{"id":16,"date":"2026-06-03T23:18:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T23:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/echosage.vagabond.andreidraganescu.info\/?page_id=16"},"modified":"2026-06-03T23:18:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T23:18:17","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/echosage.vagabond.andreidraganescu.info\/?page_id=16","title":{"rendered":"FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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FREQUENTLY ASKED<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

QUESTIONS<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Everything you need to know about our beans, shipping, brewing, and tasting events \u2014 collected in one place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sourcing & Traceability<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Where do you source your beans?<\/summary>\n

We work directly with small-holder farmers and cooperatives across six producing regions \u2014 Guatemala, Ethiopia, Colombia, Kenya, Sumatra, and Costa Rica. Every lot is purchased through transparent pricing agreements that exceed Fair Trade minimums by at least 40%. We visit each farm or cooperative annually to maintain relationships and verify quality at the source.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

How do you ensure traceability?<\/summary>\n

Every bag we sell includes full provenance data: farm name, producer, altitude, varietal, harvest date, processing method, and the exact import lot number. We publish cupping scores for every roast batch and maintain a chain-of-custody record from cherry to cup. You can trace any bag back to its origin using the lot code printed on the label.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Are your beans organic or certified?<\/summary>\n

Several of our producers farm organically, but we don’t require formal certification from every partner \u2014 the cost of USDA Organic certification can be prohibitive for small-holder farmers. Instead, we evaluate each farm’s agricultural practices firsthand. Where a producer holds an organic or Rainforest Alliance certificate, we note it on the product page. Our priority is cup quality and ethical sourcing over label-driven marketing.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

How often do you rotate your offerings?<\/summary>\n

Our lineup shifts with the harvest calendar. We typically carry six to eight single-origin coffees at any time, rotating seasonally as new lots arrive and older ones sell through. Limited-edition micro-lots appear roughly once a month \u2014 subscribe to our newsletter for first access.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Shipping & Orders<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How quickly do you ship after roasting?<\/summary>\n

We roast to order every Tuesday and Friday. Orders placed before midnight Pacific on Monday ship Wednesday; orders placed before midnight Thursday ship Saturday. Your beans are never more than 48 hours off the roaster when they leave our facility. We print the roast date on every bag.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Do you ship internationally?<\/summary>\n

Currently we ship within the contiguous United States via USPS Priority Mail. We’re working on expanding to Canada and select EU countries. International customers can sign up for our waitlist \u2014 we’ll notify you as soon as we open shipping to your region.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

What is your return or refund policy?<\/summary>\n

If a bag arrives damaged, or you receive the wrong coffee, we’ll ship a replacement at no cost. Because coffee is a perishable product, we don’t accept returns on opened bags \u2014 but if you’re genuinely unhappy with a purchase, email us at hello@beansparade.com and we’ll work something out. We’d rather lose a bag of coffee than a customer.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Is shipping free?<\/summary>\n

Orders over $45 ship free. Below that threshold, flat-rate shipping is $5.95 regardless of how many bags you order. Subscription orders always ship free, no minimum.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Brewing Recommendations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What grind size should I use?<\/summary>\n

It depends on your brew method. For pour-over (V60, Chemex), aim for medium-fine \u2014 roughly the texture of table salt. For French press, go coarse \u2014 closer to sea salt. Espresso requires a fine, powdery grind. AeroPress sits somewhere between espresso and pour-over. We sell whole bean only, so you’ll want a burr grinder for consistent results. Each product page includes our recommended grind setting for the Baratza Encore as a starting reference.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

What water temperature do you recommend?<\/summary>\n

Between 195\u00b0F and 205\u00b0F (90\u201396\u00b0C) for most methods. Light roasts can handle the higher end; darker roasts extract better slightly cooler. If you don’t have a temperature-controlled kettle, bring water to a full boil and let it sit 30\u201345 seconds before pouring \u2014 that lands you in the right range.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

