Coffee and a Classic is a monthly book & beverage subscription box, curated by Ashlee Doherty. Ashlee’s mission is to create a complete escape each month for lovers of literature, providing a thought out and curated experience where readers can curl up with the book, a beverage, and other bookish items to retreat from everyday life.
There are two different subscription levels available.
- The STARTER BOX ($28 / month + shipping) provides you with a classic book, something to sip on, and 2 bookish items each month.
- The STANDARD BOX ($40 / month + shipping) provides you with a classic book, something to sip (your choice of coffee, tea, hot chocolate) & snack on, a bookmark, a coffee mug, and 1-2 bookish items based on a theme. This book box is also packaged in a high-quality photo box.
With each level of subscription, you can select from three genres: Classic Literature, Children’s Classics, and Classic Nonfiction.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
This review is for the Starter Children’s Classics Box.
About Coffee and a Classic
The Subscription Box: Coffee and a Classic Starter Box (Children's Classics)
The Cost: $29.00 a month (you can save 5%-15% with longer pre-paid subscription) + shipping
The Products: A classic book, something to sip on, 2 bookish items + a bookmark
Ships to: the US only
Good to Know: Boxes ship between the 19th-23rd of each month. You can cancel your subscription at any time (recurring billing happens on the 1st of the month). Each month, a sneak peek is available and you can change genres if something catches your eye.
Coffee and a Classic (Children’s Classics) December 2018 Starter Box Review
This month’s selection is The Snow Queen: A Tale in Seven Stories by Hans Christian Andersen.
From Coffee & A Classic:
“The Snow Queen was an original fairy tale written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen in 1844. It tells the story of Kai being kidnapped by the Snow Queen and Gerda’s journey to rescue him.
Stories, however, don’t come out of the blue. The story type Andersen uses was already known to the Ancient Greeks and some of the characteristics of the Snow Queen herself can be traced back more than a thousand years ago, to the times of the heathen religion. At the same time, other authors have used Andersen’s tale as inspiration for their own stories. From Victorian author George MacDonald to C. S. Lewis Narnia’s Chronicles. And, of course Disney’s Frozen film, which has revived the interest in Andersen’s Snow Queen in the last years.”
Like most subscriptions, the first item you see when you open the box is an info card detailing the products inside. The contents listed include the book itself, a package of hot chocolate, 2 bookish items, and a bookmark.
The Snow Queen: A Tale in Seven Stories by Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated by Sanna Annukka, and Translated by Jean Hersholt – Retail Value $16.00 (found here for $14.40)
From Barnes & Noble:
“Gorgeously packaged with intricate illustrations from Finnish illustrator, Sanna Annukka, this new edition of Hans Christian Andersen's well-loved fairy tale, The Snow Queen, is the perfect holiday gift for adults and children alike."
Hans Christian Andersen's magical tale of friendship and adventure is retold through the beautiful and intricate illustrations of Finnish illustrator Sanna Annukka. Cloth-bound in deep blue, with silver foil embellishments, The Snow Queen is elevated from a children's book to a unique work of art. It is an ideal gift for people of all ages.
I always love receiving beautifully illustrated, hardcover editions of these classic children’s books. These pages are thick and the illustrations plentiful throughout. Being a toddler momma, I have seen Frozen approximately one hundred zillion times, but truthfully, I never once read the original snow queen. There is no Anna, there is no Elsa, there is no Olaf – so the characters are unfamiliar. As I’ve found in many old fairy tales, the tone is a bit darker than portrayed by Disney, and it will be several years before I feel my child is old enough to enjoy this story. For an adult, it was a good quick read and held my interest.
Exclusive! Candy Cane / Peppermint Hot Chocolate by McStevens (3.5 oz) – Estimated Value $5.57 (based on a similar item found here)
Almost every month, we see a delicious McSteven’s hot cocoa! This month it was a milk chocolate and peppermint blend, tasting very much like my preferred Starbucks – a Peppermint Mocha! I loved it on its own, and also found it delightful to add to my coffee with a little cream! The label and packaging were adorned to match the theme of the book as well!
Frozen Inspired Fizz Bath Bomb – Retail Value $6.00
This spearmint, jojoba oil, and glitter bath bomb smelled great and offered a nice, fizzy soak. Although as a grown woman, I prefer to not have glitter in my bomb’s, this didn’t leave much residue on my tub or on my skin, so I was pleased that it was pretty without making a mess. I found the spearmint sent to be invigorating, almost making the warm water feel a bit cool on my skin. One critical comment is that the ball didn’t stay intact, it wasn’t a problem since it was in its own bag, but after I photographed it the ball crumbled into the bag and when I went to use it, I essentially just dumped the bag of powder into the tub. Again, not a big deal – but just notable should you plan on gifting these outside of a bag.
Exclusive! Handmade Snow Globe from Coffee and a Classic
I thought this was an adorable addition to the box, and while in the past I’ve been a bit critical of the quality I am happy to report that this handmade item has not leaked, broken, and seems to be well thought out. I love that it’s plastic – meaning I can give it to my child without fear of shattered glass. He collects snow globes (I travel for work, and often bring him home one from whatever city I am visiting) – so we can add this to the collection! Iridescent glitter swirls onto the mountain top… **breaks into lyrics to Let it Go**
Metal Snowflake Bookmark with Tassel – Retail Value $0.65
Although this has a low retail price (it’s on many websites advertised as a wedding favor) it’s one of my favorite bookmarks to date. I love that it’s small, so it can be kept handy. I love that you can use it as an ornament on your tree. I love that it has a tassel. I love that it comes in a cute little box! Lots of good things about this little bookmark!
Verdict: It's always hard to quantify the exact value of this box because of the exclusive items. The curation this month was flawless, in my opinion. This box cost me $37 ($29 + $8 shipping) and I was able to find/estimate only 4 of the 5 items online – which comes to around $28. That would mean that the snow globe would have to retail for $9, and I think that actually feels on point, if not slightly low for a snow globe. I feel like I netted out at what I paid for the box, so I’m happy with the value this month. This is not a subscription where you’ll get high-cost items, it’s one where you’ll get a thoughtful curation aimed at resurrecting fond memories of classic children’s literature.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. Your first box will be the February selection.
Your box will ship between the 3rd Thursday and the 4th Monday of every month. Please order by the 15th of the month to get the current box.
Value Breakdown: At $37.00 ($29.00 + $8.00 shipping) for this box, you’re paying about $7.40 per item.
Check out all of our Coffee and a Classic reviews and the Book Subscription Box List!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What do you think of Coffee and a Classic? Which box type do you prefer?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.