We all have our vices and I’m not ashamed to admit my primary fixation is coffee. It’s my first thought before my eyes even part. In truth, coffee is my primary thought throughout most of the early morning. I’m a passionate coffee consumer and, inasmuch, am grateful I discovered Trade Coffee.
When it comes to food and drink, exploration can lead to a change in preferences. Maybe it’s because your liking for Kraft Mac and Cheese evolved, or because you discovered French drip coffee like me.
My Coffee Love Story
My connection with coffee began after the birth of my first child. Trying to work and maintain sanity on limited sleep turned me to the dark side–in the form of black coffee. Not because I necessarily liked it but because it was necessary in order to survive the day. Fast forward a few years and we land on a date night where French press coffee was served with dessert. It’s an introduction I still reminisce about decades later. And the love affair began.
The next phase of my coffee journey saw me exploring whole bean or pre-ground, different brands, and an understanding of growing regions. I’ve had the opportunity to travel a bit, exploring coffee culture and techniques along the way. To date, my experiences have led me directly into a deep appreciation for the craft coffee industry.
What is Trade Coffee?
In short, it’s a celebration of small batch coffee roasters. Trade Coffee is a connection between snobby coffee addicts like myself and over 50 small-scale roasters across the United States. You don’t have to be snobby or an addict to enjoy the more than 450 coffee options, however. Trade Coffee is a subscription service that allows you to decide the types of coffee you want and how often you want them delivered straight to your home.
How I Discovered Trade Coffee
My Trade Coffee discovery began with a gift subscription for my coffee-loving son. Since he lived with us, we were also able to sample his monthly deliveries. When the six months of gift deliveries ended, I couldn’t bring myself to stop the service. Now two years later, we still look forward to our Trade Coffee Delivery every few weeks.
Trade Coffee Offerings
As with most home deliveries, the service is convenient. More than that, though, Trade Coffee offers a ton of options to suit nearly any coffee-drinker profile. Don’t think you have a profile? Of course you do.
With Trade, you can select your preferred roast level, ranging from light to dark with several options in between. Or, you can make your selection based on where the beans are sourced from, including 25 different countries across central and South American, as well as Africa and other areas. There are espresso blends, decaf options, and even cold brew selections to choose from. Coffees can be sorted by your preparation technique too. This allows you to find the best match whether you use a pour over method, French press, automatic drip, percolator, AeroPress, Moka Pot, or Chemex. If you use a Keurig-type machine, there are options for you too, but we encourage you to read our article on Alternatives to Disposable Keurig Cups first.
If you prefer, you can sort coffee options by taste profile (or roll with it and explore new things). Categories that might entice you include roasty and smoky, sweet and tart, chocolatey and sweet, syrupy and smooth, subtle and delicate, funky and fruity, and more.
In addition to coffee, you can order any type of coffee-making equipment you might need.
Your satisfaction is guaranteed. To get a feel for your preferences, complete the short survey on the Trade Coffee website. After each shipment, you can provide feedback and make changes to your order. There is no commitment and you can cancel at any time.
Focus on Sustainability Aspects
Coffee is a natural, plant-based product. Inasmuch it can, and should be, a sustainable crop that provides workers reliable payment and safe working conditions. Consumers should also be able to expect their coffee to be responsibly sourced, with a focus on protections for the land and the workers alike. If these issues are important to you, Trade Coffee sorts options in categories such as Direct Trade, Fair Trade, Organic, and Rainforest Alliance to ensure the coffee you order meets the criteria for certain certifications.
Review of Trade Coffee
With the long introduction above I’m sure you won’t be surprised to find out I’m a huge fan of Trade Coffee. It’s not our only source of coffee, but it’s something we look forward to each month. There’s no better way to start the day than by exploring a new blend (or single origin bean if you prefer).
Over the past few years we’ve received coffee made by roasters from all over the country. It’s fun to learn more about these small businesses while supporting their efforts.
As for the sustainability aspects, I feel a bit guilty about shipping coffee directly to my mailbox. However, knowing I’m advocating for Fair Trade farmers, drinking certified organic coffee, and supporting small, American businesses is the ‘Trade’ off.
Also worth noting is Trade Coffee comes packaged in a compostable bag. Check with your local waste-services provider as to whether you can include the bag in your yard debris cart.
Click here to start your subscription and save $15 on your first order.
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