Frequently asked questions
Questions? Just holler at us via email or Instagram DMs and we'll get back to you directly!
What if I need a break? +
Skip any month or cancel anytime from your account — or just email us and we'll take care of it for you.
What if I don't like one of the coffees? +
That's exactly what the 60-gram format is for. Specialty coffee is polarizing and we love that — for example, funky, fermented and experimental lots are loved by some and not by others. At 60 grams, a coffee that isn't for you is one small bag of six, not a whole bag you're stuck slogging through. You risk a little, you taste a lot, and you find out what you actually love.
How do you choose the roasters? +
We find what we organically want to try ourselves, and that's what we share with you. Our only limiting criterion is that the roast is “light” (which can range from ultralight to a rare medium-light). Recently, we've featured a lot of international roasters and plan to keep that going. We also make sure there's variety in every box — after all, that's what we're all about!
How fresh is the coffee? +
Coffees will arrive 2–5 weeks off roast, with the majority being 3–4 weeks off. The kind of coffees we feature taste best in the 4–8 week range, so most of the time they arrive perfectly rested. We also include brew recommendations in case a coffee needs to rest more or should be used quickly.
Can I customize what's in my box? +
Honestly: no, and that's the point. The promise is that we curate for you. The 4-bag box lets you lean clean, funky, or mixed; beyond that, the curation is up to us — and that's part of the fun.
Shipping, delivery times, and international? +
We ship around the 15th of every month — sometimes a bit sooner, rarely a bit later. Everything goes out via USPS and takes 2–7 days depending on where you live. For international availability and rates, drop us a line at hello@thebeanarchives.com.
Do I need specific gear? +
No. You can brew any way you'd like, you just need a grinder. Most subscribers make pour-overs, but we have a lot of folks running espresso and “soup” as well. Join our Discord to get brew tips from the community! And if you have questions about gear, just shoot us an email and we'll get back to you one on one.
How will I know about Add-on drops? +
When you check out, make sure to opt into email and SMS notifications. We'll use text messages only for the once-a-month drops; emails are usually 3–4 a month, with updates and announcements like the add-on drops.