Driftaway Coffee Review 2024: Is It Any Good?
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Overview
Driftaway Coffee is a beans-by-mail service that turns your kitchen into a global café by delivering coffee beans from all over the world. The beans are ethically sourced and arrive freshly roasted at your doorstep. Simply brew and enjoy a wide range of flavors.
Partnering with small-scale farmers from every corner of the coffee-growing world, Driftaway Coffee keeps things fresh with a new lineup every month. If you’re bored of the regular coffee available in stores and want to try something new and exciting, Driftaway Coffee is a fantastic option for your morning or afternoon ritual.
I was immediately sold on the idea and launched into a deep dive into the company and its service. I gathered all my findings in this Driftaway Coffee review, so if you want to learn more, stay tuned until the end.
Pros | Cons |
| Coffee from all over the world | Complicated subscription plans |
| Ethically-sourced beans | You usually don’t choose the beans |
| Educational resources | The selection is not too large |
What’s on Offer?
Driftaway Coffee features a selection of 91+ freshly roasted and curated single-origin beans from over 26 countries. New coffees are added each month, especially from lesser-known regions like Congo, Vietnam, India, or Myanmar.
At the time of writing my Driftaway Coffee review, the offer included varietals from Peru, Mexico’s Triunfo Verde, Brazil's Eduardo And Roberta Soares Paraiso Natural, Burundi, or Guatemala.
The company strives to bring forth ethically sourced specialty beans harvested by small farmers around the world. Depending on your preferences, you can choose between Whole Bean, Ground, Decaf, or Cold Brew Bags.
If you’re not sure what you like (hey, it happens to all of us), Driftaway Coffee encourages you to get started with the Coffee Explorer Box. You’ll receive 5 2-oz bags containing fresh-roasted, single-origin coffee from around the world.
The bags are accompanied by tasting notes and information about the coffee’s place of origin, but these are hidden in an envelope. The main goal of the Explorer Box is for you to blind-taste each coffee and identify your profile.
The brand offers 5 different profiles: Fruity, Classic, Balanced, Bold, and Extra Bold. Use the Tasting Form and Flavor Wheel (also included in the Explorer Box) to record your tasting notes and identify the profile(s) that fit your preferences – it can be only 1 or all 5.
Establishing your preferred profile(s) is important if you want to subscribe to Driftaway Coffee. That’s because the most common type of subscription has the company send you coffee based on your taste profile.
Since the offer changes every month, it’s a lot more convenient to indicate a taste profile rather than coming back for every new delivery in search of new beans to add to your box. It’s also a great way to discover new flavors that fit your overall palate.
You can still request a specific coffee for the following delivery by going to the Single Bags section of the site. Here, you’ll find all the available coffees for the given time period, and you can make a la carte purchases or add to your subscription.
Besides single bags, Driftaway Coffee also offers Coffee Sets that include the Explorer Box, Coffee & Chocolate Pairing Boxes & Kits, Single Serve, Corporate Gifts, Cold Brew, Coffee Gear, and a Coffee Tasting Kit.
You can also offer a Driftaway Coffee subscription as a gift and there are lots of educational materials on the website and within each box or kit. Additionally, the Driftaway Coffee team offers exclusive Coffee Tastings for subscribers on Zoom with renowned experts in the field.
Unboxing
The Driftaway Coffee box looks and feels high-end, but its content is even more impressive. In addition to the coffee pouch(es) or bag(s), you also get elegant cards with tasting notes and information about the origin of each coffee and its roasting journey.
Each pouch is clearly labeled and includes all the information you need about brewing and storage. These pouches are designed especially for freshly roasted coffee as they block out moisture, oxygen, and UV rays to ensure the beans stay fresh. They’re also equipped with a degassing valve.
Driftaway Coffee doesn’t use any plastic for packaging and transport. All the packaging materials are 100% compostable, so you don’t have to worry that your purchase adds to the world’s pollution problem.
Shortlist of My Favorite Coffees
While working on this review, I noticed several coffees I would definitely love to try. I am an avid coffee drinker, so I focused my attention on varietals that were marked as rare or beans originating in less-known areas of the world.
So, here are the top 3 beans that put their charms on me:
ESP | Burundi Turihamwe and Guatemala Ella
This is a medium roast espresso blend that combines Burundi Turihamwe and Guatemala Ella coffees into a deliciously flavored cup. It is a 100% women-produced coffee with a sweet and bright taste that features hints of Lemon, Caramel, and Graham Cracker (according to the Driftaway Coffee tasting notes).
