Frequently Asked Questions

When do you roast/ship your coffees?

With some exceptions, individual orders placed via our online shop will roast and ship:

• The next business day if ordered by 1:30 PM CST
• Two days later if ordered after 1:30 PM CST
• The forthcoming Monday if ordered between 1:30 PM PST Thursday
• The item’s product page will also indicate when that particular item will ship.

For Subscriptions:

• Firstly, if you are a new subscriber or have started a free trial, welcome! Your first order was created when you signed up and will roast and ship in 1 to 2 business days.
• For returning subscribers, your exact roast and ship date are always accessible to you on your account dashboard under the “subscription section.”  

What shipping methods are available for coffee?

Your coffee is shipped either via USPS First Class, USPS Priority or USPS Priority Express. (First Class and USPS Priority have an estimated shipping time of 1-5 days, while USPS Priority Express offers a 1-2 day expedited service).

Do you include shipping with all orders?

When purchasing coffee or merchandise from the webshop, shipping is figured dynamically, based on weight and destination, and is added at checkout. Standard shipping on webshop orders over $30 is free.

At-Home subscriptions have a flat, per-shipment shipping charge built-in to the cost.

Sourcing?

Coffee primarily grows in the equatorial regions of the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Where a coffee grows (its origin), its elevation and its particular varietal* create a terroir imparting a given coffee’s general flavors. A producer then develops a coffee's terroir in the growing, picking, and processing stages. Quality coffee sourcing requires a tried consideration of all these variables as well as an assessment of producers' social and environmental sustainability practices.

Responsible sourcing consists of these above variables and many more. In hopes of a fuller sourcing picture, whenever possible, we practice direct trade meaning that we visit farms in-person and exchange capital directly to farmers for their crop. Through this inherently relational practice, we foster ongoing partnerships and friendships with producers while gaining invaluable exchanges.

*Coffee comes in many different varietals, e.g., Bourbon, Caturra, SL-28, similar to how apples do, e.g., Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious.

What about Fair Trade Certified?

We purchase coffees based on quality and producer relationship. By definition, Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency, and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. By default, purchasing coffee directly from producers gives us the opportunity to circumvent commodity and fair trade pricing which is still significantly much less than what a producer needs to earn to survive.

How is Decaf Coffee made?

There are three main decaffeination processes currently in use. They have some basic similarities. In all three approaches, the green or roasted beans are first moistened, making the caffeine soluble so that it can be drawn out. Regardless of the exact decaffeination process, when sourcing decaf beans we prioritize relationship and quality like any other coffee.

What is your return policy?

At Metric Coffee Co, our goal is to provide our guests with impeccable service, the highest quality goods, and of course, delicious coffee. Because we want you to be happy with your experience, we strive to make sure our return policies reflect that.

For Whole Bean Coffee - Coffee is perishable and our whole beans are roasted to order, so we're unable to accept returns on coffee. But don't worry! We want to help. If there was an error with your order, please contact us at info@metriccoffee.com within 30 days of your purchase. If you were dissatisfied with your coffee, our team will help you track down an alternative that’ll soon-to-be your favorite.

For Everything Else - If you are dissatisfied with your order in any way, don’t hesitate to reach out about a return or exchange within 30 days of purchase. Just email us at info@metriccoffee.com

What is Single Origin Coffee?

Single origin is a small phrase with a big definition. The meaning’s often simplified to a coffee that’s sourced from one single producer, crop, or region in one country. Single farm and single estate mean that the coffee is sourced from one farm, mill, or co-operative. Then you can go a step further and find coffee labels that tell you the estate name, the specific lot or paddock the coffee was grown on, or if it’s a micro-lot (a specific varietal from a specific farm).

What does Blend mean?

When coffee beans from multiple locations are roasted and mixed, this is known as a coffee blend. It is not uncommon to find coffee blends including beans from two to three separate places. The goal is to juxtapose great aspects of one coffee with the elements of another.

How do I know which coffee to choose from?

We recommend checking out our coffee descriptions! Each is specialized and include flavors listed.

Also, brewing plays a considerable part in the result of the flavor, so based on what flavors speak to you, we would be happy to guide you in the best practices for brewing.

Do you offer dark roast coffee?

We always encourage our customers to give medium to lighter roasted coffees a try but also understand the appeal of this particular darker profiles. This is why we make it our mission to offer a full spectrum of roasting profiles while still adhering to both freshness and quality.

I have seen a few collaborations in the past, how does my brand get in on that?

From beer to spirits, to music, to not-for-profit organizations, we find that uniting with like-minded brands and creating a collaborative bag/coffee concept helps fuel our spirit of innovation. If you would like to talk about partnering on a future project, drop us a line at info@metriccoffee.com

What’s the story behind your roaster?

It all started with a simple email from Xavier looking to get his hands on his dream roaster. He and Darko stumbled across the roaster on an old-school, single-page website-- the listing didn’t even have a picture. After a month of back-and-forth though, Xavier and Darko wired cobbled-together funds to the seller on the terms of receiving a fully refurbished, antique Probat… What arrived after eight months of seller delays was less than promised.

A spray-painted rust bucket turned up on the hopeful roasters’ doorstep. Sinking most of the company’s funding into this essential tool made giving up not an option. So Darko and Xavier rolled up their sleeves and got to work-- sanding, painting, greasing, and soldering. Some resilient tenacity got the roaster refurbished, running, and situated as a cornerstone of our practice that we continue to use today. The roaster acts a little bit as a mascot and a little bit as a reminder of the work we’ve done and the work ahead (expected or not).

What’s behind the name “Metric?”

We landed on the name as a reference to our craft. From our German roaster to the burlap coffee bags our producers send stateside, our industry works in kilos. Therefore, referencing the metric system, allowed us to speak to our trade while also implying a set of delineations for us to measure our quality standards.

Why did you start Metric Coffee?

Metric began out of Xavier and Darko’s desire to express themselves through a medium they knew: coffee.

Who owns Metric?

The same two humans who have been here since the beginning-- Darko and Xavier.

How many shops do you have?

One and counting… but we don’t spoil any surprises.