New to coffee subscriptions? Avoid these common pitfalls and make your mornings smoother — and tastier.
A coffee subscription can completely upgrade your home coffee experience — but only if it’s the right one for you. Too many people sign up and end up with stale beans, the wrong grind, or coffee they don’t love.
Here are the five biggest mistakes we see Aussies make when starting a subscription — and how to get it right from day one.
1. Choosing the Wrong Grind Size
If you’re not grinding your own beans, getting the right pre-ground option is crucial. Too fine for your brew method? You’ll get bitterness. Too coarse? It’ll taste watery.
How to avoid it: Know your brew method — espresso, French press, V60, AeroPress, etc. — and choose a subscription that offers grind customisation. Or better yet, grab a burr grinder and go whole bean.
2. Forgetting to Check the Roast Date
Many cheap subscriptions ship coffee that’s already been sitting on shelves or in warehouses. That means you’re drinking beans well past their flavour peak.
How to avoid it: Look for a subscription that roasts to order and clearly shows the roast date. Freshness is everything when it comes to taste.
3. Ordering More Coffee Than You Need
Subscribing to too much coffee leads to waste — or worse, drinking old beans just to use them up.
How to avoid it: Calculate your household’s weekly usage. Most home drinkers go through 250g to 500g per fortnight. Start small; you can always scale up.
4. Not Trying New Origins or Roasters
Many people stick to what they know, but part of the beauty of a good coffee subscription in Australia is discovering what else is out there — from fruity Ethiopians to rich Colombian blends.
How to avoid it: Choose a multi-roaster subscription that rotates origins monthly. It keeps things exciting and broadens your coffee palate.
5. Picking Price Over Quality
It’s tempting to go for the cheapest plan, but those often come with mass-produced beans, poor traceability, and disappointing flavour.
How to avoid it: Choose a subscription that prioritises specialty-grade, ethically sourced beans. Quality beans = better flavour, and you’re supporting better farming and roasting practices.
☕ Bonus Tip: Make Sure You Can Pause or Skip Easily
Life changes — travel, holidays, or cutting back. Subscriptions without flexible delivery options often lead to waste or frustration.
Look for: Easy account access, the ability to pause or skip shipments, and customer support that actually responds. We are just an email away.
Ready to Subscribe Smart?
At Good Coffee Project, we’ve designed our coffee subscriptions to avoid these exact mistakes.
- Fresh-roasted, specialty-grade beans
- Custom grind options for every brew method
- Flexible delivery and easy account control
- Support local Australian roasters
First time? Use code FRESHCUP at checkout for 10% off your first 3 deliveries.
👉 Find your subscription match now
Final Sip
A coffee subscription should make life easier — not more complicated. Avoid these common missteps, and you’ll be well on your way to better mornings, brewed right at home.