by Lindsey Morse, Coffeeholic
March 24, 2021| 9 comments

Pros & Cons

The Pros

• Copper Cow sends subscribers individually-packaged servings of Vietnamese coffee.
• Organic beans are sustainably sourced from Vietnam.
• Flavored coffees are made with all-natural flavors.
• Whether you drink your coffee black or prefer your coffee the traditional Vietnamese way (with sweetened condensed milk), there’s a subscription for you.
• The innovative design is perfect for pour-over coffee on the go— no coffee maker required!
• Copper Cow is woman-owned and based in California.
• The packaging is eco-friendly. The foil wrapping is recyclable, and the coffee grounds are compostable.
• You can make hot or iced coffee, and you control the brew strength. Prefer stronger coffee like espresso? Just add less water.
• Want to try the coffee before committing to a subscription? No problem. You can place a one-time order at coppercowcoffee.com.
• It’s easy to cancel your subscription online.

The Cons

• Each serving is individually wrapped, so if you’re brewing daily at home, you may find the packaging excessive.
• Since the product is designed for pour-over brewing, you won’t have the option to use another brewing method.
• Decaf coffee is not yet available via subscription, but you can place a one-time order in the shop.
• All of the beans you’ll receive are roasted by Copper Cow. If you want to sample a variety of roasters, another subscription might be a better fit.

Is It Worth It?

• Enjoy Vietnamese coffee? Want delicious pour-over coffee that requires no additional brewing equipment? Looking for coffee you can make on the go? Then, yes, I think it’s definitely worth it!

About Copper Cow Coffee

Copper Cow specializes in Vietnamese coffee, and they use a mix of 70% Robusta and 30% Arabica beans. Traditionally, Vietnamese coffee is brewed pour-over style using a Phin filter, and Copper Cow has designed innovative packaging that allows their pre-ground coffee to be made without any additional brewing equipment.

There are a variety of different flavored coffees available, but Copper Cow’s standard offering is black coffee served with sweetened condensed milk. You can sign up for a subscription or place a one-time order in the online store.

Image via Copper Cow.

If you’d like to receive Copper Cow on a set schedule, there are several subscriptions to choose from. For those who prefer to drink their coffee black, there’s the “Just Black Subscription.” The “Classic Subscription” also sends sweetened condensed milk, and the “Variety Subscription” and “Party Pack” feature flavored coffees, like salted caramel, vanilla, and churro.

Image via Copper Cow.

Each serving is individually packaged in a foil wrapper, and the coffee can be brewed directly out of the bag— all you need is hot water and a mug. 

Your preferred selection is shipped out monthly, and the subscription price varies based on which box you choose.

The Cost

The Subscription: Copper Cow Vietnamese Coffee

Coffee Subscription Cost: 

• The Just Black Subscription: 20 Black Coffee packs + 2 Free Flavor Samples for $35.00 per shipment
• Variety Subscription: 20 Variety Coffees + 2 Free Flavor Samples for $39.00 per shipment
• The Classic Subscription: 20 Black Coffees & 20 Creamers + 2 Free Flavor Samples for $45.00 per shipment
• The Party Pack Subscription: 20 Variety Coffees & Creamers + 2 Free Flavor Samples for $49.00 per shipment

COUPON: Use code MSA25 to save 25% off sitewide!  

Shipping:

• Ships to the U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska). 
• Shipping is free when you sign up for a coffee subscription or spend $30.00 or more in the shop. 

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

My Copper Cow Delivery

Vietnamese Coffee is having a moment in my house right now. I recently reviewed Nguyen Coffee Supply, and I’ve been treating myself to the occasional coffee brewed using one of the Phin filters that came in my shipment. This method of preparation results in a rich, concentrated cup of coffee, which I really enjoy, and Copper Cow has created a way to produce the same effect without the extra equipment. It’s not too much of a hassle to make coffee with a Phin filter, but I was intrigued by Copper Cow’s innovation, and I was curious to see how their portable pour-over would work for me. 

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I tend to be a purist when it comes to coffee, so Copper Cow‘s “Classic Subscription” is a great fit. In the box, I found 20 packets of black coffee, 20 creamers, and a sample of two flavored coffees with additional creamers.

I received a flyer introducing the flavored coffee in my box, salted caramel.

