Coffee and a Classic is a monthly book & beverage subscription box curated by founder 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 ($29.99 / month + shipping) provides you with a classic book, something to sip on, and 2 bookish items each month.
- The STANDARD BOX ($40.99 / 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.
This review is for the Starter Children’s Classics Box.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Coffee and a Classic
The Subscription Box: Coffee and a Classic Starter Box, Children's Classics option
The Cost: $29.99 a month (you can save 5%-15% with longer pre-paid subscription) + shipping (varies)
The Products: A classic book, something to sip on, 2 bookish items + a bookmark
Ships to: US + Internationally (shipping costs vary)
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 April 2019 Review
This month’s selection is The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.
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 Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams – Retail Value $9.95 (found here for $9.54)
This is a beautiful story and one that I was so pleased to share with my child. It's meaningful, yet simple. It's short enough to read before bed and leaves you feeling peaceful and happy. It's about the magic of the love of a child.
From the Author:
The Rabbit in the stocking isn't as expensive as the other toys: he's covered in velveteen. On Christmas Day, the Boy enjoys his new toy but then quickly forgets and neglects him. Shunned and unsure, the Velveteen Rabbit questions his worth. Should he even be called a real toy? An answer comes from his friend, the Skin Horse: "Real isn't how you are made… it's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real." The Velveteen Rabbit's journey through love and loneliness to become who he was really meant to be is a story that inspires us all on our own journey to Real.
Exclusive! Wild Strawberry Hot Chocolate from McStevens, 4 oz - Buy in a 5 lb. bulk bag for $35.00
Almost every month, we see a delicious McSteven’s hot cocoa! This month, the package was a sweet wild strawberry hot cocoa. I don’t typically like fruit and chocolate, but this was an exception. It was very sweet and satisfying and really pleased my sweet tooth. I’d estimate that this 4 oz pouch is probably enough for about 3-4 servings depending on how much cocoa power you like to add to your cup. My only complaint is that I wish that the custom pouches contained nutrition information.
Solar Garden Butterfly (Color May Vary) – Retail Value $4.38
This is hands down my favorite item that this box has ever sent! I am definitely going to purchase more of these, now that I know that they exist. The solar panels enable the butterfly to "come to life" on sunny days, you can't tell in the image, but the butterfly spins in a circle fluttering its wings. I love how this accent looks in my planter!
Hand-made Fairy Garden Terrarium from Coffee and a Classic
This is such a cute idea! This little hand-made terrarium features a tiny fairy garden complete with a bunny, fairy, and some tree stumps. This is a replica of the scene in the book where the nursery fairy turns the Velveteen Rabbit “real.” It’s an adorable representation of the book and I love that it’s open enough that I can add my own touches if I’d like!
Bunny Bookmark
The info card incorrectly lists this item as "assorted gummies from nuts.com" so I assume those were featured in a different box. Since there wasn't sourcing info provided, I wasn't able to find this bunny online. However, I can tell you that it's a lovely plush rabbit bookmark that fits perfectly in this book.
You can see how cute the little bunny head is sticking out of the top of the book!
Verdict: Again, this month's Coffee and a Classic was thoughtful a curation and well-executed box! I loved the selection, especially in the same month as Easter, and all the items were a hit for me. Because of the exclusive items, I couldn’t really calculate a total value. Given that the box itself costs $38 ($30 + $8 shipping), I think that the value itself remains in the curation and novelty versus the high cost of the retail items.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. Your first box will be the June 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 $38.00 ($30.00 + $8.00 shipping) for this box, you’re paying about $7.60 per item.
Check out all of our Coffee and a Classic reviews and the reader-voted top book subscription boxes for 2019!
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.