Trade Coffee

What's in the box: Each delivery is a bag of freshly roasted coffee from an independent US roaster, picked to suit your quiz answers and brew method.

Trade Coffee is a US coffee subscription that connects drinkers with independent roasters across the country. It does not roast its own beans. Instead, it picks coffees from many roasters and uses a short quiz, about two minutes long, to suggest bags based on your brew method and taste. It covers espresso, drip coffee makers, pour-over, French press, cold brew, AeroPress and moka pot. New subscribers start with a Discovery Trial: three bags from three different roasters, delivered one at a time. According to the site, the first bag is free and shipping is free. Trade says its team of baristas, former roasters and coffee educators, including certified Q Grader tasters, scores each coffee for roast level, acidity, body and flavor notes, then uses those scores to match coffees to your profile. It reports more than 500 coffees in rotation. If you already know what you like, you can skip the quiz and start from a collection such as everyday medium roasts, espressos or single origins. There is also a shop for single bags and equipment, plus gift subscriptions and corporate gifting. The main draw is variety with expert guidance. The downside is that quality and style vary from roaster to roaster, and the matches are only as good as your quiz answers and feedback. You can cancel anytime.