Pact Coffee Review (Beans, Pods, Subscription)

Written By

James Bellis

Pact Coffee Review (Beans, Pods, Subscription)

Does Pact Coffee really deliver on fresh roasting, transparent sourcing, flexible subscriptions, and dependable speciality flavour? Here’s our honest review after testing its beans, pods, and subscription experience.



For the past two weeks, our testing team has been busy conducting tests, reviewing, and documenting our Review of Pact Coffee.

Pact Coffee is one of the UK's leading speciality coffee subscriptions.

The sourcing is transparent, the beans arrive fresh, and you won’t find the Pact flavour on a supermarket shelf.

This Pact Coffee brand review is for home baristas looking to expand their coffee collection.

I’m James Bellis, founder, barista, and coffee trainer. For over 14+ years, I’ve worked with more than 100 roasters across the UK, brewing coffee for over 199,000 people. I also hold an SCA Coffee Skills Diploma, which reflects my love for clean coffee.

And for drinkers looking to switch from regular coffee to speciality coffee.

Quick Verdict: The Bourbon Cream Espresso is the go-to for a dark-roasted, biscuity flavour and a creamy cup. The House Espresso Blend is excellent for a reliable and balanced cup. The Pact coffee pods are convenient and offer good everyday value.

Scores: 76/100 

One note here: If you want a healthy, clean coffee

According to my online research, Pact Coffee does not test its coffee for mould or pesticides.

And, if they do, they have not explicitly stated it anywhere.

What Is Pact Coffee?

Pact Coffee was founded in the summer of 2012 by Stephen Rapoport. 

Its original name was Your Grind.

Pact Coffee bag displayed with espresso, roasted beans, and coffee brewing tools on a wooden counter.

In the early days, Stephen was sealing coffee bags with a hair straightener and hand-delivering orders.

It was founded as a direct response to the problem that Stephen couldn’t ignore: 

The traditional speciality coffee supply chain didn’t work.

Too many layers and go-betweens stand between the farmer and the drinker.

Each layer takes a cut, leaving the farmer with a fraction of what the cup really costs.

And by the time coffee reached the drinker, it had lost its freshness.

Stephen’s solution was clear: Direct Trade.

Building genuine connections with producers, cutting out the intermediaries, paying farmers fairly, and roasting fresh and shipping fast.

Pact still runs on this founding principle in everything it does today.

Where Is Pact Coffee Roasted?

Pact Coffee is roasted at its roastery in Haslemere, Surrey.

It’s one of the largest independent roasting operations in the UK.

They run on a strict roast-to-dispatch policy, meaning they roast coffee only when you order it.

Nothing sits in the warehouse for weeks waiting to be dispatched.

In my Pact Coffee beans review, it’s important to note that Pact roasts its coffee within 7 days of reaching you.

Sometimes the date on the label is 3 or 5 days ago.

It’s impressive for a brand operating on such a large scale.

But what matters more in my Pact Coffee review is whether their sustainability philosophy aligns. 

Pact Coffee's Sourcing and Sustainability Philosophy

Pact directly sources coffee from farmers in 10 origins:

Brazil, Colombia, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, and Peru.

Pact Coffee bag and coffee pods displayed with an espresso cup in front of an illustrated world map showing coffee sourcing origins.

They maintain connections with over 150 farmers and publish a transparency report detailing the prices they pay by origin. 

Their pricing commitment is solid because they pay 25% above the Fairtrade base price.

And sometimes 125% above the baseline.

Is Pact Coffee B Corp Certified?

Pact became B Corp-certified in 2022.

Their roastery is carbon neutral, and they introduced fully recyclable packaging in 2023. 

Their pods are made of aluminium. 

You can recycle them at Tesco recycling points or through kerbside recycling.

How Does Pact Coffee Position Itself vs. Mainstream Brands?

Pact believes in accessibility.

Pact coffee sits between the big commodity brands like Lavazza and Nespresso and the micro-niche roasters.

