IMAWriter Senior Member Joined: 4 Jul 2002 Posts: 5,464 Location: Brentwood, TN Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Nothing at the moment Grinder: Vario-W,Preciso-Esatto/KyM... Vac Pot: Adcraft SS, Yama 8 cup Drip: Brazen.Chemex, Hario, Clever... Roaster: Behmor 1600, CO/UFO combo
Posted Thu Apr 15, 2010, 8:55pm Subject: Re: What do we look for in an online coffee roaster?
Quality coffee, reasonable (as described by Jason (Zin) shipping. Love those flat rate $4.95 deals on 2#'s. Roast dated, suggested brew temperature and perhaps suggested amount in grams of coffee per shot.
Oldworld_Luke Senior Member Joined: 11 Oct 2009 Posts: 34 Location: spartanburg, sc Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Romantica/modded... Grinder: Mazer Major Vac Pot: Yama Drip: Tek Roaster: 6lb San Fran.
Posted Fri Apr 16, 2010, 2:32am Subject: Re: What do we look for in an online coffee roaster?
I run a micro roaster who have just gone online in the past month. Shipping is a big issue for our customers, I am reading this and realizing now I should do a discount shipping for returning customers. Any thoughts on how you like to see these systems work?
The more feedback the better I can help server great coffee, so I appreciate it!
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,099 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Fri Apr 16, 2010, 6:56am Subject: Re: What do we look for in an online coffee roaster?
Aaron, shipping one pound at a time is indeed cost prohibitive. And -- no offense to those lovers of Intelligentsia -- but I never buy from them unless I am IN one of their shops. (I hate their shipping policy.)
Both FedEx and UPS charge variable rates based upon distance. And they are slow. Being in California, it can take as long as five working days to go coast-to-coast, and weekends don't count. That means it can take as long as eight calendar days from order to delivery. In a word, that sucks!
Some roasters use flat-rate shipping through USPS Priority Mail. Not only is the cost is lower, but they promise delivery in 2-3 days, even coast-to-coast! Roasters who do not use Priority Mail do not get my business.
Example #1:Caffè Fresco in Pennsylvania ships me two 16-oz. bags or three 12-oz. bags for $4.95 using the aforementioned flat-rate USPS Priority Mail. That means I can get their 36 oz. of their Ambrosia for $1.095 per ounce delivered including shipping. If I order two 1-pound bags, the delivered cost is $1.091 per ounce. That's a far cry from $23.83/pound ($1.496/oz.). I place an order on Sunday via the internet; the coffee is roasted on Monday and arrives on Thursday.
Example #2:Espresso Vivace in Seattle charges $13.00 per pound for their Dolce blend. My problem with them is that they do not use flat-rate shipping boxes from USPS for Priority Mail. They do use Priority Mail., but ship by weight. Two pounds costs me $9.05 in shipping. Still, that works out to $1.095 per ounce -- the same as Caffè Fresco. I place an order on Sunday via the internet; the coffee is roasted on Monday and arrives on Wednesday.
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