Trade Coffee is an online matchmaker for coffee lovers and their coffee - here's how a subscription works and what it costs

I rarely go a day without coffee but typically settle for the brew in our office. The Gimme! Leftist Espresso was a nice change to my routine and provided a strong and sweet batch of coffee. I received the whole bean bag and decided to grind it into medium grounds to use with my French press. Since it's a light-medium roast, it was smooth and had a higher level of caffeine — meaning that I only had to have one cup to get through my morning to-do list. The actual coffee was a treat, plus I felt like it was made especially for me after using the "get matched" quiz on the Trade website. — Megan Foster, Insider Picks intern

I went for the "surprising and unconventional" choice because you only live once, as they say. I'm rarely able to place undertones within things like coffee, wine, or beer. "Enjoyable" and "not enjoyable" are my usual descriptors, and to each our own, I always believe, but this was something I could savor, and did I ever. A bitter, velvety dark chocolate tone was punctuated by hints of red stonefruit (cherry, I suppose) as vividly as any beverage ever delivered flavor to my palate. Okay, maybe it wasn't all that distinct (at least not for me), but it was different, and each and every morning, while the bag lasted, the thought of that thick crema greeting my tongue was enough for me to peel off the sheets and (almost) make it to work on time. Now that's something. I'd be happy to wake with this sensation every morning for the rest of my life, and therein am seriously considering one of these subscriptions for myself. My benevolent overlords might appreciate this motion, too, should it continue to deliver me to work on time. — Owen Burke, Insider Picks senior reporter

Typically, I use this cheap, utility-first plastic cold brew bottle to make a quart of cold brew at home. But on the go, one reusable Trade Cold Brew Bag can make up to five batches per 12 ounce bag of coffee (and $7.50 gets you 20 bags). Pretty much all you need is the Trade cold brew bag, some coffee, and a glass on hand (the company notes that mason jars work well, and I'd agree). You'll still have to wait 12 to 18 hours for your cold brew, but it's easy, mobile, and the bags are blessedly compostable, made from corn-based fiber. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

I've been using this French Press for about a month, and I'm really enjoying it, but I figure I should get this out of the way now: It's really only made for one or two cups of coffee, so if you're looking for a family-sized carafe, this is not it.

If a small French press is what you're looking for, this one is solid, though not perfect. The superfine mesh filter does a great job of straining grounds, provided you have the top mechanism properly nestled on before you press the plunger down. But the grounds get caught between the mesh and the metal pieces that hold it into place, making it hard to clean.

That said, there are a few other pros and cons. The base is rubberized, so it's hard to spill. Big pro in my house. But there are plastic parts to the press, which I don't love (though they are BPA-free). The metal handle and base come off in one piece for easy cleaning, another pro.

Overall, I really like this French press. Is it the absolute best one you can buy? Probably not. Will it work and be relatively easy to clean and take care of? Absolutely. — Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

Note: The Yama French Press is currently sold out on Trade's website, but it's available on Amazon for $24.

If you're already spending $10 to $15 on a 12-ounce bag of coffee, if you want to learn how to pull a better shot of espresso, brew cold brew, make a better pour-over, or just learn a bit (or a lot) more about making coffee in general, then Trade Coffee might be for you. But if you don't reeeaaally love coffee, and coffee is just a utilitarian pick-me-up, then stick with your Folgers or your Maxwell House.

Coffee subscription services like this one are either for snobs and snobs-to-be or academics. And whether it's the cheap pre-ground stuff off the shelf at Walmart or the award-winning $17-a-bag, Fair-Trade-certified, all-organic beans from Trade or Atlas or Driftaway, we're just trying to help you find the best way to keep doing you.