Can you imagine your day without a cup of fresh coffee? Oooh, don’t start…
Actually, we’re not sure we could start the day without one.
If you answered in the negative to that first question and you’re sailing in the same caffeine-soaked boat as us, then can we assume that you’re something of a coffee aficionado? That you know your arabica from your robusta, your cortado from your cappuccino, and your moka from your, erm, mocha?
That said, even connoisseurs can get complacent. If you’re tired of the same old cup of Joe and feel like you’re missing out on flavour, then a speciality coffee subscription service is a great way to expand your expertise in this fascinating field. It’s also an affordable way to experience some of the world’s best coffee each and every morning.
WHAT EXACTLY IS SPECIALITY COFFEE?
Speciality coffee refers to elite, high level coffee that passes all the required tests set by the Speciality Coffee Association, from the initial phase of seed plantation to the manufacturing of the final product.
Though definitions of speciality coffee do differ between the Speciality Coffee Association of America and the European Association, three minimum requirements form the backbone of the grading system:
- The coffee should have been hand picked rather than via machine, with the former able to prioritise mature beans
- The coffee must score 80 or above in the SCA’s 0 – 100 scoring system
- The coffee must have a maximum of just 5 defects per 350 g
What’s more, the seeds have to be non-GMO, as well as unprocessed, to promise high quality from the beginning of the journey to your morning cup. Farmers need to have knowledge and experience to ensure proper plantation and soil quality, and this is usually achieved in special microclimates within the ‘Bean Belt’ between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, where the climate is most suitable for coffee plants to flourish. Here, you’ll find some of the most highly regarded and prolific coffee producing countries in the world, like Vietnam, Guatemala, Kenya and Ethiopia.
SO, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF A SPECIALITY COFFEE SUBSCRIPTION?
Firstly, flavour. These speciality coffee subscription services offer the consumer the chance to taste varieties not available in local supermarkets or on the high street.
Secondly, discovery. A speciality coffee subscription often comes with samples included in the monthly order. Buyers are asked to complete a questionnaire when first ordering, creating a profile which describes their coffee preferences. Based on the profile, vendors send subscribers different samples to try, which they might later add to their profiles for a more permanent order.
Thirdly, education. Sometimes, subscribers will be sent a new coffee randomly, opening up a whole new world of delicious discovery. The package usually comes with a newsletter explaining the type they have chosen and its history.
Finally, savings. Some coffee clubs ask for set memberships in a three-month or six-month period, which come with greater savings on the offered products. Most subscription models offer frequent discounts to reward loyalty and longevity. The longer your subscription, the lower the product price. You may even be sent free coffee samples, which we can’t argue with!
WHAT ARE THE BEST SPECIALITY COFFEE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES IN THE UK?
We’re glad you asked…
BLUE COFFEE BOX
Working with 59 small batch, UK based speciality coffee roasters, Blue Coffee Box is the ideal coffee subscription choice for those keen to diversify their drinking experience.
Each monthly delivery contains a 227g bag of the good stuff, starting at £7.49. Or, you can order a box of two 227g bags, starting at £14.99. For reference, a single cup of coffee brewed in a cafetiere uses around 7 grams of coffee – 227 grams should get you around 30 cups.
Just choose your preferred roast, grind and coffee drinking schedule, and the team will do the rest, randomly selecting new, speciality coffees with a focus very much on discovery of new roasts and blends. .
As well as fitting neatly through the letterbox, Blue Coffee Box’s deliveries are completely plastic free, which is really reassuring.
SQUARE MILE ROASTERS
London based Square Mile Roasters know a thing or two about a cup of java; they supply coffee to many of London’s best independent cafes.
But it’s their speciality coffee subscriptions that we’re interested in today. Available in weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or every 3, 6 or 12 months subscriptions (with discounts on those larger commitments), Square Mile presents their offering as akin to a ‘travelogue’, with exploration of flavour from the comfort of home on offer with every order.
Read: 7 ways to brew the IDEAL cups of coffee from around the world
Choose from filter or espresso, 350g (for single/couple’s use) or 1kg (for families), and frequency of delivery, Square Mile roast your beans to order each and every time, ensuring freshness.
A weekly delivery of 350g costs £14 per delivery. For reference, a single cup of coffee brewed in a cafetiere uses around 7 grams of coffee – 350 grams should get you around 50 cups.
PERKY BLENDERS SPECIALITY COFFEE
Whether you’re amused or irritated by the name here, Perky Blenders coffee shouldn’t be dismissed as a company based on an elaborate pun. Oh no; the coffee on offer here is superb.
Giving you the choice of six speciality blends, delivered every week, fortnight, 3, 4, or 6 weeks, a single 200g bag delivery here costs £6.50. Larger sizes are also available, with reductions on bigger orders – 1kg will set you back £30, for instance.
Each month the Perky Blenders team adds a new coffee to their roster via a ‘Coffee of the Month’ option, with their subscription model offering you the chance to try a different coffee every month if you’re keen on discovering new flavours from around the world. You’ll also receive tasting notes and information on the producers involved; a nice touch for coffee explorers.
Speaking of which, Perky Blenders also offer an ‘Explorer Pack’; a one off delivery of three exciting speciality blends for you to try. Yours for £19.50.
You can even personalise a Perky Blenders bag with 20 characters of your own choosing, making this the perfect Christmas gift (yep, we dropped the C bomb).
Read: 5 ways to impress your guests with a simple cup of coffee
CARAVAN COFFEE ROASTERS
With coffees roasted and blended to order at their North London roastery, Caravan Coffee Roasters are all about freshness and flavour.
Each bag of ‘Roaster’s Choice’ (selected depending on seasonality rather than fashion or fad) coffee comes with its own unique set of tasting notes and a brewing guide, with the subscriber able to choose between 250g or 1kg, whole or ground, espresso or filter, and every week, two weeks or monthly – all for £9.45 or £34.20 a bag.
With so much choice on offer from some of our other speciality coffee subscription favourites, this simplicity is kind of refreshing. Being a member also gives you access to discounts at some of their London cafes, including in Fitzrovia, Exmouth Market and even at the Savoy Hotel.
RAVE COFFEE
If that sort of simplicity sounds appealing to you, then Rave Coffee have streamlined their subscription model even further. The company delivers monthly, sending a different 250g bag of coffee for you to try, all for £7.95. All you have to think about is whether you need beans or ground for a cafetiere, espresso machine or filtertop, and how many 250g bags you need. That’s it!