FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

SUBSCRIPTION QUESTIONS

How does the subscription work?

It’s super easy! Simply pick the coffee you would like to receive from our subscription lineup and we’ll send you that coffee every 2 weeks or 4 weeks—it’s your choice. We can grind your coffee for you if you need, otherwise we’ll send it as whole bean. Your card will automatically be charged, so you’ll never have to worry about ordering and running out of coffee!

Why should I subscribe?

Making coffee at home can save you at least $2 a day—that’s $730 a year. 

And we have something even better to sweeten the deal. Save up to 10% on your fave Bean & Bean coffee by ordering a subscription—we have 2 ways to do so.

• Option 1: Buy in Bulk
  Treat yourself or someone you love to 3, 6, or 12 months' worth of coffee in bulk from our subscription section at a discounted price.
  
  
• Option 2: Subscribe & Save
  Pay per month and save with each order. Instead of “One-time purchase,” select “Subscribe & Save” when viewing your favorite product and choose your desired frequency from the dropdown menu

How much coffee should I order?

That depends on how much coffee you and/or your household goes through! 

For reference, an average 12oz cup of filter coffee will need roughly 25g of coffee, depending on the recipe you’re using. That means a 12oz (340g) bag of coffee will make about 13 cups of coffee.

Can I subscribe to a specific coffee?

Coffee is a seasonal crop, which means that not every origin will always be available year-round.

That being said, we strive to maintain a consistent flavor profile for our Downtown Blend even as the components of the blend changes. Additionally, we offer our Peru Las Damas and Indonesia Sumatra as mainstay subscription coffees.

Can I modify my subscription after starting it? 

Of course! You’ll always be able to change which coffee(s) you receive, how much coffee you get, and how often it’s shipped out.

When will my subscription ship?

We roast to order on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and ship your order within 24-48 hours after the beans are roasted. So, for example, if your subscription renewal date falls on a Tuesday, we’ll roast your order the next day (Wednesday), and it will ship out on either Thursday or Friday. 

When will my card be charged?

Your card will be charged every 2 or 4 weeks from the day you begin your subscription. We also offer 3, 6 and 12-month subscription packages where you will be charged at those intervals. 

Do my subscriptions have an expiration date?

If you purchased a 3-month or 6-month subscription, your subscription will automatically end once the duration of the subscription is over. If you have a recurring monthly subscription, your subscription will continue until you decide to cancel. 

Can I skip a shipment or pause my subscription?

Absolutely! If you ever find yourself with too much coffee or if you’ll be away from home for a while, you can always skip a shipment or put orders on pause. 

 

ONLINE ORDERING & SHIPPING QUESTIONS

Do you offer free shipping?

We offer free USPS shipping for orders $35 and above in the US only. Free shipping offers and minimums are always subject to change.

Do you ship internationally?

We currently ship to the U.S, Canada, and select other countries. 

We ship to the US via USPS, and we offer both 3-7 day Ground Shipping and 1-3 day Priority Shipping. Internationally, we ship through UPS or FedEx.

When will my order roast and ship?

We roast to order 3 times a week (MWF) and ship your order out within 24-48 hours of the beans being roasted, after which it enters the hands of the carrier company.

Can I adjust an order after it has been placed?

That depends. We aim to fulfill orders as fast as we can, so if you notice an error in your order, get in touch with us asap at info@beannbeancoffee.com and we’ll do our best to make adjustments.

Where is my order?

When your order is fulfilled, you will receive an email with the tracking number from the carrier company. Buyers using Shopify Pay will be able to access the status of their shipment directly on the Shopify App. Other information regarding our fulfillment schedule or any shipping delays will be communicated via email or our website storefront.

Can I return a coffee?

Due coffee being a perishable item and our beans being roasted to order, we do not accept returns on coffee. All coffee bags, coffee bundles, and pre-paid subscriptions are FINAL SALE. 

We have a 7-day return policy on non-coffee related products not included in bundles. To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, with tags, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase. You are responsible for the shipping cost. 

To start a return, you can contact us at info@beannbeancoffee.com. If your return is accepted, we’ll send you a return shipping label (shipping cost to return is on the customer), as well as instructions on how and where to send your package. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted.

CLASS QUESTIONS

Are your classes in-person or virtual?

At the moment, all of our classes are held online, typically through Zoom. 

What classes do you offer?

We cover a wide range of classes, from coffee brewing tutorials like our DIY Cold Brew Class and Aeropress Masterclass, to recipe classes like our seasonal Pumpkin Spice Latte Class where we show you how to make a PSL just like we do in our own cafes! You can take a look at more of our class offerings here.  

Do your classes come with equipment?

Many of our interactive brewing classes come with a kit that will have everything you need to participate in the class, including brewers, filters and coffee.

  

COFFEE QUESTIONS

Storage and Packaging

How should I store my coffee?

Coffee’s biggest enemies are air, light and heat. We recommend keeping your coffee in the eco-friendly, resealable bag that it came in and storing it somewhere cool.

If you prefer to decant your coffee, just make sure the container is opaque and air-tight. 

Is your packaging eco-friendly?

Our 12 oz. coffee bags, ink, and adhesive are made from plant-based materials. They're compostable and recyclable.

Does coffee expire?
Coffee doesn’t expire or go “bad” like produce. However, just because it’ll remain safe to drink doesn’t mean it will always taste its best! 

How long does it take for coffee to stale?

