What does “ethically sourced” mean?
It means that we only source beans that we can trace back to the families, regions and farms that produced them. We also pay a premium for beans that originate from farms that adhere to better farming practices. This method of sourcing beans is better for the farmer, better for the environment, and we feel produces a better cup of coffee.
How much is shipping for coffee?
We hate paying for shipping and we’re sure you do, too. That’s why we make shipping as painless as possible. All bags ship for $3. Subscriptions of two bags or more and orders over $35 ship free!
Why did you name it Modest Coffee?
When we started Modest Coffee, our goal was to simplify the coffee buying experience. We have set pricing levels and coffee standards for each level. This makes it easier for our customers to find coffees they can rely on. We want to make specialty coffee approachable by roasting the highest quality coffees without the snobbery.
Will you draw a picture on my bag?
If you ask nicely you might get lucky but we claim no artistic prowess.
Are your beans any different from the big box coffee shops?
To us it’s all about the flavor. The big shops blend and roast away all of the subtle flavors so they can produce a consistent product. Each region, each farm, and each harvest makes a totally unique experience and we love that about our beans. We think once you try it, you’ll love it too.
Do you ship to Canada?
Not currently. There are too many variables for us to deliver consistently and we feel like it would compromise the quality of our service.
What are typical transit times?
Transit times depend on a number of factors and the stated transit times are estimates given by USPS. Even though a bag may state 1, 2, or 3 day service there is no guaranteed delivery date and everything is delivered by USPS on a “best effort” basis.
Why don’t you grind your coffee before it ships?
It’s all about the volatile chemicals. Subtle flavors will start to break down after two weeks in the whole bean. The volatile’s start to break down within minutes of grinding. We recommend grinding right before brewing and if you don’t have one, we recommend picking up a cheap grinder from the store.
What is your roasting schedule?
We roast and ship most weekdays. Orders placed will be roasted and shipped on the next roast day and your coffee will arrive within days of roasting.
What happens if I order 2 or more bags per month?
When you sign up for a subscription you have the option of choosing how many bags you want and your shipping schedule.
How do I update my shipping address, change beans, add or remove quantity, place on hold, or cancel my subscription?
It is super easy, just log into your account and make any modifications.
What made you start roasting coffee?
We started purchasing fresh roasted, single origin coffee from our local farmer’s market. Come winter time we had a problem on our hands; we had no way of getting more of that sweet sweet go juice. We were desperate and faced with a choice: either go back to drinking stale store bought coffee, or figure out how to roast coffee ourselves. People around us enjoyed our coffee and so we decided to share it with the masses and Modest Coffee was born! Go here to read Our Story.
Are you going to sell flavored coffees?
Our focus is on single-origin coffee beans. At the moment there are no plans to add supplemental flavors to our coffee beans.
Are your beans FTO, RA, Co-Op or otherwise part of a regulatory governing body?
Where possible, yes, although many certifications are expensive and time consuming for small scale farmers to obtain. The most important aspect for us is to support farmers that adhere to responsible and ethical farming practices. We feel it is important to support farmers that are working towards their certifications. We also look out for other certification, such as “farm gate” sourced coffee, because farmers earn more than they would from a traditional regulatory body.
How does roasting work?
There is a great article here that explains the science behind roasting. Interestingly enough, the same bean roasted by two different people can have profoundly different tastes. The job of our lead roaster is to deliver a brilliant cup of coffee.
Why don’t you use that part in Pulp Fiction (nsfw) where Jules was like “this is some serious gourmet $#!T”? That part of the movie was awesome!
We love that movie, too, but fear copyright laws may not be on our side.