You can easily purchase your coffee beans online. There are numerous websites that sell coffee beans only and some large e-commerce stores with a wider variety to choose from. While picking a website is easy, finding the perfect coffee for you can be tricky. You want your money’s worth. You also want coffee beans that are long-lasting and taste excellent every time you brew them.
Through this article, we will walk you through tips for buying coffee online. While you may settle for instant coffee, why not invest your money into a more delicious and potent beverage? Here’s how you can buy the best coffee beans online:
1. Learn about the packaging
If you want your coffee beans to be of excellent quality, you need to ensure they are in a good package. Packaging determines the freshness of the product. When coffee beans are roasted, they emit tiny amounts of gas. If these beans get exposed to air, they go stale fast, and the beans won’t taste good. So a coffee company needs to know how to pack and send your beans. It will also help if the company informs you about keeping your coffee safe after opening the seal and selecting suitable storage jars. Avoid any company that fails to provide this information because it doesn’t know how to preserve or sell the product.
2. The company must serve freshly roasted coffee beans
When you place an order, the company should roast fresh beans for you. This ensures that the aroma and the flavor of the coffee beans are at their highest potency. However, pre-roasted beans are risky since a company cannot anticipate when it will receive an order. Roasting the beans in advance reduces their longevity. Therefore, all websites should start roasting your beans once you place your order. There should also be minimal waiting time since the sooner your roasted beans get to you, the better your cups of coffee.
3. Look for grinding options
Customers have their preferences when it comes to how they want their beans. Of course, the freshest and most delicious are intact coffee beans that you can grind at your leisure. But, not all customers have the time or a grinder at home. In that case, most coffee companies are willing to do it for you. You can get your beans in a drip grind, french press, and an espresso grind. If you know the difference between all three, that’s good. If the company you’re considering knows it too, that’s excellent! That way, you know they know their beans, and you’ll be able to pick something that suits your taste buds.
4. Compare prices
As much as you want a good cup of coffee, it needs to fall in line with your budget. The best part about going online to buy your coffee is you get to compare prices. You can find the same type of beans at varying prices, and maybe there is one that fits your price point. Still, you don’t want to end up with the cheapest product and the most inferior taste. Or something that puts a dent in your monthly expenses. So, always browse around for prices.
5. Check the sizes of the packaging
It would help if you looked for websites that sell coffee in different SKUs. You don’t want to order in bulk, especially if you’re ordering for yourself. Websites that start with coffee beans in 1 pound bags know what they’re doing. If they want you to try a new blend for them, they will generally give you a 4-ounce package. When you have different sizes, you can also compare prices and find the most suitable package. Besides, buying beyond your needs can make it go stale if you don’t store it correctly.
6. Check for other services
If you think ordering coffee beans is all about placing an order and then waiting for your beans to arrive at your doorstep, think again. You should know what additional services a company offers, such as recipes, special requests, and even gift packages. After all, coffee makes an excellent gift for all caffeine addicts. Maybe you can get a customized jar/mug with your name engraved on it. If you’re indulging in a hobby, why not go all the way? There should be no stopping you when it comes to taking your favorite beverage to the next level.
7. Calculate shipping time for orders
It is best not to work with a company that does not prolong shipping time. This is because you want your beans to arrive fresh and on time. Most coffee bean companies usually dispatch your order within three weeks. However, if you happen to live close to the seller, they may be able to send your beans faster. It would help if you also turned on your location services to help you look up companies close to you.
8. Find a phone number
Sometimes your order may fall late, or you’re not entirely comfortable ordering online without confirming if the business is legit. Hence, a phone number is necessary. Not only does a number reassure you about the website’s/company’s legitimacy, but you may feel more at ease ordering with it. You can ask questions the website doesn’t answer. Or you can contact them directly if your order is running late.
9. Look out for deals
Some websites not only offer you different blends, but they can also give you bulk deals and options. This can help you purchase the coffee you want and try new items on the website. You can also use discounts and email subscriptions if you like their services and wish to buy more of their products.
10. Read customer reviews and ratings
If you want to avoid ordering a bad blend/favor, read reviews online before placing your order. Check for the most recent posts and see how many positive reviews outweigh negative ones. You might also want to know what the negative reviews are about. Customer ratings can also tell you how popular a product is. And if you’re convinced, consider ordering from the website.
Wrap up
You can enjoy ordering your favorite brand online. But, before you do that, ensure you pay attention to the company’s website. While ordering online is convenient, without the proper guidance, you may not get what you want. For example, find out what kinds of blends, discounts, and deals coffee-selling websites offer. You may also want to know if they grind your coffee for you and how long does shipping take? Finally, don’t forget to keep an eye on the price range since you wouldn’t want to go overboard. With these tips in mind, you should have no trouble ordering the coffee you want just by a few clicks.