Gourmet Coffee Club: Expand your coffee experience and knowledge

You have joined many clubs, for sure. Have you ever considered joining a gourmet coffee club? Joining a gourmet coffee bean club is a wonderful way to get different types of coffee beans delivered to your door, provides typically a much better roast/bean quality, and you never have to worry about running out to buy more, unless you run out! Of course, if you are looking for a coffee bean gift or two, a 3-month trial membership to a coffee club could really be a successful choice!

In this article we look at the advantages of joining a gourmet coffee club: Product Range, Introductory Gifts, Shipping, Commitments, and Cancellation Terms, amongst the most obvious concerns.

What is a gourmet coffee club?

A gourmet coffee club is a very good way to expand your coffee tastes and education. Once you sign up for one of the many diverse coffee clubs available you’ll receive a package each month with a selection of the type of coffee of your choice mailed to your home address.

Most offer whole beans as well as ground coffee and you can choose whether to get pure quality coffee beans; flavored or select blends. Not only that, but many companies will roast the beans to order and grind them for you before shipping. And if you drink decaffeinated, some will provide this to order.

There are quite a few gourmet coffee clubs in the US and Canada, but ....

Why bother with a coffee club?

After all, the coffee from the supermarket is the same, isn't it? Not.

If you decide to join a coffee club you will probably taste coffee that you’ll never see on the shelves of your local stores. Many of these clubs buy from small growers in out of the way locations.

The climate and soil conditions of the area produce unique beans that are unlike those from large plantations. You will buy coffees that are not available elsewhere as volumes are too small for larger vendors. The large coffee companies will just overlook the smaller suppliers.

For example, one company I researched was shipping a number of traditional and flavored roasts, including Columbian Supreme, Brazil Santos, and Caramel Vanilla and many more.

What's different?

The coffee clubs ship on average one pound of coffee per month although some clubs offer more and some less. You will also have a choice between receiving natural coffees or flavored ones, a variety of roasts, a variety of grinds, and decaf offerings.

You may want to receive sampler packs each month with smaller packages of different coffees. Most clubs will include a newsletter filled with brewing advice, interesting facts about coffee and special offers and coupons you can take advantage of.

A gourmet coffee club membership is great if you want to try different coffees from around the world, learn more about great coffee beans, and improve your favorite drink. They make great gifts, too!

Tips on Choosing a Gourmet Coffee Club

Products offered

I had a look at the different gourmet coffee clubs, and found that some did offer lot more information on the coffees that the club provided.

I have a preference for unflavored coffees, though many people prefer these. So I looked for clubs' offerings that included as few as possible. You may wish to do otherwise.

Also, look for specific information: including bean types, roast types, grinds, which estates or regions the beans come from, organic, decaffeinated, etc.. The more information you can find about the specific coffees, the more likely you are to find something you can drink.

Introductory gifts

Some gourmet clubs offer incentives for first time members and these can be quite attractive. If you are joining a club, introductory gifts are often given as a way to entice new members.

You might have a choice of merchandise such as a coffee bean grinder, a drip coffee maker or even an inexpensive espresso machine. If you are just starting to buy coffee beans, though, it could be a good way to get some useful coffee making supplies or coffee making equipment.

Even if the club you are interested in doesn’t offer such incentives you will probably still get a bit extra in your first order. The usual offerings are a special coffee mug, a coffee scoop, perhaps a coffee cleaner kit or a grinder brush.

Don't be fooled for a minute by the gifts! They are solely intended to attract you to joining! As I said, though, the gifts are NOT free. But it might help you offset the 'mental costs' and make a better cup of coffee!

Shipping Costs/Options

Always check out the total shipping costs, which should include packing and shipping methods. Each retailer provides their own shipping system and pricing, so it's often difficult to compare.

Some retailers bundle everything into one price - and then claim shipping is free! If only. Others charge a monthly fee for shipping in addition to the membership fees. Still other gourmet coffee clubs charge a part fee.

Do make sure also that the shipping location is available: whether it is continental US only, PO. Boxes, Canada, overseas, or a military address. Each retailer has their own policies regarding shipments and shipping methods.

Requirements

You will find that many coffee clubs offer a variety of pricing and minimum term limits - it's difficult to recommend any particular course of action on these points.

However, if you are testing a lot of different coffee clubs, then I would suggest choosing the initial shortest period to try the coffees that come to you. You can always renew for a longer period once you have confidence that you like their coffees.

This keeps your commitment to a minimum, allows you to up your commitment should you wish to, and lets you try different coffee clubs without being overwhelmed by unused (or undrinkable) coffee and lots of charges to your credit card!

Consider volume and frequency

If you are part of a larger family, you may find that one or two packs a month is insufficient... does your club allow you to order larger packs?

Can you order more frequently than your plan allows? As the sole coffee drinker in my house, I would reckon on using about 24~30 oz in a typical month.

Also, can you change contract terms, or ordered coffees?

Cancellation Terms

Of course, you love coffee and you don't want to cancel. But sometimes you must, for whatever reason. Check the coffee club websites to see what cancellation terms there are, what refunds are offered, and what refund terms you need to know about.

If you are in the second month of a three month contract, for example, you may find it simpler to stop the renewal process rather than cancel outright. You can always give away the extra coffee! After all, who doesn't like coffee?

Read the FAQs and Help Pages

Do check out the FAQs and help pages of those clubs you are interested in joining. They will likely answer 99% of your questions there.

One suggestion: contact their sales department about purchasing with a question and see how responsive their sales are. I did that once, and took ages to get a reply from one company. Once I purchased their product, their customer support wasn't any better.

Do a little internet research, too,

Google is your best bet for additional research, too. Search for key terms in Google and append words like 'review', 'problems', etc. to see what others have experienced with the club.

Is your coffee club like this?

Gourmet Coffee from a Club

As long as you read the terms, try out shorter periods of membership, give different clubs a try and do a little reading up, you'll find that joining a gourmet coffee club will offer you a better choice of gourmet coffees, newsletters with additional coffee information, and an introduction to a whole new way of drinking coffee made from fresh, delicious coffee beans.

Selected Coffee Clubs

I've organized these gourmet coffee clubs for ease into three categories. So feel free to check out these lists of coffee clubs, from best selling to gourmet.

• the best selling gourmet coffee;
• best value coffee membership club; and
• gourmet coffee beans, too.

Simply click on the link to visit the club. I hope you find something you like. Let me know if you don't, too.

I'm always interested to hear about your own experiences with different coffee clubs, so drop me a note, write me a quick review of your coffee clubs, the good, the great and the terrible. Just drop me a line via the contact form!

And finally...

Wherever you are, remember "Only Coffee Beans Make Great Coffee"! And enjoy that cup of coffee!

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Return from gourmet coffee club to coffee beans.