MISTOBOX REVIEW: READ BEFORE TRYING THIS SUBSCRIPTION

In this MistoBox review, I’ll walk you through what I thought of this subscription service, including its convenience, selection, and coffee quality.

Photo: Mistobox

Are you here because you’re thinking about signing up for a coffee subscription? With so many available these days, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. That’s why the Home Brews Coffee team set about testing all the major players, including the popular MistoBox Coffee. I’ll explain what makes it stand out from others on the market so you’ll know if it’s the one for you.

The Full MistoBox Coffee Review

MistoBox is a coffee subscription with almost unbelievable freedom and empowerment, particularly regarding coffee selection. It’s the answer for any coffee fanatic who enjoys sampling new coffees without straying too far from their favorite flavor profiles.

The prices are affordable, and I found the site informative. If you’re looking for a well-rounded coffee subscription experience, this is a solid option that deserves a place among the top coffee subscription boxes.

How We Rated It

• Coffee Selection
• Membership Options
• Unique Features
• Overall Experience
• Price

4.4

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Coffee Selection – 5/5

MistoBox works with over 60 artisan coffee roasters, which allows them to offer an incredible variety of coffees. Currently, over 600 different beans are on offer, but the selection is constantly expanding. 

The selection includes small up-and-coming roasters as well as big names like Intelligentsia, Onyx, and Verve.

If that sounds overwhelming, you can start by getting the Discovery Box, which includes a few samples to help narrow down your initial preferences. Once you’ve rated your sample coffees, your subscription is catered to your taste.

The Coffee Curator

When you purchase a MistoBox subscription, you are matched up with a living, breathing coffee curator who uses their expertise to direct you toward the best coffee FOR YOU. You can contact them with questions and discuss your coffee hopes, dreams, and desires in as much detail as you want.

Every shipment I’ve received from Mistobox has been first-rate, both in the quality of the beans and how well they match my preferences. Exchanging emails with my coffee curator was hugely beneficial. AI is having a moment, but there’s still no substitute for a knowledgeable human with real taste buds (1).

The Brew Queue

As you browse and spot coffee you want to try, you can add it to the Brew Queue. Then, each shipment of coffee works its way down the queue. You can rearrange the coffees within the queue if you can’t wait to get your hands on one further down your list.

Membership Options – 4.5/5

There are several ways to tailor your membership to your needs. When you first sign up, you’re given a quick quiz to assess your coffee tastes, including how you take your coffee, your favorite roast level, and whether you prefer blends or single origins. If you love it all, like me, don’t worry; you can select multiple options.

MistoBox offers every coffee either as whole beans or pre-ground. Buying whole beans and grinding them just before you brew is the better option for flavor, but it’s nice that they have you covered if you don’t own a grinder. Unfortunately, they only offer one grind size, a medium suitable for drip coffee.

Every MistoBox coffee comes in a 12-ounce bag, which is roasted fresh to order. You choose the arrival frequency – a shipment every week, two weeks, three weeks, or four weeks. Of course, you can change the frequency or pause your subscription at any time. And with the recent addition of a downloadable skill for Alexa, you can check or change your delivery by voice command.

Finally, you select a membership tier. They offer two tiers: Deluxe and Exclusive. I would describe them as “very good” and “very, very good,” so there’s really no wrong answer. The Exclusive tier costs a bit more and gives you special access to very limited roasts from some of the most respected names in the business.

Unique Features – 4.5/5

What makes Misto Box so hot? Two things: their huge selection of coffee and their live coffee curator. 

With more than 60 artisan roasters available, you’ve got some of the finest coffees in the country at your disposal (2). That breadth and depth of product flexibility gives MistoBox an edge.

Even more so, though, is their coffee curator. It’s like having access to a personal barista or roastmaster. My interactions with the coffee curator were always educational and cordial, and I never felt judged for stupid questions. It’s a great way to fine-tune your coffee selections with someone who knows what they’re talking about.