If you’re not in the mood for espresso, the coffee is just as delicious as any other type, from French Press to electric drip. You can find this blend in single-serving coffee bags as well, so don’t be afraid to experiment!
Brazil Eduardo and Roberta Soares Paraiso Natural
Originating from a major coffee nursery in Brazil, in the Minas Gerais region, this coffee features a balanced profile with flowery notes and hints of strawberry and vanilla. The farmers who produced these beans are known for developing cutting-edge cultivars, like Paraiso – which is used for this coffee.
Paraiso combines the Timor Hybrid and the Yellow Catuai varietals and produces yellow coffee cherries when ripe. The beans were lightly roasted to keep the floral aromas and natural berry-like acidity of this varietal.
Nicaragua SACACLI Cooperative
This medium-dark roast comes from Nicaragua and features taste notes of Dutch chocolate, walnuts, and apples. The beans are obtained from regenerative, organically grown coffee, and you can buy them as Single Serving bags (just like tea bags).
Prices
Starting From | Order Size and Price (Before Shipping) | Shipping Fee |
$33 per box | 1 x 10 oz Coffee Explorer Box (Small size) | Free |
$16.00 per shipment | 8 oz package, 16 cups per package paid per delivery | |
$15.20 per shipment | 8 oz package on the 6-month plan $91.2 paid upfront (includes 6 deliveries shipped every 4 weeks) | |
$14.40 per shipment | 8 oz package on the 12-month plan $172.8 paid upfront (includes 12 deliveries shipped every 4 weeks) | |
$19.00 per shipment | 12 oz package, 24 cups per package paid per delivery | |
$18.05 per shipment | 12 oz package on the 6-month plan $108.3 paid upfront (includes 6 deliveries shipped every 4 weeks) | |
$17.10 per shipment | 12 oz package on the 12-month plan $205.2 paid upfront (includes 12 deliveries shipped every 4 weeks) | |
$24.00 per shipment | 1 lb package, 32 cups per package paid per delivery | |
$22.8 per shipment | 1 lb package on the 6-month plan $136.8 paid upfront (includes 6 deliveries shipped every 4 weeks) | |
$21.60 per shipment | 1 lb package on the 12-month plan $259.2 paid upfront (includes 12 deliveries shipped every 4 weeks) | |
$38.00 per shipment | 2 lbs package, 64 cups per package paid per delivery | |
$36.10 per shipment | 2 lbs package on the 6-month plan $216.6 paid upfront (includes 6 deliveries shipped every 4 weeks) | |
$34.20 per shipment | 2 lbs package on the 12-month plan $410.4 paid upfront (includes 12 deliveries shipped every 4 weeks) | |
$68.00 per shipment | 5 lbs package, 160 cups per package paid per delivery | |
$64.6per shipment | 5 lbs package on the 6-month plan $387.6 paid upfront (includes 6 deliveries shipped every 4 weeks) | |
$61.20 per shipment | 5 lbs package on the 12-month plan $734.4 paid upfront (includes 12 deliveries shipped every 4 weeks) |
If you want to subscribe, you have the option to choose between 5 main box sizes (8 oz, 12 oz, 1 lb, 2 lbs, and 5 lbs). You can also skip the Small Coffee Explorer box if you’re already aware of your tastes regarding coffee.
There is also the option to subscribe on a monthly basis, where you pay for every shipment or choose between a 6-month and a 12-month subscription. If you opt for any of the latter 2, you’ll pay everything upfront with a discount of 5 and 10%, respectively.
Prices vary between $14.40 per shipment (for an 8 oz box size on a 12-month plan) and $68.00 per shipment (for a 5 lbs box on a month-by-month subscription). This means you’ll pay between $0.9 and $0.42 per cup of high-quality coffee – not too shabby if you ask me.
Besides subscription, you can also buy single bags (a la carte) and Single Serve Coffee Bags. For Single Bags, there are 4 box sizes available (12 oz, 1 lb, 2 lbs, and 5 lbs), and you can opt for whole beans or ground. Prices vary between $19 per 12 oz box and $68 per 5 lbs box. Shipping is free within the US.
Prices for Single Serve coffee vary between $16.00 and $20.00, and there’s a $5 flat fee for shipping if you only order 1 box. However, there’s free shipping if you order 2 or more units. For gifts that aren’t subscriptions, prices vary between $50 and $100 per item, depending on the type of features you choose for each.
