffee roaster.

This is a good idea if you have a particular preference for a coffee roaster probably due to their good service to you in the past. With a single roaster subscription, you can support local coffee roasters but without the stress of going to visit them at their stores.

Multi-Roaster Coffee Subscriptions

Like the name, this subscription service gets you coffee from different roasters in a specific region. Sometimes, this type of subscription services is also called curation services. That's because they get the coffee directly from the roasters before they ship it to you.

This however does not apply to all coffee subscription services. While some prefer to play the curator role, some others have their coffee roasters handle all of the fulfilment. That way, the customer gets their delivery as soon as possible since the curator does not interfere.

If you want to have as many varieties as you can and brand loyalty is not your priority, then a multi-roaster subscription is the option for you.

How do coffee subscriptions work?

The one thing that makes coffee subscription boxes very appealing asides from the fact that they cater for a desire for better coffee is that everything happens online.

The coffee delivery service itself is a long value chain where everyone gets a share of benefits. The whole process starts with the wholesalers (see the best coffee beans supplier UK) and suppliers and then travels through the hands of the coffee subscription service business until it gets to the final consumers.

This is how it works:

1. A customer needing coffee visits the website of his subscription service
2. The website sends them to the landing page where they can subscribe for coffee
3. The customers at this point get to choose the coffees or boxes they want
4. Next, the customer needs to select how often they want the coffee delivered
5. The customer will then be transferred to enter their payment information and confirm payments
6. The coffees as at when due.

That said, two things are important for a subscription service. The first is the ability to transact online and the second is the packaging needed by the service delivery owner.

You may be aware of some of coffee companies in the UK;

• Costa Coffee
• Starbucks
• The coffee Club
• Blue Bottle Coffee Company
• Rave Coffee
• The Pact Coffee

Factors to consider when choosing a coffee subscription

Like we said earlier, there are several options to choose from when it comes to coffee subscriptions. The question is, how do you find the new that is good enough for you. The following are the top 5 things to consider when choosing a coffee subscription.

1. Quality of the coffee

This is probably the most important thing to consider. Every coffee subscription offers coffee but then, what's the point in buying coffee if you won't drink it? Therefore, the coffee you are subscribing to must be of quality. Also, the roast level should suit you.

To find a roaster that meets your taste, you could either request a trial before you start. So, if the coffee does not meet your taste, you can cancel the subscription.

2. Quantity of Coffee

One of the reasons you are getting a coffee subscription is so you do not run out of coffee to start with. At the same time, you don't want too many coffee beans lying around in your house. Therefore, you need a subscription service that can offer you the quantity you need per time. Usually, there are two ways to do that.

You can have the delivery frequency adjusted so you get the quantity you need. That is, if you take lots of coffee, you can have about 500 g delivered every 3 days. And if you are the conservative type, you can have about 500 g delivered to you every week.

In the alternative, you could request increased changes in quantity once in a while. So instead of choosing a fixed choice, you can pick different quantities for your coffee deliveries per month.

3. Pricing per Kilo

While you need a coffee subscription that allows you to get the right quantity, you should also consider the pricing for the quantity you need.

Some coffee subscription service makes their coffee cheaper only when you buy more. For instance, you could be paying 1kg for 60 dollars per month. Then, you suddenly realise you need an extra 250 g.

You will be surprised that some services will make you pay extra instead of paying per kilo for the coffee. Therefore, always check to see if you are comfortable with the price per KG of the coffee beans before opting in for the coffee subscription.

You want a coffee subscription that allows you to fine-tune your quantity (as described above) without punishing your wallet.

4. Fresh deliveries

If freshly roasted coffee is your thing, then by all means look for a service that can deliver that to you. There are a few companies that offer freshly roasted coffee beans to their subscribers. Usually, these companies have a number of suppliers themselves and so they can plan ahead and make adjustments in their schedule.

The only issue is, finding companies that can supply freshly roasted beans can be an issue. For instance, companies that get their coffee from different roasters have this issue mostly. This is because, as they switch roasters, they sometimes give their supplier an unusual demand. As such the roaster has to prepare ahead by roasting their coffee beans ahead of time.

5.Reviews

Customer reviews are extremely important when you are looking for the best subscription service. You need to read as many reviews as you can find on the internet about the brand you want to buy from to know some things. First, you want to be sure the coffee suits your coffee drinking habits. Also, you need to be sure if the coffee is worth the price attached to it.

You also want to be sure if the service delivery is consistent and can be trusted with your money. All these and many more are the valuable information you will get when you check online for customer reviews. With this information, from what customers are saying about the subscription, you can then make the best decisions that will suit you.

6. Perks

The final thing to consider is the added advantage or perks if you may that comes with your coffee subscription. There are so many nice coffee roasters out there waiting for your money. Sometimes, the above alone cannot help you decide because the good ones offer the best at almost the same price range. However, some roasters give you a little more benefit for signing up with them.

After you have checked and you are sure the service meets the needed criteria, you can now consider if there are some other side benefits for you. Some roasters offer amazing discounts on your first order as their own side attraction.

Have you see what are the different types?

Frequently Asked Questions