I am not a fan of subscriptions, as I rarely love anything enough to get it forever and ever. I had to be hammered with advertising for the coffee concentrate Javy before I relented. When I stumbled across a buy-two-get-one free deal, it was too tempting to resist, so I decided it was time to commit. Here's my experience trying Javy coffee, and whether or not I think it's worth a subscription.
@theluncefordhome iced coffee using javy coffee concentrate 😍 #drinkjavy #asmr #asmrsounds #satisfying #asmrcoffee #coffee #coffeeasmr #coffeebar #coffeetutorial #athomecoffee #aesthetic #asmraesthetic ♬ Clouds - Luke Faulkner
What Is Javy Coffee?
This is not bottled coffee. It's coffee concentrate, which you can add to milk or water to create a hot or cold cup of java. Each serving size (one teaspoon) includes 80 mg of caffeine, and is gluten-free, sugar-free, and dairy-free. The coffee is sold in quantities of one, two, or three bottles, which can be purchased as a single order or as a subscription. If you opt for the Javy coffee subscription, you'll receive a new delivery every month.
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How Does Javy Coffee Taste?
Once I received my Javy, I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor. It's a mild, not-too-dark roast, and I didn't notice an "off" aftertaste or the burnt flavor I associate with Starbucks. I did use more than one serving to match the espresso kick I am used to, but even so, it was still cheaper than Nespresso.
I appreciate that it's also a concentrate, so I can add milk instead of water if I want a really luxurious, creamy beverage. I haven't done it yet, but I'm pretty sure it would make a kick-ass affogato (an Italian dessert made by dumping espresso over ice cream), so I may save a serving or two just for that.
Javy Coffee: The Pros
The big plus was that the coffee concentrate was dramatically less expensive than Nespresso or Keurig, and far easier and faster than, say, drip coffee. Each small bottle has 30 servings, and that means each cup can cost somewhere between 50 to 73 cents, depending on how many you buy. The bottles are $18 each if you buy three with a subscription, and $23 if you buy just one bottle without a subscription. Considering some Nespresso pods cost $1.25 each, Javy seemed like a steal.
I also liked that the company touts its regenerative farming practices and ethical labor, which isn't always the case with coffee brands.
Javy Coffee: The Cons
You know how I mentioned your best deal was buying three? The deals don't stop there! You also get a milk frother, gold stainless steel straws, and a recipe book, which was nice but unnecessary. You're also encouraged to subscribe to monthly Javy shipments.
I started getting annoyed when I was offered more coffee at a discounted rate and hammered with what felt like desperate internet sales tactics. By the time I was done, I spent almost $63 for five bottles — considerably more coffee than I intended to buy, even if it was on sale. In short, this is not cheap coffee.
Once I realized I would have a hard time storing all this stuff, even as tiny as these bottles are, I discovered Javy would let me go, but not happily. I couldn't easily alter my subscription — it was either canceled or paused for one month, which wasn't ideal. I drink a lot of coffee, but I didn't see myself powering through so many bottles in just one month. I got a video message from a member of the marketing team welcoming me to the world of Javy, which was nice, but I also received a bevy of emails after I subscribed and after I canceled.
Add all these things up, and it all felt like too much of a hard sell for me.
The Bottom Line
While the coffee concentrate was cheaper than my Nespresso pods, even when I doubled the quantity, the Cold Brew Concentrate from Trader Joe's is a pretty good deal, too ($9 for 12 servings, so 75 cents a cup). And, importantly, no one pressures me to buy more.
That said, I like the product that Javy is selling, so I'm not ruling it out. I drink a lot of iced coffee, but when the weather cools down again, I suspect I'll go back to Nespresso, even if it is more expensive. I love the sound of coffee brewing, the smell of the hot coffee being made, and the ritual of it all. You can warm up Javy, but it's just not the same.
Either way, it might be a while before I consider a coffee subscription again. I have no idea how long it's going to take for me to drink the stuff I've got.