I will say that the tasting notes in the box are a bit light, with just a sentence or so (plus the roaster’s description on the bag). And there’s not as much specific information on grinding and brewing as some other subscription services offer. For coffee novices, a bit more guidance would be helpful – but, of course, you can always consult your coffee curator.

Overall Experience – 4/5

When it comes to artisan coffee, knowledge is a huge factor in how to get that perfect cup of joe. Buying great coffee beans gets you halfway there, but then you need info on brewing methods and how to prepare different kinds of coffee depending on origin, roast types, etc. That’s where MistoBox shines. 

The coffee curator will ask you about the kinds of brew you like – pour over, drip, French press, espresso, etc. – to help choose a coffee that matches your preferences.

MistoBox doesn’t roast until after you order and ships out fast. My shipments arrived around four or five days after the roast date printed on the bags – well within the window of peak flavor. It’s not the fastest subscription service I’ve tested; some arrive in two or three days. But this has as much to do with location and the state of USPS as anything else.

Some customers noted that their customer service suffered a bit during their rapid growth, but it seems to be on an upward trend. And that growth is funneling right back to customers, says co-founder Samantha Meis.

I always received prompt responses, whether emailing a customer service rep or contacting my coffee curator.

Price – 4/5

MistoBox’s costs are very reasonable, and there’s a progressive discount if you select one of the longer plans. You can save 10% by signing up for six packages or 15% by signing up for 12. 

As long as you’re financially comfortable, I recommend signing up for at least six shipments. Not only do you score a discount, but it provides a longer time frame for you and your coffee curator to understand your tastes and discover your new favorite brew. It’s a win-win!

If you prefer to pay per shipment, 12-ounce bags of Deluxe coffee start at $14.95 and Exclusive coffees start at $17.95. With the maximum discount, that drops to $12.71 for the Deluxe tier coffees and $15.26 for the Exclusive beans. This is certainly less than you pay for equivalent quality coffee beans in a specialty shop. 

Disappointingly, Mistobox charges a flat $5 shipping per shipment. It’s one of few U.S.-based subscription services not to offer free shipping, which surprised me when I went to check out. The value is still good, but it keeps this subscription from being among the most affordable.

How To Choose The Right Coffee Subscription

Before we get into the nitty-gritty details of my Misto Box review, let’s go over some of the key things to keep in mind when choosing a coffee subscription:

Frequency. Knowing how much coffee you need before you pick a subscription is important. How many cups do you drink per day? How often do you buy new beans? Choosing the right frequency for your subscription delivery means you won’t pay for coffee that goes to waste or – horrors! – run out of coffee.

Your coffee preferences. Before you purchase a coffee subscription, have an idea of your preferences for things like roast type (light, medium, or dark) and flavor profiles (floral, citrusy, nutty, chocolatey). Think about what brewing gear you have available and the style of coffee you enjoy (espresso, drip, decaf).

These preferences are often the first thing you will be asked about when you sign up for a subscription. If you have no idea where to start, opt for a subscription that helps you decide with a tasting kit or expert advice.

Costs. I think we can safely assume that if you’re looking for a quality subscription, you’re not thinking of clearance-level prices. Still, there is somewhat of a financial scale to coffee subscriptions, and the prices can add up unexpectedly when purchased weekly or monthly. Know your budget!

Keep an eye out for shipping costs with all subscriptions. An offer of free shipping on your first order can disguise a hefty shipping cost in the future.

Table below compares all major subscriptions services available in the US:

