Starbucks Reserve Review
Constantly changing coffee selections - with some only available at certain times of the year - all roasted and then shipped within 48 hours of roasting. Free shipping on all orders. Get One 8.8oz ...
| Coffee Choices | Pre-Selected, Selective |
|---|---|
| Coffee Types | Whole Bean, Ground, Light Roast, Medium Roast, Dark Roast, Espresso, Single Origin |
| Coffee Delivery Frequency | Every 4 Weeks |
| Coffee Package Size | One – 8.8oz Bag |
Starbucks needs no introduction. They’re arguably the ones responsible for America’s deep fixation with coffee and terms like mocha, frappuccino, and espresso. They started in Seattle, Washington and a few years later Starbucks locations started popping up across America. While this club does bare the name of “Starbucks”, their flavor offerings aren’t exactly the same as the ones you’d see in their stores, which makes this club exciting for those looking to see a different side of Starbucks. A monthly club for Starbucks Reserve Roastery fans everywhere wishing to see a different side of the coffee giant.
- Shows a different side of Starbucks
- Single-Origin Coffee
- Free Shipping
- No choice of coffee type for subscription
- Only ships once per month
Coffee Selection: (Rating: 7/10)
The Good
The coffee selections from Starbucks Reserve are constantly changing. They have a number of featured coffees that are only available during a certain time of the year.
Starbucks Reserve Coffee Options
Take the Uganda Sipi Falls, which is the first ever Starbucks single-origin coffee from Uganda. Its caramel sweetness and smooth finish make it a tempting proposition, but the site also has other information to influence a purchase decision. This particular Ugandan coffee is cultivated at an elevation above 4,200 feet, for those who want to know. The Brazil Santa Ines is another delectable coffee with flavors of milk chocolate and a plantain sweetness. And for those that didn’t think Vietnam could be a place for coffee, try the Vietnam Da Lat, with notes of Kola nuts, toffee, and vanilla.
The Bad
The coffees they offer are stunning, but the site is barren of iced coffee, decaf coffee, and other selections you might find in other stores.
They also don’t offer too many types of coffee to choose from in the first place, and the selections are constantly changing, which means customers can’t keep receiving one they may have really enjoyed over and over again.
Coffee Bean Freshness: (Rating: 9/10)
The Good
My thoughts about the Starbucks club were originally pessimistic. I assumed they would let their coffee sit in bags on the shelf just like other big retailers, but it turns out I was all wrong. The Starbucks Reserve is a special building that roasts beans and ships them within 48 hours of roasting, competing with the freshness of the smaller clubs.
Best By Date
All Starbucks coffees come with a best by date on them. While they may sit on the shelf or not arrive immediately after roasting, most ground coffees are good for up to six months (depending on packaging). The coffee I received for testing was good for six months.
The Bad
Their overall process is all well and fine, but Starbucks Reserve only ships every month, and that 8 oz. bag of Coffee you received a month ago is going to become old with time. Regardless, Starbucks Reserve does manage to bring fresh coffee to customers doors initially despite being a big retailer.
Coffee Quality and Taste: (Rating: 8/10)
The Good
The coffee we received from Starbucks Reserve Roastery was quite impressive.
Starbucks Reserve Whole Beans
They ship whole beans, and I received a peaberry coffee. These are not as easily found as other varieties of coffee beans, so it was exciting.
Starbucks Reserve PeaBerry
The coffee was excellent. It wasn’t bitter, it had a robust, yet smooth finish, and low acidity.
The Bad
It was hard to pick up on special flavors from Starbucks. I didn’t get any floral notes and while the tasting card said I would experience creamy milk chocolate and dried fruit, I didn’t catch any of that. There was a slight hint of sweetness, which I assume is the clover-honey flavor they promised.
Despite this, the flavor itself was great. It just didn’t match up with the tasting notes.
Memberships/Pricing: (Rating: 8/10)
The Good
Starbucks’ Reserve has a monthly subscription for $19 per month (per bag) featuring a delivery of coffee handpicked by the roasters. Each month a different coffee is chosen due to the seasonality of the beans.
Shipping is free and each month members receive the coffee of the month. While expensive, the coffee does go a long way and gives you access to delicious, fresh Starbucks exclusives.
The Bad
Customers can’t choose what kind of coffee they want delivered, which is a downside to the coffee club membership. It’s also a bit annoying that coffee is delivered once a month instead of biweekly or weekly.
Only 8.8 ounces of coffee is shipped, which is smaller than other clubs. Also, the price is $19 per bag; therefore, to receive the three bags of coffee they advertise on their site, you would actually pay $44 per month.
Additional Club Perks: (Rating: 6/10)
The Good
With delivery comes an email outlining all the details of that month’s coffee. Lastly the customer gets to pause, change, or cancel the subscription at any time.
The Bad
For being such a large company, Starbucks lacks perks you would expect to see from a bigger retailer. There aren’t any newsletters (other than your tasting notes), and they don’t offer free trials or the opportunity to receive free coffee.
The site doesn’t have any fun perks either, such as rewards.
Shipping/Packaging: (Rating: 9/10)
The Good
Shipping is included in the price of the membership, and the beans get to the customer within 5 business days, which is a huge plus. The second Sunday of the month is when each small-batch is roasted, ensuring for a reliable date every time.