How long do beans stay fresh after roasting?<\/summary>\n

Peak flavor is between 5 and 21 days post-roast. The first 48 hours after roasting are the degassing window \u2014 the beans are releasing CO2 and the flavors haven’t fully developed yet. After three weeks, aromatics begin to fade noticeably. Store in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Never refrigerate or freeze specialty coffee \u2014 condensation damages cell structure and mutes the origin character.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

What brew ratio do you recommend?<\/summary>\n

Start with 1:16 \u2014 one gram of coffee to sixteen grams of water. For a standard 12oz cup, that’s roughly 22g of coffee to 350g of water. Adjust to taste: if the cup tastes thin or sour, increase the dose or grind finer; if it’s bitter or astringent, reduce the dose or grind coarser. A kitchen scale accurate to 0.1g makes a bigger difference than any other single piece of equipment.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Subscriptions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How does the subscription work?<\/summary>\n

Pick a frequency \u2014 every two weeks or every four weeks \u2014 and a bag size (250g or 500g). We’ll select a rotating single-origin for each shipment based on what’s freshest and what we’re most excited about. You can also choose to lock in a specific origin if you have a favorite. Subscriptions ship free, cancel anytime with no penalty, and you can pause or skip a shipment from your account dashboard.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Can I gift a subscription?<\/summary>\n

Yes. We offer prepaid gift subscriptions in 3-month and 6-month terms. The recipient receives a welcome email with their first shipment and can manage preferences (grind notes, skip dates) from their own account. Gift subscriptions do not auto-renew \u2014 when the term ends, the recipient can choose to continue on their own.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Do subscribers get access to limited releases?<\/summary>\n

Active subscribers get 48-hour early access to every micro-lot and limited release before it goes on general sale. We also include tasting cards with detailed cupping notes, origin stories, and suggested brew parameters in every subscription shipment \u2014 a small extra that one-time orders don’t include.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Tasting Events<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What happens at a tasting event?<\/summary>\n

Each tasting runs 60 to 90 minutes and typically covers three to four coffees. We walk you through the SCA cupping protocol \u2014 evaluating fragrance, aroma, flavor, aftertaste, acidity, body, balance, and sweetness \u2014 and discuss the origin, processing, and roast profile behind each cup. No experience required; we keep it approachable. You’ll leave with a sharper palate and a deeper understanding of what makes specialty coffee distinct.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

How many people attend each event?<\/summary>\n

We cap most events at 12 attendees to keep the experience intimate and ensure everyone has time for questions. Workshops (like Espresso Fundamentals) are limited to 8 due to equipment constraints. Check the individual event listing for the exact attendee limit.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Where are events held?<\/summary>\n

All events take place at our roastery at 127 Roastery Lane, Portland, OR 97209. The cupping lab is on the second floor \u2014 enter through the courtyard door and head upstairs. Street parking is available on Roastery Lane and the adjacent blocks. The closest MAX stop is NW 11th & Johnson, a six-minute walk.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Can I book a private tasting for a group?<\/summary>\n

Absolutely. We host private tastings for groups of 6 to 20. Pricing depends on group size and the coffees you’d like to explore \u2014 reach out via our contact page with your preferred date, headcount, and any preferences, and we’ll put together a custom proposal. Private tastings are popular for corporate team events, birthday celebrations, and wedding parties.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

What is the cancellation policy for events?<\/summary>\n

Full refund if you cancel more than 72 hours before the event. Within 72 hours, we offer a credit toward a future event. No-shows are non-refundable \u2014 we prepare materials per headcount and can’t resell last-minute spots. If we cancel an event (weather, unforeseen circumstances), you’ll receive an automatic full refund within 5 business days.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Still Have Questions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our team typically responds within 24 hours on weekdays. For order-specific inquiries, include your order number for a faster reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Email<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

hello@beansparade.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Contact Us<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Quick Links<\/p>\n\n\n\n