Automated delivery of your favorite coffee beans (or grounds) to your doorstep every month might sound like a great idea, but is it really worth it? Let's take a closer look at coffee subscriptions, who they’re meant for, and who they’re not:
Obviously, a coffee subscription might be worth it if you're the kind of person who can't function without coffee in the morning. If you’re like most people reading this, and you depend on great coffee to get through the day, the week—heck, the month—then having fresh bags of coffee sent automatically to your door might be a good idea.
If you're like me and have made otherwise unnecessary trips to the grocery store or Instacart/Shipt orders purely because you ran out of coffee—and end up somehow racking up $100-$200 on condiments, paper towels, and other “on sale” crap while you're at it—then yeah. Maybe having coffee show up at your door on your schedule isn't such a bad idea at all.
Here are a few key questions to ask yourself when considering signing up for automatic coffee delivery:
Q: How Much Coffee Do You Drink?
First, the obvious: Consider how much coffee you drink in a day. If you only drink a couple cups of coffee a week, then yeah, a subscription isn't really targeted toward your coffee-drinking needs.
However, if you're more the type who drinks a cup of coffee while you're brewing your next cup of coffee—then you just might be the ideal type of person who could benefit from automatic coffee delivery.
Either way, coffee subscriptions usually come with some cost savings off the regular price of coffee beans or grounds. So even if you don't drink a ton of coffee and tend to have the same package of coffee hanging around for a month or two, you can still save some money with a subscription by having a bag sent once a month, every 6 weeks, or even every 8 weeks.
When you absolutely, positively need to stay caffeinated (or need the people you work with to stay productive) having a high-caffeine coffee automatically delivered on your schedule doesn’t just make sense—it can save you time and be a lot more convenient.
Q: How Quickly Do You Go Through Coffee?
Another thing to keep in mind is how often you drink coffee. Again, if you only really drink coffee once or twice during the week, then a "coffee auto-delivery" might not be the most important thing for you.
However, if you find yourself reaching for a strong cup of joe multiple times a day, then a subscription could result in significant savings in the long run—not to mention the convenience factor, which is huge.
If you tend to turn once-proud bags of fresh coffee beans into empty husks within mere days or weeks of opening them, then a subscription might make a lot of sense for you.
Q: Do You Appreciate Quality Coffee?
It’s a real question. Think about the quality of coffee you like to drink.
I know, most of us wouldn't say we're fine with drinking crap coffee. Others are proud of it, and will "boast” about their bad taste in coffee at every opportunity, for some inexplicable reason.
But the truth is, some people do tolerate cheap, low-quality coffee just fine.
So, that being said:
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If you're somebody who enjoys a cup of coffee from your local grocery store or fast food chain, then a coffee subscription may not be worth it.
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If you're the type who can't tell the difference between good coffee, the cheap stuff, and a coffee pot full of grounds that has been sitting on a warming plate for a week—then a subscription might not be for you.
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However, if you're particular about drinking high-quality coffee—if only the good stuff will do for you—then automatic coffee delivery might be a convenience worth signing up for.
Lastly, I need to mention—if you're somebody who is on a tight budget, then a coffee subscription might not seem worth it at first glance. However, if you consider the potential savings in the long run—then a coffee subscription could be even more appropriate for you than for somebody who can afford to spend a bit more on their coffee each month.
Since "coffee clubs" normally offer some sort of discount on the same coffee you'd be buying anyway for signing up, you could end up saving quite a bit of money in the long run by having your coffee delivered to your door.
And it's not just the cost savings on the coffee itself that you benefit from—it's also the convenience factor.
If you have a hard time getting to the store, if you find yourself constantly forgetting to pick up coffee, or if you're just like other sane people and would prefer to avoid spending time dodging carts and gawking at the rising prices in a hectic grocery store as much as possible—then automatic coffee delivery could be perfect for you.
Final Thoughts
Whether or not automatic coffee delivery is worth it for you depends on your coffee-drinking habits, how much you value convenience, and the quality of coffee you like to drink.
If you find yourself constantly running out of coffee, if you appreciate a good cup of joe, and if you're tired of making trips to the store just to restock—then a subscription might be worth considering.
However, if you only drink coffee occasionally or can't tell the difference between cheap and quality beans—then a subscription might not be for you. It all comes down to your personal habits and preferences.
