I frequently find myself standing in the aisle of my local grocery store, wishing they had a better selection of coffee brands to choose from. They mostly carry Starbucks and Dunkin’ beans, which are good, but I’d be lying if I said they don’t get a little boring when you drink them every day. I love trying new and different coffees, so when I heard about Atlas Coffee Club, a subscription box that sends you coffee from all around the world, I knew I had to try it out.
What is Atlas Coffee Club?
Atlas Coffee Club is a coffee subscription service, and while it’s certainly not the only brand that will ship freshly brewed beans to your doorstep, it stands out from competitors thanks to its globally sourced beans. Each month, Atlas sends “micro-lot coffees” that it sources from all around the world—one month, you’ll get to experience chocolatey coffee from Costa Rica, and the next you’ll be sipping on a surprisingly fruity brew from Ethiopia.
For my delivery, I was lucky enough to receive a coffee from the Yunnan region of China. I opted for ground beans that I could use in my drip coffee machine, and I received the coffee in both medium- and light-roast. Each bag was carefully packaged in its own box, and both came with a postcard featuring facts about Chinese culture, as well as a pamphlet with information about the coffee beans, tasting notes and brew recommendations.
The coffee bag itself was absolutely beautiful, as well—it featured a vibrant yellow and blue print that featured a dragon tail, red flowers and Chinese lanterns. It would definitely jump off the shelf at you, but you’d never find these particular coffee beans at the store, as they made their debut in the US via Atlas. Cool, right?
How We Tested It
How do you test coffee? You drink it, of course! (Tough job, I know.) I typically have at least two cups of coffee per day—one in the morning and one mid-afternoon—and I decided to sample the medium roast as a midday pick-me-up. I brewed a pot of coffee in my drip coffee maker, and took a few sips of it black before adding my usual cream and sugar. The coffee was rich without being overwhelming, and I could definitely taste the notes of honey. I found that I didn’t need to add quite as much sugar as usual, as the brew was naturally a bit sweet.
Initially, I was worried that the coffee might be a bit too out-of-the-box for my tastes, but overall, it tasted like a high-quality brew that you’d find in a cafe. I’d happily drink it any time of day!
Not everyone has the same coffee preferences, so I wanted to have a few more people sample the product. Family bruch was the perfect opportunity to get opinions on the coffee, so we brewed a pot of the light roast for everyone to sample. My father thought the brew was a little too light—he’s a dark-roast kind of guy—but everyone agreed the flavor was great, regardless of whether you drank it black or with mix-ins.
We weren’t the only ones who enjoyed Atlas, either. Emily Racette Parulski, Taste of Home Senior Editor, purchased a subscription as a gift for her husband, who enjoyed reading about the various beans: “It was fun learning more about where the coffee was sourced and how different regions produce different coffee.” He didn’t realize there were so many countries producing coffee! “The coffee was high-end and better quality than what you’d get from the grocery store, so it felt like a treat every time we brewed a cup.”
Atlas Coffee Club Features
As mentioned earlier, Atlas Coffee Club is a subscription service, which means they send you recurring deliveries each month. When you sign up for Atlas, you can select whether you want deliveries every two or four weeks, as well as how many bags you want per delivery—at the low end, you can opt for just half a bag, or for true coffee enthusiasts (or large households), you can get as many as four bags. It’s worth noting that if you opt for deliveries every two weeks, you’re going to get the same beans twice, as the brand only introduces new coffee on a monthly basis.
Atlas also caters to your individual coffee preferences. You can choose between whole bean or ground coffee, depending on what equipment you usually use, and you can also specify whether you prefer light to medium roast, medium to dark roast, or all roast types. Atlas also offers a decaf subscription, available in medium roast.
As with most subscriptions, you can skip a delivery or cancel at any time, and Atlas also has rewards programs that let you earn bonuses like free shipping and store credit. The only downside we could find is that there’s no way to reorder your favorite coffee—Atlas doesn’t have a storefront where you can purchase past products, which is a bummer if you find a coffee that you really love!
Pros:
Unique coffees from all over the world
Fresh and aromatic beans
Order up to 4 bags per delivery
Cons:
Unable to reorder favorite beans
More expensive than store-bought coffee
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a way to shake up your coffee routine, Atlas Coffee Club is definitely worth a try. You’ll get to experience unique types of coffee that you can’t find in the grocery store, and the beans are always freshly roasted and shipped right to your door. Plus, there are lots of ways to customize your subscription so it fits your coffee-drinking preferences.
Where to Find Atlas Coffee Club
Ready to start sipping on java from all around the world? You can sign up for Atlas Coffee Club through their website, where you’ll be able to customize the frequency and size of your delivery. The price will vary depending on how many bags you buy—more bags means more coffee and more savings. A single 14-ounce bag costs $14 (plus shipping), two bags costs $28, and three bags costs $39. You also have the option to buy a 6-ounce “half bag” for $9. Choose the option that best suits you (or the friend you’re gifting this to!).
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The post I Tried Atlas Coffee Club—and It Helped Me Discover the Wide World of Coffee appeared first on Taste of Home.
