The honest
answers.
No fine print, no dodging. If your question isn't here, the fastest answer is in the Discord — or email us and one of us will reply.
How does the subscription work? When does the box ship? +
You pick The Four or The Six, we curate the month's coffees, and your box ships on a set monthly cadence. Order before the cutoff to catch the upcoming lineup; after that you'll start with the following month. Every coffee is rested before it goes out, so it arrives ready to brew rather than blanked out from being too fresh.
Can I pause or skip a month? How? +
Anytime, from your account — no email required, no guilt trip. Travelling, drowning in beans, or just need a breather? Pause or skip in a couple of clicks and pick back up whenever you want.
What if I don't like one of the coffees? +
That's exactly what the 60-gram format is for. Specialty coffee is divisive on purpose — 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? +
The two of us do, by hand. Matthias works the global sourcing and relationships; Bryan cups the candidates and balances the box. We argue, taste again, and only ship the six we'd both stand behind. No roaster or origin repeats — ever.
What's the rest time, and why does it matter? +
Freshly roasted coffee needs a few days to degas before it brews at its best. We rest every coffee so it lands in your window — lively, not flat, and not so green it tastes like nothing. Subscribers consistently tell us it's a reason they stay.
Can I customize what's in my box? +
Honestly: no, and that's the point. The whole promise is that someone with taste chooses for you. The Four lets you lean clean, funky, or mixed; beyond that, the curation is the product. If you want to build your own box from a 50-roaster menu, there are marketplaces for that — we're the opposite of that.
What's in the Discord? How do I join? +
Brew advice, recipes, side-by-sides, hot takes on the month's funk, and the two of us answering questions in real time. It's the reason most long-tenure members stay. Your invite comes with your subscription — and you can see what it's like here.
Shipping, delivery times, and international? +
Shipping is shown up front before you pay — never sprung on you at the last step. Domestic boxes typically arrive within a few days of shipping. For international availability and rates, drop us a line at hello@thebeanarchives.com.
Do you grind the coffee? +
Whole bean only. At this level, a burr grinder is the single biggest upgrade you can make — and 60-gram bags reward grinding fresh. New to it? Start in the Beginner Corner.
Still wondering?
The Discord answers most things in minutes. Or just start — you can pause or cancel anytime.