They make speciality coffee easy to navigate. 

So you subscribe to it, and enjoy it at home without having any encyclopedic knowledge of speciality coffee.

A glance at Pact’s background:

Pact Coffee’s Background

Founded

Founded in 2012, London, UK

Business Model

Direct Trade subscription roaster — pays at least 25% above Fairtrade base prices

Ranges

House range, and micro-lot that goes up to 200 coffees per year.

Certifications

B-Corp certified and Carbon neutral at scope 1 and 2.

Where to Buy

Official website, Waitrose ·and Amazon UK

Roasting

Small-batch, UK-roasted, shipped within days of roasting

Awards

Great Taste Award 2023 (Bourbon Cream Espresso)

Having explored Pact Coffee’s background, here’s how I conducted the Pact speciality coffee review.

How We Tested Pact Coffee

I use specific testing criteria, a scoring system, and specific equipment during coffee tastings and reviews.

Testing Criteria Overview

I have the SCA-adjacent Balance Coffee Testing Framework in place.

It ensures fairness and gets the best results from my tasting.

Pact Coffee beans and pods arranged with brewing tools, water, and tasting items in a home coffee review setup.

And the Pact Coffee review is conducted using the same framework I use to review every coffee.

I tested Pact’s core range, including Bourbon Cream Espresso and the House Espresso blend.

For the Pact Coffee pods review, I tested their two bestselling Nespresso-compatible pods (Bourbon Cream and Fruit & Nut).

The tasting took place between 07:30 am and 10:00 am.

I had water and plain crackers, with no food beforehand, to support palatal recovery.

Brita-filtered water was used, and temperatures were adjusted according to the coffee roast.

Brewing Methods Used

I ground all beans fresh before brewing and drank each coffee black first, then added oat milk for tasting.

Overhead coffee testing setup with Pact Coffee packaging, brewing tools, pods, water, crackers, and tasting items.

These brewing methods were used for the Pact Coffee review:

Espresso: Sage Barista Pro, 18g coffee dose, 1:2 ratio, 93°C temperature, 28–32 second extraction.

Hario V60 pour-over: 15g coffee, 250ml water at 94°C temperature, 45-second bloom, total brew time 3 minutes.

AeroPress: 15g coffee, 200ml water at 88°C temperature, steep for 2 minutes, and a gentle press.

The Pact coffee pods UK test was conducted under consistent conditions using a Nespresso Original machine.

Who Did the Testing?

I coordinated the Pact Coffee review with my Balance Coffee Taste Testing Team, using our Balance Coffee Testing Framework.

With the expertise my team brings, I led the review process effectively to ensure the best results. 

Take a look at the scoring criteria I use to score the coffee in the Pact Coffee review.

Our Scoring Framework Explained

Below are the factors my scores are based on:

Pact Coffee packaging beside a coffee scoring sheet, espresso cup, brewed coffee, and tasting tools.

Flavour

Flavour has the most weight in my reviews. 

I check for aroma quality, clarity, complexity, and consistency. 

I test each coffee with at least two brew methods. 25/100 points

Health & purity

I check whether the coffee is mycotoxin, mould, and pesticide-free. 

Brands that are transparent about their quality control operations score the highest. 20/100 points

Freshness

I check for the roast date, batch size, and delivery flexibility. 

Brands that send coffee bags without a roast date are penalised. 15/100 points

Traceability

If the traceability is clear, I can trace my cup back to the farm.

With named origins and producer relationships, it scores the highest in my Pact review. 15 / 100 points

Brand trust

I check for verified customer reviews. 

If the consumer experience is the best, it’s a signal of trust.

I also check for industry credentials. 15 / 100 points

Value for money

The coffee is so good you don’t blink an eye at the premium price. 

That’s what I’m looking for.

I calculate the price per cup at a standard 14g dose. 

The scores I give reflect the quality relative to the price paid. 10 / 100 points

Every coffee I test, including my own Balance Organic Coffee beans, is reviewed according to this framework.

