I‘ve been privileged lately to try a coffee club that was new to me. http://www.gourmetcoffeeshop.net has 14 different coffees available from 6 different regions of the world. They are all roasted using hot air instead the more traditional drum roasting method. This gives them a cleaner and more even roast.

Some of these coffees are familiar names for those who are used to trying different regional coffees from places like Starbucks or Gevalia. But a few are much less common. Click the links below to find out more about each kind of coffee. I’m specifically looking forward to trying the Indonesian coffees.

From South America:
Columbian Supremo
Brazilian Santos Bourbon

From Central America:
Costa Rican Tarrazu
Guatemalan Antigua
Panama Bouquette
Salvador High Grown Organic

From Mexico:
Altura Superior

From Africa:
Kenya Fancy AA
Tanzania Peaberry (North Highlands)
Ethiopian Longberry Harrar

From Indonesia:
Sumatra Mandheling Grade #1
Java Estate
Celebes Kalossi Toraja

From New Guinea:
AA Estate

One especially cool feature on their website is the Coffee Selector. It asks you a few multiple-choice questions about flavor profiles, strength, acidity, etc., and then gives you a recommendation along with a VERY nicely detailed description and history of that kind of coffee. The first time I did it, looking for a coffee recommendation, I was told I should be drinking Jamaican Blue Mountain. Go figure… me? A coffee gourmand? :-)
Loads of extra information make their website an excellent resource for learning more about coffee. There’s even a section on the website for Coffee Drinks & Recipes. :-D
There are four levels of coffee clubs offered, depending on how much you drink per month. If you start out with the “middle weight” club, which is 2 pounds per month, you get your first month free! Each coffee club has a $5-off introductory rate for the first month (make sure you enter the coupon code), but for now the 2-pound-plan gives you a free MONTH to try it out. And with ALL their coffee, the shipping is FREE! They’ve built it into the price of the coffee, so what you see listed is all that you pay. No shipping. No “handling.” No hidden costs anywhere. And no surprises. Just really good coffee. (I had the Costa Rican Tarrazu and it was EXCELLENT! Several discerning friends also thought so.)

The only drawback I saw on their website is that they provide information about things like gift ideas (gourmet coffee makers, grinders, roasters, cups, etc.) and gourmet specialty coffees, but you can’t buy these through them. It’s just information. I’m guessing, though, that they might grow into that market in time. Or else partner with a company who does sell them.

As with many of these kinds of clubs, there’s no obligation and you can cancel any time. Even after you’ve only receive the free trial coffees. Of course, they’re so good you’ll be wanting to continue. In fact, they’ve never had anyone cancel during that trial period, which also testifies to the quality of the coffee.

Coming up soon, I’m told, is a point system where members earn points for referring people and even for just being a member. Pretty cool!

If you give them a try, please come back here and post a comment with your thoughts. That will give me more people’s impressions and also an idea of how many people checked them out through my blog post.