The 8 Best Coffee Subscription Box Picks of 2023
Updated: Aug. 10, 2023
Whether you're looking to upgrade from supermarket beans or discover global options, we found the best coffee subscription box options for your tastebuds.
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Going to a cafe or coffee shop and sipping in style can be half the fun of caffeinating. On a daily basis, though, that pastime simply isn’t sustainable—or financially responsible. If you (or someone you know) is a coffee fanatic who’s always chasing a high-quality, small-batch cup of joe, then consider a coffee subscription box as a self-indulgent treat or a coffee-themed gift.
Subscription boxes for foodies have proven to be more than just a fad. Coffee has officially joined the likes of cheese, wine and even olive oil as a staple you can have sent straight to your door. And we’re all about it—we do drink it on the daily, after all.
However, there are more coffee subscription box picks out there than you might expect—you wouldn’t even be able to wade through them before the caffeine buzz wears off! So, we did the work for you. We’ve rounded up coffee subscriptions from small businesses and recognizable brands alike to best suit your brewing needs and coffee cravings.
Whether you like sipping lattes, supporting women-owned businesses, learning about other cultures or earning exclusive promos and deals, there’s a little something for you on this list.
The Best Coffee Subscription Boxes
- Best Overall: Bean Box
- Best Customizable: Trade
- Best Global: Atlas Coffee Club
- Best Single-Serve: Cometeer Coffee
- Best Giftable: Driftaway
- Best Small Business: Bean & Bean
- Best Specialty Drink: La Colombe
- Best Chain: Blue Bottle Coffee
Best Overall
Bean Box
Bean Box is the quintessential coffee subscription box. With each shipment, you’ll find independently roasted specialty coffee that was picked for you based on your responses to the introductory questionnaire. There are traditional light-to-dark roasts available, delivered as either grounds or whole beans, in addition to decaf and espresso options.
The aromatic beans, roasted to order, wowed our Associate Shopping Editor Madi Koetting in her review of the box. And the subscriber perks of free shipping and exclusive pricing and promos just sweeten the deal.
Pros
- Customized to suit your tastes
- Expertly curated and independently roasted coffee
- Free shipping, plus other subscriber perks
- Espresso and decaf options
Cons
- On the pricey side
Best Customizable
Trade
The genius behind Trade: “Coffee delivery on your terms.” This smart coffee subscription box puts you in the driver’s seat for almost every decision. Start by taking a short coffee quiz. Next, Trade finds the U.S.-roasted coffee that’s perfect for you from the brand’s selection of 450+ types. Finally, you determine the cadence of the (free!) deliveries, the grind of the coffee and more.
All that’s left for you to do after that is sit back and sip on your handpicked cuppa—and perhaps a cookie of the month. Plus, if you don’t love the experts’ first selection, the second one’s on the house.
Pros
- Curated based on personal preferences and coffee-making methods
- Free shipping
- 450+ coffees
- Satisfaction guaranteed
- Compostable packaging
Cons
- Only ships within the U.S.
Best Global
Atlas Coffee Club
Atlas Coffee Club is among our favorite drink- and food-of-the-month clubs because it allows you to experience global coffee culture in the comfort of your home. Every month, Atlas sends you a beautifully designed bag of fresh-roasted coffee from different regions of the world. Varieties include micro-lot coffees from Tanzania, Kenya, Colombia and Peru.
Additionally, with each delivery, you also receive an illustrated postcard with facts about the coffee’s country of origin, as well as info about the beans themselves, tasting notes and brewing recommendations. Read a comprehensive Atlas Coffee Club review from one of our editors.
Pros
- Internationally sourced
- Customizable delivery options and coffee selections
- Pod option, in addition to ground and whole-bean ones
- Seven grind types
Cons
- Unable to reorder favorite beans
Best Single-Serve
Cometeer Coffee
Love the convenience of instant coffee without, well, the taste of instant coffee? Try a Cometeer coffee subscription! These genius recyclable capsules rely on flash-frozen coffee concentrate and ship directly to your door. Simply grab a pod from the freezer, then enjoy it as hot coffee, an iced latte or even an espresso martini. No brewing required! Moreover, Cometeer offers eight roast options and a dozen roasters. Choose for the 32 capsules in your coffee subscription box to be delivered every week, two weeks or four weeks.
Senior Shopping Editor Katie Bandurski put Cometeer coffee capsules to the test in her review. “I can’t get over the convenience factor,” she says. “On busy (or, let’s be honest, lazy) mornings, the last thing I want to do is pull out my grinder and make a mess of grounds all over the countertop. Instead, Cometeer gives me a delicious, cafe-quality coffee with mere water from the kettle.”