The Scoring Framework

Criteria 

Scores

Reason

Flavour

25

The cup is exceptional, and the taste is phenomenal.

Health and Purity

20

Quality control results are transparent, and the beans are free of mould, toxins, and pesticides.

Freshness

15

Coffee roast is fresh and done with care, and the cup shows it.

Tracebility

15

The coffee is traceable to the farms where they were grown.

Brand Trust

15

Customers trust the brand, and it has industry credentials. 

Value for Money

10

The cup's quality is worth the money.

Total

100

The cup is flavourful and clean overall.

We have the scoring criteria.

It remains to be known how Pact Coffee beans will perform against the scoring criteria.

Pact Coffee Beans Reviews

We tested Bourbon Cream Espresso and House Blend espresso coffee beans in the Pact Coffee review.

Bourbon Cream Espresso Beans

Bourbon Cream Espresso’s flagship blend and most popular one, too.

It's a Great Taste Award winner (2023), and it’s the one every first-time buyer purchases.

Pact Bourbon Cream Espresso bag with espresso, flat white, coffee beans, chocolate, biscuit, caramel, and subtle Brazil and Colombia origin illustrations.

Bean Origin & Sourcing

The Bourbon Espresso is sourced from Brazil and Colombia through direct trade. 

Pact works with named farmers from both sides of this blend, and their transparent sourcing report details payment rates. 

Flavour Profile & Tasting Notes

The first taste is dark cocoa, and biscuit malt follows immediately, surprising you even when you know it's coming.

At the mid palate, caramel and toffee emerge, adding a new dimension to this blend.

The finish is clean with lingering sweetness and has minimal bitterness.

Roast Level

The roast is dark and well executed for its purpose. 

I tasted no ashy bitterness, and for a dark roast, this is done with care.

What I Like

It does what it promises. 

First and foremost, the cocoa note in the aroma pulled me in, with its warm, rich, and inviting quality.

On my Sage Creatista, at 93°C with an 18g dose, the shot pours a thick, tawny crema at a 36 g yield.

The cup is full-bodied, with dark cocoa prominent, while another note recalls bourbon biscuits.

Acidity is low, nothing sharp or jarring, and the finish is clean. 

As an espresso base for flat white, it did impressively. 

It holds up in oat milk, and the chocolate note becomes more dessert-like.

And, more mocha-like but cleaner.

What I Don't Like

I can’t find the quality control reports, any certificates, or official statements confirming the beans are mould-free.

Other than my health and purity concerns, this isn’t an adventurous coffee.

There’s no brightness to speak of, or any fruit note that may climb up on you and surprise.

Research suggests the dark roast also cooks off the chlorogenic acids that make lighter-roasted coffee nutritionally rich.

For experienced speciality coffee drinkers used to lighter-roasted single origins, it may feel a bit flat.

This is a good one for flavour, but it’s not the most complex cup.

Price & Value for Money

Priced at £8.95 for 250g on subscription, this is a competitive price for a speciality dark roast.

For the fresh flavour it delivers, it’s good value for money.

Customer Feedback

Maisie Redfern on Trustpilot reviewed:

“The coffee is always incredible.”

Mikaila reviewed: “2 days to deliver and great tasting coffee.”

Pact Coffee reviews are overwhelmingly positive on Trustpilot, Amazon, and Reviews.io.

The general theme being: good aroma, delivers on its flavour promise, holds up well with milk.

However, a few reviewers noted that it’s a bit mild for a morning espresso a fair point.

Because the dark roast without robusta doesn’t pack the caffeine punch of the commercial Italian-style coffee blend.

Verdict

Overall, it’s a delicious and reliable dark roast for everyday espresso.

It’s not a speciality revelation or has purity certificates, but on its own terms, it’s a great blend.

Bourbon Cream Espresso Beans Final Score

Flavour

20/25

Health and Purity

12/20

Freshness

12/15

Tracebility

14/15

Brand Trust

12/15

Value for Money

9/10

Total

79/100

Bourbon Cream leans into bold comfort, but the House Espresso takes a different approach.