Shipping & Delivery
Driftaway Coffee delivers all over the US and a bunch of other countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and more. In the US, shipping is free, and it usually takes 4 to 8 business days from when the order is processed to reach your doorstep.
For maximum flavor and freshness, each coffee is shipped within 48 hours of roasting. Driftaway Cofee’s team roasts on Sundays and Wednesdays, and the packages are shipped every Monday and Friday.
You can still make changes to an order that hasn’t shipped yet. The Driftaway Coffee team recommends sending an email with your change request before 7 pm EST on Thursday. You can also make changes to your subscription and taste profiles anytime using your online account.
You’ll receive an email with the tracking number once the order ships.
How Driftaway Coffee Works
How to Sign Up
1. Choose the type of subscription: Driftaway Coffee offers 3 types of subscription – for Yourself, as a Gift, and for companies (Office). For the purpose of this review, we’ll move forward with a subscription for Yourself.
2. Select coffee type: Decide whether you want Whole Bean, Ground Coffee, Cold Brew, or Decaf. You can change this preference at a later date, so it’s best to go with what’s most convenient for now.
3. Decide on the delivery details: If this is your first time with Driftaway Coffee, it’s best to start with an Explorer Box. However, you can skip this step and start the subscription directly if you know what your taste profile is.
Regardless of your option, Driftaway Coffee will ask you to make choices about your future deliveries. During this step, you have to decide on the box size and the frequency of deliveries and billing (you can change everything at a later date).
4. Choose a delivery method and day: Driftaway Coffee offers 2 shipping options – First-Class and Priority. The first option is free and takes 1 to 7 days, and the second promises a shorter delivery time (1 to 3 days) for a $3 flat fee. Next, choose whether you want your order to ship as soon as possible or at a later date. Driftaway Coffee lets you set a delivery date several months into the future.
5. Create an account and proceed to Checkout: Add your email address and password to create your Driftaway Coffee account. Next, add shipping details, such as address, contact details, and payment method. Click Sign Up Now, and your order and account will be created. You should also receive an email with the login details.
Managing Your Subscription
You can use your Driftaway Coffee account to track your active order, organize your subscription(s), and update various details, including taste profile, delivery frequency, address, contact details, and more.
You can also use your account to skip or delay a delivery. If you’re on a prepaid subscription, your remaining deliveries will also get pushed back.
You can cancel both pay-per-shipment or prepaid subscriptions, with the mention that prepaid subscriptions can only be canceled (and refunded) within the first 30 days from purchase or renewal. You also have full freedom to decide whether to leave the automatic renewal in place for any type of subscription.
Customer Service
If you have any questions, the customer service team is at your disposal via email, chat, or phone. You also have the option to participate in weekly Zoom meetings where you get to discuss coffee with all sorts of interesting people.
Usually, the customer service team responds quickly (within 24h), but if you need a speedier reply, check out their very well-stocked Help Center, where you can find answers to the most commonly asked questions.
There is also a Learn section where you can find out more about coffee, how to select the beans and the different types of brewing techniques.
The Bottom Line: Is Driftaway Coffee Worth It?
Driftaway Coffee is a great option for anyone interested in extending their palate and trying out new blends and varieties. I like that the selection changes every 4 weeks and that the subscription is flexible.
While the selection isn’t too large, the fact that there are new coffees each month makes it worth it to stick with a long-term subscription. Also, the prices are quite affordable, especially if you compare the price per cup with what you pay when you go to a coffee shop.
Additionally, let’s not forget that the company supports small farmers from (usually) less developed areas of the world. This way, besides discovering new coffee fragrances and learning more about your favorite beverage, you also participate in making the world a better place.
FAQ
What coffee varieties does Driftaway Coffee offer?
Driftaway Coffee offers new sustainably and ethically sourced coffee varieties every month, catering to an array of preferences. They offer everything from light, fruity flavors to deep, dark roasts. Their selection is curated from around the globe, allowing customers to explore a world of flavors.
Is Driftaway Coffee sustainably sourced?
Sustainability is a cornerstone of Driftaway Coffee's ethos. The brand prides itself on direct trade, ensuring farmers are fairly compensated. Moreover, Driftaway Coffee uses only compostable, eco-friendly packaging, reflecting their commitment to environmental responsibility.
Does Driftaway offer coffee subscriptions as gifts?
Yes, Driftaway Coffee provides an excellent gift subscription service. This makes a thoughtful and unique gift for coffee lovers, allowing them to receive freshly roasted beans tailored to their taste preferences.
