Products you buy through our links may earn us a commission. Oh, and if something's out of stock, oops, it was there (and all prices were accurate) at time of publication.
What I Tested...
Mistobox Subscription (Prices vary)
Why I Tested...
How I Tested...
I received a ($50) prepaid month-long subscription with Mistobox. I received two shipments during my test. I took notes on the ordering process, delivery speed, quality of espresso beans, and pricing.
Test Results...
Sign-up process. Mistobox made it easy (and dare I say, enjoyable?) to get my account set up. First, I took an eight-step quiz to indicate everything from my roast, grind, and caffeine level preferences, to my type of brewing machine, overall budget, and delivery cadence. You can also indicate your flavor profile during the quiz. I tend to go for darker roasts with notes of chocolate and hazelnut and was able to get pretty granular with it. The entire process took less than five minutes and I was able to see their recommendations immediately after submitting my answers.
Delivery. Here’s where I give Mistobox a gold star. You have the option to specify your preferred delivery cadence anywhere between three and 31 days. I chose a weekly shipment to taste at least two types of beans for this test. The first bag was delivered within three days of completing the quiz. The packaging was minimal, and I loved not having to deal with bulky boxes. I also had the option to reschedule any of my upcoming deliveries up to 90 days out.
Coffee taste and quality. Another gold star. I received a 10-ounce bag of Greater Goods’ Kickstart espresso beans and a 10-ounce bag of Mad Catter Nine Lives espresso beans with my subscription. On Mistobox’s website, you can read a detailed description about your beans’ origin and flavor profile, and swap it for any recommended alternatives (or something completely different). Both of these beans had everything I wanted: medium-dark roasts with notes of brown sugar, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and almonds. I could tell from my first few sips that these are high-quality beans. As someone who buys from the same brand to save a few extra dollars, this subscription was a great way to learn about smaller and more niche roasters I otherwise would not have come across.
Price. Mistobox doesn’t have subscription tiers, but you can specify your price range upon taking the questionnaire, or afterward when you’re browsing for your next shipment. Bags typically start around $20, and you have the option to buy them à la carte, too. My bag from Greater Goods was $24.80, and my bag from Mad Catter came out to $20. Shipping is free with a subscription. All this to say, your subscription cost will vary based on your preferences. I found this sort of superfluous for a subscription since I’m used to paying a monthly flat fee and forgetting about it. However, I do appreciate the customizability for weeks when I’m traveling or need to save money.
Sidenotes...
Variety of independent roasters. Mistobox works with over 60 independent coffee roasters across the US. The brands are smaller and therefore felt more curated. As someone who wanted to broaden her horizons when it came to espresso beans, I loved this aspect. I didn’t have to worry about brand names or packaging. All that mattered were the detailed flavor profiles and the care the roasters take in preparing these beans. There is no warehouse involved in the shipment process, so you’re getting these beans straight from their respective roasters.
Cancellation policy. This is where I got a little confused. I didn’t see an easy way to end or cancel my subscription. I used a $50 gift card to sign up and after two shipments, only have $5.20 remaining. While I do have another recommended bag of beans awaiting delivery, I have yet to put extra money in, so I’m curious if they will simply stop sending me beans or if my account will be placed on hold. I couldn’t find this answer easily on the website. That being said, the site says you can pause or cancel anytime, so I do appreciate that flexibility and the fact that they won’t charge me without my knowledge.
The Fine Details...
Mistobox Subscription (Prices vary)