The right cadence comes down to how many cups you actually drink, not a rule about coffee going stale. Roughly two cups a day on your own points to every 2 weeks. One cup a day, or two people splitting a bag, usually lands on monthly. Every 2 months fits a backup bag or someone who drinks coffee out most of the week and only brews at home occasionally.
How long does a 12 ounce bag actually last
A 12 ounce bag is about 340 grams of coffee. Using a standard ratio of around 10 grams per 6 ounce cup, that works out to roughly 30 cups per bag before you run out. From there it is just division: how many cups a day, divided into 30, gives you roughly how many days one bag covers.
| Cups per day | Days one bag covers | Cadence that fits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | About 30 days | Monthly |
| 2 | About 15 days | Every 2 weeks |
| 3 or more | About 10 days | Every 2 weeks, or two people ordering separately |
| A few cups a week | 2 months or longer | Every 2 months |
These numbers assume drip or pour-over at a normal strength. A French press or a stronger ratio uses more coffee per cup, which shortens all three columns a little, so if that is your usual method, round down to the next shorter cadence.
What changes if you pick wrong the first time
Nothing you cannot fix from your account page. If bags are piling up, switch to a longer cadence or skip the next one. If you keep running out early, switch to a shorter one or order an extra bag once. The 11 percent subscription discount applies the same way at every cadence, so there is no penalty for guessing wrong the first month and adjusting.
One coffee to test cadence with, one to test preference with
If you just want to find your cadence without also second-guessing the coffee itself, start with something that does not ask much of you either way. No. 1 Common Sense is built for that, an everyday washed Colombian that takes drip, French press or milk without complaint. If instead you are still working out what you like and want your subscription to double as a taste test, No. 7 Praxis is meant to be brewed a couple of different ways before you settle on a ratio, which gives you something to compare each time a new bag arrives.
Our pick
No. 1 Common Sense
Huila and Medellin-Antioquia, Colombia · 1,300 to 1,500 m · Fully washed, solar dried · Castillo, Caturra, Colombia, Typica · Medium roast
The cup you make every morning without thinking about it, which makes it easy to judge cadence on its own, apart from the coffee.
Skipping and canceling do not affect the cadence math
A skip just delays one shipment by a cycle, it does not change the frequency setting itself. If your routine shifts for a season, travel, or a slower month, our guide to how the subscription works covers the skip and cancel mechanics in full. More on the discount and billing is on our subscription page.
What if two people in the same house drink coffee
The table above assumes one person. If two people in the same household both drink a couple of cups a day, treat it as roughly double the consumption and move up a step, from every 2 weeks to weekly-equivalent by ordering two bags at once, or from monthly to every 2 weeks. The subscription ships one coffee at a time rather than a variable quantity, so the adjustment happens by shortening the cadence rather than by asking for a bigger bag.
Why guess at all, instead of just ordering one bag first
You do not have to guess before you start. Ordering a single bag first, at the regular one-time price, and timing how many days it actually lasts at your normal ratio is the most accurate way to answer this, since it uses your actual coffee and your actual routine instead of the averages in the table above. Once you know that number, set the subscription cadence to match it and adjust again later if your routine changes.
Compare cadence against the rest of the full lineup of ten if Common Sense or Praxis is not the coffee you had in mind, the math above works the same regardless of which one you pick. If you are coming from a pod machine or pre-ground bag, our guide to switching from K-Cups covers what else changes.
Start with the cadence the table above suggests, then adjust after one bag if it is off.
Questions people ask
How do I know if every 2 weeks is too often for me?
If you are still finishing the previous bag when the next one shows up, or freezing part of it, that is the sign to move to monthly. Every 2 weeks fits someone drinking about two cups a day on their own, since a 12 ounce bag runs out around then at a normal ratio.
Can I change my cadence after I already started a subscription?
Yes. The frequency is a setting on your account, not a fixed plan, so you can switch between every 2 weeks, monthly or every 2 months at any point, and the change applies to the next shipment rather than the whole subscription.
Does a longer cadence cost more per bag?
No. Every coffee is $28 for a 12 ounce bag at the subscription rate, 11 percent off the regular price, no matter how often it ships. Cadence changes how many bags you get in a year, not the price of any one of them.
Free printable
Keep the ratio chart on your fridge
One page with grams, level tablespoons and scoops for every cup size and for coffee makers from 2 to 14 cups. Leave your email and the download link appears right here.