Next tasting at 1 pm ET on Saturday, 21st of December.
THE PERFECT WAY TO EXPERIENCE
THE EXPLORER BOX
All Driftaway subscriptions start with an Explorer Box - a shipment of five unique coffees from around the world.
Here’s a chance to taste them side-by-side! It's the best way to figure out what kinds of flavors you prefer in coffee.
EXPERT GUIDED VIRTUAL TASTINGS
Led by either Cyrenthia McLennan or James McCarthy, you'll taste five different coffees at the same time, similar to how professionals taste and evaluate coffees.
All from the comfort of your home!
HOW IT WORKS
1
Sign up for a coffee subscription, or just buy an Explorer Box.
2
Prepare for the tasting with supplies you have in your kitchen.
Download our supplies list and tasting forms!
3
Join us for a live tasting on Zoom every Saturday. Or check out our recorded tastings below!
IT'S A MYSTERY (BOX)!
We want you to be able to taste these coffees along with James without being influenced by the tasting notes and growing regions printed on the bag labels - it makes for a fun tasting experience!
Your coffee bag labels won't have any visible identifying information: no farm names, no countries of origin, and most important of all - no tasting notes! This info will be hidden inside an envelope, and will be revealed after you've had a chance to taste all five coffees.
FIND YOUR FAVORITES
Tasting is the only way to figure out what kinds of coffee you like. Tasting the Explorer Box side-by-side with James will help you identify your coffee preferences and learn more about what kind of coffees you enjoy!
Already a subscriber but want to taste along? Just email us and we’ll be happy to replace your next delivery with an Explorer Box!
BECOME A COFFEE CONNOISSEUR
This tasting is fun and easy to join! Just using the five Driftaway coffees that come in the Explorer Box and what you have already in your kitchen, you can join in and taste with us!
Your Coffee Educator will tell you all about each of the coffees you’ve tasted, including taste profile, roast level & farm location.
There will be plenty of time to ask questions - save up your coffee-related queries and ask away!
WHAT YOU’ll NEED
- Five bags of Driftaway coffee from the Explorer Box
- A grinder (if you received whole beans)*
- A kitchen scale or measuring spoons
- A 1.5L (50oz) kettle or pot to boil water
- 5 mugs of a similar size (that can hold at least 7.5oz)
- 2 additional mugs of any size
- 2 spoons - preferably soup spoons or teaspoons
- Printed Tasting forms & Flavor wheel
*You'll need a medium grind for this tasting. If your Explorer Box is pre-ground, check to make sure it was ground for Drip.
BEFORE THE TASTING
- Match your grinder setting to the grind sample in your kit
- Please weigh out 12 grams of coffee (or 2 tbsp) into each mug
- Grind each coffee into the mugs
- Have water in kettle or pot ready
CHECK OUT ONE OF OUR PREVIOUS TASTINGS
Can't join a live Zoom tasting? Follow along with a recording at your own convenience instead! Cyrenthia will introduce you to the tasting techniques that the pros use, leading you through every step of the way.
WE ALSO OFFER PERSONALIZED, PRIVATE TASTINGS!
Taste with your friends and family, wherever you happen to be.
Purchase a tasting session for just your household, or invite friends and family to join you. With up to 20 households able to taste at the same time, you'll get to discuss flavors with each other, share notes, and bond over favorites!
Interested in a Corporate tasting instead? Learn more here
FAQ
Yes, these tastings are exclusive to those who have bought a Driftaway Coffee Subscription or the Driftaway Explorer Box.
This is the first shipment a new Driftaway subscription customer receives. It includes the current 5 coffees that we offer - each one representing a different taste profile: Fruity, Classic, Balanced Bold & Extra-Bold. We strongly believe that tasting is the only way to really know what kind of coffee you like, so we want to give you a chance to taste through all 5 of our profiles before you choose which ones we’ll ship to your door.
This includes 5 Driftaway coffees, a sealed envelope with coffee information inside, and a small pouch of ground coffee labeled "Sample Grind Size" - use this to calibrate your grinder to match what we use for this type of tasting.
This is a very forgiving, gentle brewing method - as long as you are as close as you can get, it’ll work great!
The best grind size for this type of tasting is medium - what you'd use for a pour over or electric drip. It should look a little finer than sea salt.
The Drip grind is perfect for the Virtual Tasting.
Yes, absolutely! If you received the Explorer Box already, feel free to join us any upcoming Saturday. If you have an E-Gift card, please follow the instructions to redeem it and join when you have the Explorer Box in hand.
Nice to meet you! You can get one by signing up for a subscription, or purchasing an Explorer Box.
The bags won’t have any origin or roast information, so you can taste freely without any preconceived notions! This info will be revealed at the end of the tasting.
Only if you chose whole beans! If you don't have a grinder, you can choose ground coffee while subscribing or buying an Explorer Box - the Drip grind is the perfect choice for this tasting.
The coffee inside that clear pouch was ground on the setting we use for this type of tasting. Using this as your guide, find the setting on your grinder that matches it. You can use about 10 beans of any whole bean coffee to calibrate.
A gram scale is recommended, but if you don't have one, you can use a tablespoon to measure. Each cup will need 2 full tablespoons of ground coffee.
Absolutely! Don't grind much sooner than 10 minutes beforehand. If you have a hand grinder, we strongly recommend you grind before the session.
Yes! Feel free to print out an extra Tasting Form.
This session will be a modified version of the professional cupping style. Since there’s a good amount of steps involved, there won’t be time for a brew session.