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Copper Cow‘s standard coffee offering is a blend of 70% Robusta and 30% Arabica coffee beans. Robusta beans aren’t used all that frequently by American roasters, but they’re prized in Vietnam for their bold flavor and high level of caffeine. This blend is pre-ground and packaged in a ready-to-use pour-over coffee filter. Instructions for brewing are printed on the back. Here’s a description of the coffee from Copper Cow:

It may surprise you, since it’s “Just Black” coffee — but really, this one’s as rich and complex as they come. You can say it’s bold and blunt, straight to the point, and impossibly smooth. Left to its own devices, our black coffee really gets to showcase all the flavors that sing in our Vietnamese blend, ranging from its nutty, mocha undertones to the bite that keeps things interesting.

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The traditional way to serve Vietnamese coffee is with sweetened condensed milk, and the “Classic Subscription” sends California sweetened condensed milk packets that are pre-portioned and ready to go. This product is made with only milk and sugar, and it contains no preservatives or additives. Each serving contains approximately 100 calories.

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This shipment features samples of salted caramel coffee. Here’s a description:

A dash of salt brings the perfect amount of indulgence to your morning latte. The irresistible combination of sweetened condensed milk creamer and salted coffee highlights the rounder, nuttier tones in our bold Vietnamese blend, making for a deliciously unique taste.

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Before I tell you my thoughts on the coffee, let me show you how the pour-over filter works. Each individually-wrapped coffee comes loaded in a mesh pouch that resembles a teabag. The top is perforated, and you tear open the bag, unfold the attached wings, and hang it from the top of your mug. Pour boiling water over the grounds to “bloom” them, and then add your desired quantity of water, about 4 oz. for Vietnamese-style coffee and 10 oz. for American. Then, you just remove the filter and add the sweetened condensed milk.

First impression? The built-in brewing design is so clever. It’s easy to use, and it WORKS. Also, I really hate having sticky fingers, and sweetened condensed milk is a product that I find almost impossible to use without having it ooze places it shouldn’t (on the countertop, all over the can opener, onto my hands…). It also tends to come packaged in a quantity larger than I require most of the time for coffee, and it’s a pain to transfer and store in the fridge. Copper Cow‘s packets solve that problem, which is really nice.

For my taste test, I brewed a cup of both salted caramel and black coffee. I made both of them Vietnamese-style, with about 4 oz. of water, and added a packet of sweetened condensed milk to each one. Wowzers, were they tasty. I enjoyed both, but my preference tends to be for unflavored coffee, and the black was my favorite of the two. The rich flavor was robust without being harsh, and there’s a smoothness that makes this coffee very drinkable. The sweetened condensed milk was a delicious addition, and altogether this was a delectable cup of coffee. As for the salted caramel, it was nice, also, and the hint of saltiness and buttery caramel were present and worked well with the sweetness of the condensed milk.

My Verdict

Yes, the coffee is tasty, but I honestly can’t get over the clever design. Copper Cow‘s packaging is so smart, and I love how it removes the need for additional brewing equipment. Sure, you can tear open a packet and make coffee this way at home, but for me, these are a game-changer for travel. The single-serve packets take up so little space that you could easily toss them into a suitcase or backpack and use them in a hotel room, while camping or hiking, or at the office. Personally, I despise cheap hotel room coffee, so these will definitely be coming with me on my future travels. 

As for the subscription as a whole, I think this is probably best for those who love Vietnamese coffee and want to drink it on the go— or people who simply can’t be bothered to buy and use a Phin filter. Those who regularly drink coffee at home might find the packaging a little excessive for their needs. (That said, if you’re used to using Nespresso or Keurig, this is probably on par packaging-wise.) As for pricing, depending on which subscription you choose, coffee will run you between $1.59 and $2.22 per cup, which is less than you’d pay at a coffee shop but more than you’re likely to pay per-cup for brewing beans you buy by the bag. (Of course, if you want Vietnamese-style coffee, you’ll also need to purchase sweetened condensed milk.)

I probably won’t make the swap and start drinking Copper Cow every single morning, but I love it enough to keep it on hand, and I think it will be great for travel. I also like that it’s a company I can feel good about. I’m always happy to support female founders, and I like that the coffee is organic and sustainably sourced. If you want to try Vietnamese coffee or if you’re looking for great coffee you can make on the go, I highly recommend you give Copper Cow a try.

Want to know more about the Copper Cow?

Ready to explore the world of coffee? Want to see what other coffee subscription boxes are out there? Find more coffee subscriptions here!