Pros
- Nearly instant coffee
- An array of roasts and roasters
- Recyclable packaging and pods
- 32 servings per order
Cons
- Needs to stay frozen
Best Giftable
Driftaway
The ideal gift-of-the-month club, Driftaway offers more of an experience than its competitors. First, the recipient gets a Coffee Explorer Box, with five fresh-roasted, single-origin coffees from around the world. From there, they participate in an expert-guided (or self-guided) tasting to help identify their coffee preferences. Once these are pinpointed, the curation process for future deliveries begins.
Driftaway, despite being a small business, boasts some other offerings that set it apart from other coffee subscription box options, including five-pound shipments, cold brew coffees and weekly deliveries. The eco-friendly, farmer-focused company is so much more than its pretty packaging!
Pros
- Coffee Explorer Kit with a coffee tasting class
- Small business
- Cold brew and large-scale options
- Sustainable with plastic-free packaging and carbon-neutral operations
- Ships within 24 hours of roasting
Cons
- More expensive than store-bought coffee
Best Small Business
Bean & Bean
Delivering quality coffee (and tea)? Check. Making strides toward gender equity? Yup. Giving back to sloths? You bet! Bean & Bean, run by a mother-daughter duo, is roasting more than a delicious bag of coffee. Plus, every purchase helps create positive change for people and the planet.
We love the best-selling subscriptions, which let you choose your favorite roast—or a monthly surprise!—and arrive in compostable, recyclable packaging. Plus, many of Bean & Bean’s organic, fair-trade coffees are sourced from women-owned and women-led farms. Now, fill your funniest coffee mug with one of these brews and enjoy!
Pros
- Family-owned small business
- Partnership with the Sloth Institute
- Sourced from primarily women-owned and -led farms
- Tea options
- Compostable, recyclable packaging
- Roasted in house
Cons
- Starts with a 3-month subscription option
Best Specialty Drink
La Colombe
If your ideal Sunday is picking up a treat from a cafe and a bouquet of flowers, then La Columbe (and these floral subscriptions) are for you. There’s no shortage of specialties, such as canned lattes, oat milk lattes, boxed cold brew and cold brew concentrate. Don’t worry—if you take it black, there are basic (albeit quality) grounds and beans to pick as well.
Furthermore, these favorites arrive at your doorstep every one, two, three or four weeks. Free shipping’s included!
Pros
- Variety of lattes, iced and hot coffee options
- Delivery up to four times per month
- Coffee brand available in retailers nationwide
- Free U.S. shipping for subscriptions
Cons
- Higher price point
Best Chain
Blue Bottle Coffee
Whether you’re splurging on wine or coffee, a recognizable brand name provides some peace of mind. And that’s OK—especially when the product is as exceptional as Blue Bottle Coffee. The ethically sourced coffee is curated by certified Q graders (aka coffee sommeliers) and roasted to order.
On the website, you’ll find all your standard roast choices, as well as espresso, cold brew, blends and even an instant coffee option. Then, a box ships for free to your home. A subscription scores you perks such as access to not-yet-released products and special events.
Pros
- Brand recognition
- Curation by certified Q graders
- Only subscription with an instant coffee option
- Free shipping
Cons
- High price point
How We Found the Best Coffee Subscription Box Picks
Through a combination of in-depth research and firsthand testing, we identified the best coffee subscription boxes available. When making our selections, we weighed price, customizability, quality, variety and brand mission statements. Those with overwhelmingly positive reviews, from our in-house editors or regular customers, came out on top. We also considered standout perks, free shipping, expert curation and sustainable practices. We’re confident that of the myriad of coffee subscription box options for sale, these eight favorites rank among the best.
FAQ
What is a coffee subscription?
A coffee subscription is a service for which a person signs up to receive shipments of roasted coffee at preset increments. Oftentimes, packages arrive biweekly or monthly. Most merchants give subscribers options regarding grind type, flavor profile and bag size.
Are coffee subscriptions worth it?
Whether a coffee subscription is worth it will depend on the subscriber’s interest in and consumption of coffee. If a cup of instant granules and water does the trick, then this splurge is unnecessary. However, if you or a loved one is likely to source beans from local roasters, buy coffee from a cafe multiple times a week or drink coffee at a quick rate and in a high volume, then a coffee subscription is an advantageous treat.
How do coffee subscriptions work?
From vendor to vendor, coffee subscriptions work differently. Customers choose the frequency of their deliveries, the type of grind, the roast level, the size of the bags and, occasionally, the coffee flavors. As for payment, customers’ credit or debit cards are typically auto-charged at designated intervals.
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