Exposure to air is the biggest factor in the staling process. Once opened, we recommend consuming your coffee within 10 days for best flavor. 

If left unopened, most of our coffees will taste great up to a month past the roast date, after which you may notice a loss of vibrancy and brightness. 

Is fresher always better?

We know—who could argue against fresher coffee?! When it comes to high-quality, carefully roasted coffee, however, as fresh as possible isn’t always what you want.

After it’s roasted, coffee beans need a little time to rest and stabilize before being brewed. For example, coffees brewed within the first day of being roasted often taste harsh and the flavors aren’t as smooth or crisp. Like a fine wine that needs to breathe first, after a few days of resting, coffees will open up and showcase much more sweetness, brightness and character. 

In general, if you’re planning on brewing your coffee as drip, you can start brewing 3 days after roast. You’ll need a little more time if you’re pulling shots—give it about 5 days to start.  

Brewing

What brewing methods do you recommend?

We love all kinds of brewing methods! It’s really just a matter of taste.

If you like a lot of body and depth to your coffee (and don’t mind a little bit of silt), try an immersion brew method like a French press!

If you prefer clarity and complexity, you can’t go wrong with a filter coffee from an auto-drip machine or a pour-over.

But for the best of both worlds, our personal favorite is the Clever brewer!

How should I grind my coffee?

That depends on how you like to brew it! 

• For most pour-over methods, such as the Hario V60, Kalita Wave, or Chemex brewers, we recommend a medium-fine grind that will yield a brew time of between 3-4 minutes. 

• For immersion brew methods, such as a French press or Clever brewer, start with a grind that’s just a touch coarser than what you would use for a pour-over.

• For an Aeropress, use a grind that’s a little finer than a pour-over grind. 

• For espresso, you’ll need to grind very fine. For reference, an 18g dose should take around 30 seconds to pull a shot with a yield of about 36g. 

In general, if your coffee tastes bitter and astringent, try coarsening your grind a little. If it tastes sour and thin, fine it up a touch. 

If you need help troubleshooting, feel free to shoot us a message!

What brewing equipment do I need to get started?

We’re big fans of hand-poured, manually brewed coffee, also called “pour-overs.” 

There are many different styles of pour-over coffee, but the easiest—and tastiest—one that we prefer is the Clever brewer. 

To brew with a Clever, you will need:

• Clever Dripper
• Filters
• Kettle (does not need to be gooseneck)
• Scale (optional, but highly recommended)
• Grinder (optional, but highly, highly recommended)

Other Coffee Questions

What roast levels do you offer for your coffees?

We go to great lengths to source exceptional coffees with unique and expressive flavor profiles. Our approach to roasting aims to elevate each coffee’s inherent qualities as much as possible, meaning we don’t roast coffees to any one generic roast level—such as a “dark” or “medium” roast—as that wouldn't accurately describe our methodology. Just like you wouldn’t cook broccoli the same way you would cook a potato—or chicken the same as beef—different coffees require different approaches to roasting. 

That being said, most of our single-origin offerings could be considered around a “light” or “medium” roast. Our Downtown Blend is great option if you prefer a coffee a little on the darker side!

Where do you roast your coffee?

All of our coffee is roasted locally at our Organic and Fair Trade Certified roasting plant in Little Neck, Queens.

I really enjoyed a certain coffee, but I don’t see it offered anymore. What should I do?

Darn! Trust us, we know your pain, too. Sadly, not every coffee will be available all the time, all year-round. In fact, with the exception of just a handful of coffee-producing countries, most coffee origins are only available at certain times in the year when they’re in season. 

At Bean & Bean, we do our best to continually offer a wide range of coffees, from earthy and chocolatey, to vibrant and fruit-forward. If you don’t see a particular coffee you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to shoot us a message and we’ll be more than happy to recommend one that’s similar!

What is a Q Grader and why is it special?

In the world of specialty coffee, a Q Grader is a highly skilled and specialized role. You can think of Q Graders as being the “sommeliers'' of the coffee industry; they are licensed professionals who are capable of objectively evaluating the quality of coffee. Like sommeliers, Q Graders must pass a series of rigorous tests that measure their sensory ability. Becoming a Q Grader is no easy feat: out of all the roasteries and coffee companies in the US, there are only about 400 Q Graders. 

You can learn more about Q Graders here!

WHOLESALE & CATERING QUESTIONS

I want to serve Bean & Bean at my business. How do I get started?

We’re always looking to partner with folks who align with our brand and mission. If you’re interested in serving Bean & Bean, please fill out this form and we’ll get in touch!

Can I order coffee for my office?

Absolutely! Just fill out this form and we’ll take it from there.

OTHER

Are you hiring?

We’re always on the lookout for great talent! If you’re interested in joining the Bean & Bean team, please visit our careers page. 

Where are your cafes located?

We have 4 cafés in New York and New Jersey. Check out our locations here.

Can I find your coffees in a grocery store near me?

We currently only retail in NYC, but you can always order coffee here on our website, or on Amazon. 

What do sloths have to do with coffee?

When coffee is sustainably grown, sloth habitats remain intact. Bean & Bean partners with coffee farms that work with the environment—not those that dominate it. Bean & Bean also directly supports sloth conservation by donating part of proceeds to The Sloth Institute in Costa Rica, whose mission is to save and rehabilitate injured and orphaned sloths. We do this not only because sloths are adorable, but because they’re a critical part of the biodiversity on hundreds of coffee farms.