Starbucks Box Exterior
The boxes aren’t labeled from Starbucks, so you may not know its their product.
Starbucks Bags of Coffee
The coffee itself comes in a specially marked package with the Starbucks Reserve emblem on the side, making for a good-looking addition to your mail every month.
Tasting Notes
The tasting card is clipped to the package. On the front is the name of the coffee, and the back tells you the tasting notes as well as the history/origin of the coffee you’ve received.
Coffee Bag Clip
You receive a brass clip, which you can use to seal up your coffee and ensure maximum freshness.
The Bad
The only downside is that the beans don’t ship weekly or biweekly, but only monthly.
Gift Memberships: (Rating: 9/10)
The Good
It is possible to send the membership as a gift—just click the appropriate box upon checkout and a personalized message will go with the package to the recipient. There’s also other merchandise to purchase on the site in case you wanted to gift something besides coffee, which helps make the company a little more dynamic.
The Bad
The only issue with Starbucks gifting is there is no special packaging or notes. Other clubs will offer gift wrap or a special gift message to recipients.
Website: (Rating: 9/10)
The Good
The Starbucks Reserve website is aesthetically the best one of the bunch. There to greet visitors on the homepage is a professional welcome video outlining the Starbucks Reserve idea, coffee, and membership details.
There is no shortage of information lurking all over the site, bringing fresh perspectives and clarity to coffee types and methods. They do have a Pike Blog, which covers everything from Starbucks news, insight, and more.
The Bad
I’d like to see some brewing instructions or more coffee education on Starbucks website like other clubs offer.
Customer Service: (Rating: 10/10)
The Good
There is a dedicated phone line open all seven days of the week along with email, mail, and direct message options. Starbucks gets high marks in this section because of their already established customer service options.
The Bad
Nothing. Starbucks customer service is quick to respond. When I reached out to them via their online contact form, I received a response in less than 24 hours. Considering the volume of requests they most likely receive, I was quite impressed.
Starbucks Reserve Pricing
One Bag – One 8.8 oz. bag of coffee shipped every month until canceled, free shipping. Starts at $19.00.
Two Bag – Two 8.8 oz. bag of coffee shipped every month until canceled, free shipping. Starts at $34.00.
Three Bag – Three 8.8 oz. bag of coffee shipped every month until canceled, free shipping. Starts at $44.00.
Pricing |
Monthly Price Range: $19 - $44 Pkg. Size: 8.8 oz. How soon after roasting do beans ship: 48 Hours Free Shipping |
|---|
Shipping Frequency |
Monthly |
|---|
Club Duration |
On-going Until Cancel |
|---|
Coffee Types |
Single-Origin Whole Bean Ground Light Roast Medium Roast Dark Roast Espresso |
|---|
Membership Options |
Gift Memberships Random or Selective Coffee Choices: Both Selective and Random Ability to Pause/Skip Shipments |
|---|
Customer Service |
Phone FAQ's |
|---|
Who is This Coffee Club Best Suited For?
This club is for those already obsessed with Starbucks, and want to see a different side of their favorite coffee manufacturer.
What We Like About Starbucks Reserve
Month to Month Contract: There’s no commitment with Starbucks Reserve Roastery Club. You can pause or cancel any time you like.
Exclusive Starbucks Roastery Coffee: Some of the coffees you receive from Starbucks Reserve are exclusive to Starbucks. You won’t experience these beans and roasts anywhere else. In fact, the only way to experience them is through the Reserve Roastery.
Fresh Roasted: Coffee is roasted daily with Starbucks and shipped within 48 hours of roasting, so you always have fresh coffee.
Gift Memberships Available: If you want to give the gift of Starbucks Reserve, you can without hassle. You aren’t locked into long commitments either, which is nice because most clubs require a three-month commitment for their clubs.
New Selections Each Month: If you like variety, you’re going to love Starbucks Reserve Roastery Club. They constantly
What We Don't Like About Starbucks Reserve
More Shipping Options: Some clubs let you choose between weekly, bi-weekly and monthly deliveries. Starbucks doesn’t. You must stick with one shipment per month.
Only 8.8 Ounces: The price of Starbucks is a lot compared to others. You get 8.8 ounces for $19, while other clubs are cheaper and offer more coffee. That being said, it’s excellent quality.
No Preferences: There’s no option for preferences. While it’s not unusual for a club to pick the options for you each month, most will ask for input or at least find out your preferences. Those that don’t include more than one bag so that you have variety. Starbucks doesn’t get preferences from you; instead, they just send you the coffee that they’ve picked for that month and that’s it.
Final Thoughts
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Club is perfect for those that want to enjoy Starbucks coffees at home and exclusive Starbucks coffees. With their unique roasting methods and fun selections, it’s a great coffee adventure to try for less than $20 per month.
Starbucks Reserve – 1 Bag
Constantly changing coffee selections - with some only available at certain times of the year - all roasted and then shipped within 48 hours of ...
Starbucks Reserve – 2 Bags
Constantly changing coffee selections - with some only available at certain times of the year - all roasted and then shipped within 48 hours of ...