Let’s explore it.

The House Espresso Blend Beans

Some coffees surprise you, and this is not one of them, and that’s precisely why it works.

This is Pact’s resolute blend, one you can come to love with time for its consistency.

Pact House Espresso coffee bag on a wooden tray with espresso, flat white, chocolate, biscuit, toffee, hazelnut, coffee beans, and subtle Brazil origin illustrations.

It delivers the same results over and over again.

So, let’s cut to the chase and dive into the Pact Coffee Resolute blend review.

Bean Origin & Sourcing

The House Espresso blend coffee beans are sourced from Brazil and Colombia.

These two origins are chosen for their natural compatibility.

Brazilian beans bring the body, low acidity, and the chocolate flavour.

The Colombian adds sweetness and balance. 

As per Pact’s policy, it sources through direct trade and pays 25% above the Fairtrade price.

Flavour Profile & Tasting Notes

The dry aroma opens with milk chocolate and biscuity notes, indicating a well-developed roast.

In an espresso, the cup delivers its brown-sugar sweetness.

The roasted hazelnut note arrives mid-palate and is easy on the palate.

The toffee flavour note opens up well with milk.

The house espresso blend is great for making oat lattes and flat whites.

Its caramel-toffee quality unfolds beautifully in milk.

It produces a cup that’s exactly what most home drinkers are looking for in their morning cup.

It finishes with a cocoa note, leaving a lingering sweetness.

Roast Level

The roast is medium-dark and is well done.

No ashy taste or burning, it shows that it’s done with care.

What I Like

It has no drama, and I can trust this blend to deliver consistent flavour in every brew.

The crema impressed me with its prominence.

It’s great in milk-based drinks and performs brilliantly in a flat white.

What I Don't Like

This one doesn’t include a mould-free certification either, so on that front, it hasn't impressed me.

Moreover, it’s balanced, but if you're a speciality coffee drinker, it might be a bit boring.

No special flavour surprises, brightness, or notes that make you lose your mind in ecstasy for a moment.

Just a reliable cup, delivering what it promises, every morning.

Price & Value for Money

Priced at £8.95 per 250g on subscription, it is a fair value price for the UK speciality coffee market. 

You’re paying for freshness, consistency, and ethical sourcing, and a coffee that delivers your daily espresso. 

Customer Feedback

Chris Bostock reviewed: 

“Quick delivery and excellent product.”

Jenny Greenhalgh reviewed on Trustpilot:

“Fantastic coffees with informative tasting notes and great flavour.”

The House Espresso Blend has earned its customers’ trust with its approachability and consistency. 

Many reviewers praise it for freshness, quality, and a golden crema.

The main criticism comes from speciality coffee drinkers who say the House Espresso Blend lacks depth and complexity.

Which is a fair point, but it is expected at this price tier.

Verdict

Consistent, fresh, and balanced, The House Espresso Blend is an excellent blend for your morning cup.

House Espresso Blend Final Scores

Flavour

18/25

Health and Purity

12/20

Freshness

12/15

Tracebility

14/15

Brand Trust

12/15

Value for Money

9/10

Total

77/100

 

The beans deliver the flavour, but how does Pact translate that flavour into pod format? Let’s take a closer look at the Pact Coffee pods review.

Pact Coffee Pods Reviews

In our pod testing, we chose Pact’s Bourbon Cream and Fruit & Nut Espresso Pods. 

Bourbon Cream Espresso Pods

Bourbon Cream Pod, it’s one of the most popular Pact coffee pods, a bestseller.

Let’s see how its flavour, roast, and body performed in the Pact Coffee review.

Flavour Profile & Tasting Notes

You can taste the milk chocolate note, and biscuit malt follows in the first sip.

The body is creamy and full, and the finish is sweet with a gentle caramel fade.

It’s slightly lighter in character than the Bourbon Cream Espresso beans.