	Reviewed Subscription
Coffee Company	Atlas	MistoBox	Crema Coffee	Angel's Cup	Driftaway	Bean Box	Trade	Blue Bottle	Craft Coffee	Volcanica
Subscription style	Roaster	Coffee marketplace	Coffee marketplace	Coffee marketplace	Roaster	Coffee marketplace	Coffee marketplace	Roaster	Roaster	Roaster
Coffee options	Single Origin	Blend, Single Origin, Espresso, Decaf	Blend, Single Origin, Espresso, Decaf	Blend, Single Origin	Single Origin, Cold Brew Blend, Decaf	Blend, Single Origin, Espresso, Decaf	Blend, Single Origin, Espresso, Decaf	Blend, Single Origin, Espresso, Instant, Cold Brew, Decaf	Blends, Single Origin	Blend, Single Origin, Espresso, Decaf
Roast options	Light/Medium, Medium/Dark	Light, Medium, Dark	Light, Medium, Dark	Light, Medium, Dark	Light, Light-Medium, Medium, Medium-Dark, Dark	Light, Medium, Dark	Light, Light-Medium, Medium, Medium-Dark, Dark	Light, Medium, Dark	Light, Medium, Dark	Light, Medium, Dark
Curated	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Coffee quantity options	6, 12, 24 oz	12 oz	7 oz - 5 lb, depending on coffee	12 oz	8, 12, 16 oz, 2 lb, 5 lb	12 oz, 24 oz	11 oz, 32 oz	12, 24, 26 oz	one to six 12-oz bags	16 oz, 3 lb, 5 lb
Delivery frequency options	Every 2 weeks or 4 weeks	Every week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or 4 weeks	Every 3 days, 5 days, week, 10 days, 2 weeks, month	Every week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or 4 weeks	Every week, 2 weeks, or 4 weeks	Every week, 2 weeks, or monthly	Every week, 10 days, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, or 6 weeks	Every week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or 4 weeks	Every week, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 weeks	Weekly or monthly
Number of coffees	1, rotates monthly	600+	1000+	Hundreds	10, rotates monthly	100+	450+	30ish, rotates twice monthly	11	150+
Special features	Information postcards, microlot coffees	Coffee curator, two membership tiers	Workplace subscriptions	Blind tasting kits	Guided tastings, sustainability	5% back in credits, special member gifts	Two membership tiers	Early access to new releases	Super inexpensive
Pre-ground available?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Only for espresso	No	Yes	Yes
Pods available?	K-cups and Nespresso capsules	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Prices start at	$9	$12.71	$20	$16.99	$14.40	$20	$15.75	$21	$7.99	10% off regular price
US shipping fees	Varies by location	flat $5	Free	flat $5 to US, $20 to Canada	Free to US	Free to US	$1.95 for one bag. Free if you sign up for 3+ bags.	Free	Free to US	flat $6.95 or free over $60
Ships to	US and Canada	US only	US only	US and Canada	Worldwide	US and Canada	US only	US only	US only	Worldwide
	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE

Mistobox Isn’t For You? Here Are Some Other Options

If you’re not sold on the MistoBox subscription model, plenty of alternatives are available. There’s also a great article that breaks down the essential subscription elements of coffee. You can use it to get a feel for your own understanding and work out exactly what makes a certain coffee your favorite! Here are three of my favorites:

• The Atlas Coffee Club – When you sign up for the Atlas Coffee Club, you go on a world coffee tastebud tour. They specialize in exotic micro-lot beans from emerging and well-established coffee origins – each month highlighting a new region. Each shipment arrives with a beautiful and educational postcard full of details about the local culture at origin, flavor profiles, and best brewing methods. Read a full review of Atlas Coffee Club here.
• The Angels’ Cup subscription – If hundreds of choices are too overwhelming, consider signing up for an Angels’ Cup subscription. Each box contains blind tastings of various artisan coffees. It’s not just a beverage delivery; it’s a whole experience. You can use their app to record your details and personal notes from each tasting and join the conversation with a larger coffee community. Read our full review of Angels’ Cup here.
• Bean Box – The Bean Box coffee subscription, based in the coffee hub of Seattle, sources specialty beans primarily from roasters in the Pacific Northwest. The coffee is well-priced and relentlessly high quality. Here’s our detailed Bean Box Coffee Subcription review.

The Verdict

I do a lot of coffee subscription reviews, so I can confidently say that MistoBox is a GREAT option. They are well-priced and offer quick and flexible shipping options, and I appreciate the practical two-tier model.

But what really helps Mistobox stand out from the pack is their unbelievable variety of coffee choices and the personal coffee curator. That combination virtually guarantees you’ll find new favorite coffees perfectly suited to your taste!

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