The primary purpose of Coffee Review ratings and reviews are to help consumers find and enjoy superior quality coffee. To that end, there are several ways to have your coffees evaluated by Coffee Review. We accept samples for the following types of coffee reviews and reports:
1. Reviews for Scheduled Tasting Reports
Coffee Review publishes reviews in association with its scheduled tasting reports on specific topics as shown in our 2024 Editorial Calendar. There is no charge to roasters to submit roasted coffee samples for potential inclusion in tasting reports. However, keep in mind that we often cup more than 100 samples per report and we review just 10-12 of the highest-rated coffees. We cannot supply feedback on coffees submitted for tasting reports that do not appear in the final set of published reviews. Please only send samples for coffees that are currently available for sale to consumers.
Please email Kim at [email protected] to indicate that you are sending a sample for consideration. Samples should meet the following requirements:
- Commercially available to consumers at the time they are submitted
- Submitted in standard consumer packaging
- Whole beans (if available)
- Espressos – Minimum of 16 ounces
- Non-espressos – Minimum of 12 ounces
The mailing address for coffee samples and other correspondence is:
Coffee Review
2625 Alcatraz Ave. #263
Berkeley, CA 94705
Contact us regarding samples requirements for canned and bottled coffees, pods, instant coffees, and other pre-ground formats.
View Sample Reviews for Monthly Tasting Report – Webpage | PDF File
View Sample Tasting Report (November 2023)
2. Standalone Roasted Coffee Reviews
Given that only a small percentage of coffees submitted for tasting reports are reviewed, we invite roasters to submit roasted coffee samples for standalone reviews that we publish year-round. Sample requirements are the same as those for monthly tasting reports indicated above.
These coffees are reviewed objectively on a blind basis using the same tasting procedures and scoring methods used to generate reviews for tasting reports. The main difference is that, with standalone reviews, roasters are assured that their coffee will be reviewed. However, roasters submitting samples for standalone reviews are not assured of a favorable result.
Standalone reviews can be quoted for public use following the same guidelines for reviews published in association with a tasting report. After receiving a review, the submitting roaster has two weeks to decide to keep the review private or request to have it published on CoffeeReview.com. (However, it remains the sole discretion of Coffee Review whether it will publish a review.) When a review is published, the roaster will receive an electronic score medallion that can be used for marketing purposes.
The fee for standalone reviews is $375 per sample. Advertisers pay a reduced fee of $225 per non-espresso sample and $275 per espresso sample. Sample needs for standalone reviews are the same as those indicated for tasting reports above.
Please only send samples for coffees that are currently available for sale to consumers. We cannot provide public reviews of sample roasts, inbound coffees, or other coffees that are not publicly available at the time samples are submitted. For such coffees, we can offer private evaluations as described below.
Please contact [email protected] before sending coffees for standalone reviews.
View Sample Standalone Review – Webpage | PDF file
3. Private Evaluations of Roasted and Green Coffees
Reviews for tasting reports and standalone roasted coffee reviews displayed on the Coffee Review are designed to assist consumers with their purchasing decisions.
For roasters who want more detailed technical feedback to support their internal quality control and enhancement efforts but who are not interested in published reviews, we offer private coffee evaluations of both roasted and green coffees. These business-to-business evaluations use the same cupping procedures and scoring methods as our public reviews, but they are not displayed on the website and are structured as confidential communications to roasters. They may not be quoted or used for promotional purposes.
Professional fees for private evaluations of roasted and green coffees are US$375 per sample in both espresso and non-espresso formats.
4. Ratings and Reviews for Large Companies with Extensive Reach and/or Long-term Promotions
Increasingly, larger companies with extensive retail reach have become interested in using Coffee Review ratings, reviews, and medallions to promote mainstay coffees that are available broadly and for extended periods of time. These coffees, usually high-volume blends or single-origins available year-round, are offered under the same name for prolonged periods, over a relatively large geography, and in multiple channels and outlets. In these cases, Coffee Review requires a licensing agreement and sample recertification process that assures that coffees sold to consumers remain largely consistent with the initial ratings and reviews. For more information, please contact Ron Walters at [email protected].
5. Standalone Green Coffee Reviews
Coffee Review also offers standalone reviews of green (unroasted) coffees. We accept green samples from roasters, growers, importers and other industry professionals who want an objective coffee review that can be used for both quality assessment and marketing purposes. These reviews can help roasters source superior quality green coffees and, at the same time, help farmers, importers, and brokers sell their superior-quality greens.
Coffee Review roasts green samples on an ARC S Sample Roaster. We drop the roast just as the first crack reaches its end. This roast level is sometimes described as moderately light brown, medium-light or light-medium. It is the favored roast color among roasters who submit regularly to Coffee Review and tend to attract high ratings. It is the roast style associated with the “Third Wave” of North-American roasters. We target 56 whole bean M-Basic Agtron. At or near the target, ground M-Basic Agtron will vary from around 70 to 78, depending on the green coffee. Please note that these numbers are on the Agtron M-Basic scale.
Roasted samples are then scored on the Coffee Review scale, judging the coffee from the point of view of potential consumer acceptance of the coffee as a finished product at a medium roast. These scores are NOT equivalent to Q or industry scores, which are typically lower for a similar coffee. Keep in mind that roasted versions of these coffees may achieve a higher or lower score than the green version. Roasters are not permitted to use green scores or reviews to promote their roasted version of the same coffee.
The coffees are reviewed objectively on a blind basis using the same cupping procedures and scoring methods as followed for standalone reviews for roasted coffees.
These reviews can be quoted for public use following the same guidelines for reviews published in association with roasted coffees. When a review is published, the submitter will receive a green coffee electronic score medallion that can be used for marketing purposes.
The fee for standalone green coffee reviews is $375 per sample. Please send a minimum of 400 grams of green coffee per sample.
To begin the process, submitters should complete our green sample submission form.
Please contact Ron Walters at [email protected] for more information.
