Bespoke Post is a monthly men’s subscription box. Unlike most subscription boxes, you get to preview the new Bespoke Post box offerings on the first of each month, and you can easily skip any month you aren’t interested in your account section.
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
This is a review of the Bespoke Post ‘Bloom’, $45 a month, box.
The Subscription Box: Bespoke Post
The Cost: $45 a month
CYBER MONDAY DEAL: New subscribers use code CYBER2016 to save 40% off your first box! And current subscribers, spend $135 on anything in Bespoke Post (including gift subscriptions), use coupon code POWERUP and you’ll get a $45 credit (Free box) added to your account!
The Products: Monthly lifestyle items, curated around a theme.
Ships to: US and Canada
Check out all of our Bespoke Post Reviews to get more information on this subscription. Check out all of our Men's Subscription Boxes in the Subscription Box List. Rate, review, and follow this subscription on the Bespoke Post profile page.
Bloom contained 3 items, all of which are used together to create the perfect cup of coffee!
Each shipment includes an information card. On the front, you find information about the items in the box, along with information about the brands/companies.
The reverse side always includes tips or an informational piece related to the items. This month’s card details tips for making coffee with the included items, or items you may already have. There is a link at the bottom that takes you to an article containing more details.
I am into coffee. I don’t care who knows it. I have been looking forward to this box for a while because I haven’t yet delved into the world of the Chemex but I always see it and hear great things!
Chemex 6-Cup Classic Series Glass Coffee Maker - Value $41.11
First in this box is the classic Chemex itself. The Chemex is described as the perfect blend of art and science, and I have to agree. This vessel is gorgeous, and the coffee it produces is incredible.
The Chemex has a wooden wrap at the center that’s secured with a length of rawhide tied to a bead. When it’s time to wash the Chemex, you can either remove the wood by loosening the bead knot or just be careful not to get the wood wet. I removed it, just to be safe.
The Chemex comes with a starter pack of filters too, enough to get you through about 2 weeks worth of coffee.
It also comes with this handy guide that will walk you through the steps of making coffee in the Chemex.
There’s also a guide to the rest of their product line, none of which I knew existed!
Ovalware RJ3 Drip Kettle - Value $29.99
You can’t do pour over coffee without a pour over kettle. Well, you can’t do it like an expert, at least. This drip kettle from Ovalware is just what you need to get the perfect, regulated slow pour.
As it says in the included guide, make sure these steam vents are on the spout side, so you don’t end up burning yourself!
Jack’s Stir Brew Roast (4 oz bag) - Value $4.23 ($16.95/pound from Jack’s)
Also included this month is a small bag of coffee to get you started right out of the box. This 4oz bag of coffee should get you a few runs in the Chemex using the method I describe below. This coffee was a miss for me, but I’m very partial to the beans and roasts I enjoy. I think this is a very good coffee to please many people and thus a great addition to this box.
So, now I have all these things, I’ve got to try it out! I started by thoroughly washing and drying all the items. The guide included in the Chemex was a little lacking in specific amounts, and I’m really into specifics, so I went with the trusty folks at Blue Bottle Coffee who of course had a perfect guide.
I measured out 700g of freshly filtered water, to begin with. Since I hadn’t done this before, I poured the water directly into the Chemex to make sure it wasn’t going to be too much water.
I then transferred the water to the kettle and set it on the stove. I have only ever used electric kettles so this was a new experience for me! I’ll admit I watched it like a hawk worrying it was going to pop its top.
I then measured out 50g of beans, and ground them using a Bodum burr grinder set to a medium-coarse setting. It took about 40 seconds to grind the beans.
While the beans were grinding, I prepped the Chemex filter. They recommend you fold it into a cone shape, so that there are 3 layers on one side, and to place that side against the spout side of the Chemex.
I dropped the ground beans in and pulled the now boiling kettle off the stove. The recipe said to pour some water into the beans and let it sit for 30 seconds, allowing the coffee to “Bloom” (whoa, nice job Bespoke Post).
The Bloom in action:
After the bloom, you will slowly pour water in a circular or back and forth motion, covering all the grounds. Be careful not to allow the water level to get within a half inch or so of the edge of the Chemex.
I let all the water drain through the filter until there was a very slow intermittent drip.
Clean up was a breeze. Nearly instantaneous! Though I do think if I continue using the Chemex, I will likely invest in a reusable cone filter to cut down on waste.
And now to enjoy!
Verdict: I think the Bespoke Post Bloom is a fantastic box, and with a value of $75.54, it’s definitely worth the price of purchasing the box as a standalone ($55), and an even greater value as a Bespokepost subscriber ($45). I’m going to get a ton of use out of the Chemex and kettle, and I’m glad I got to try a new bean from a roaster I hadn’t yet heard of. This box would make a great gift for a coffee connoisseur or an entry-level caffeine addict.
What do you think of the Bespoke Post ‘Bloom’ Box?
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