But that’s because pods don't extract quite as expressively.

However, the core flavour identity is solid.

Compatibility

Pact Coffee pods are compatible only with Nespresso Original Line machines. 

They are not compatible with Vertuo, Dolce Gusto, Tassimo, or Keurig.

The aluminium capsule format is designed specifically for the Original Line machines.

So only buy if you have a Nespresso Original Line machine.

What I Like

The Bourbon Cream Espresso translates impressively from bag to pod, with its chocolatey, fudge-like, creamy body and clean finish.

It outperforms many pods in blind tasting, including Nespresso’s own range.

It’s also easy to recycle, just rinse, squeeze, and add to the recycle bin.

What I Don't Like

This is like its bag equivalent. 

A comfort cup, no subtleties of speciality coffee will surprise or excite you here.

Price & Value for Money

The pods are around 47p per pod on subscription.

Looking at the supermarket pods, which are lower-priced, and Nespresso’s own premium range, which is more expensive.

Pact coffee pods seem like a fair deal.

Customer Feedback

Kt reviewed on Trustpilot: 

“The coffee itself is delicious and has a rich taste much better than other brands I have been using!”

Valerie O reviewed:

“I was gifted 6 monthly supplies of PACT coffee.  I am so delighted with this present.”

The customer feedback is strong for this one. 

Recyclability is consistently cited as a deciding factor, but people also praise it for its flavour and convenience.

Verdict and Final Scores

Overall, if someone likes dark-roast pods with a creamy body and chocolatey flavours, this is a good everyday pod.

Criterion 

Scores

Flavour

21/25

Crema

17/20

Aroma

12/15

Body

12/15

Finish

12/15

Consistency

10/10

Total

75/100

Fruit & Nut Espresso Pods

Another flagship pod, less famous than the bourbon pod but still interesting.

Pact Fruit & Nut coffee pods arranged around espresso with dark chocolate, almonds, dried fruit, citrus peel, and subtle flavour illustrations.

Flavour Profile & Tasting Notes

It tastes like dark chocolate and almonds. 

At the mid palate, the dried fruit note and a malt note follow, which is unexpected but really interesting.

It has a fruity, more citrusy sharpness, and it finishes nutty and warm.

Roast Level: Dark

Compatibility

It is only compatible with Nespresso Original Line machines.

Do not buy Pact Coffee pods if you have a Vertuo or any other coffee system.

What I Like 

I opened the bag, and the aroma lured me.

It’s warm, nutty, and inviting. 

The first sip, and the chocolate comes through early.

But the subtle note of dried fruit is what makes this an unusual dark-roast pod.

What I Don't Like 

It doesn’t feel like a dark roast, maybe a medium-dark.

The complexity and fruit quality I expected are subtle and not very prominent, as expected for the pod format.

Price & Value for Money

It’s priced the same as the bourbon pods.

At 47p per pod on subscription, it’s good value for the money.

Customer Feedback

Richard’s review on Trustpilot:

“Easy website, great price, fast delivery.”

Jake M reviewed on review.co.uk:

“Very good coffee.”

It’s positive but less enthusiastic than the bourbon cream espresso pods.

It is understandable because the pod format rarely captures the complexity of fresh beans.

Verdict and Final Scores

Still a solid second choice for anyone looking for an everyday pod with a nutty flavour and balanced body.

Criterion 

Scores

Flavour

20/25

Crema

16/20

Aroma

12/15

Body

12/15

Finish

12/15

Consistency

10/10

Total

73/100

If you’re looking particularly for pods, here’s a list of the best Nespresso-compatible pods in the UK.

Pact Coffee Subscription Review

Pact Coffee offers a coffee subscription for home brewers, with a wide range of blends and pods for convenience. 

Laptop showing Pact Coffee subscription page with coffee products and delivery elements on a home coffee counter.

How Does the Pact Coffee Subscription Work?

You need to sign up on Pact’s website to get a Pact Coffee Subscription.

Choose bean bags or pods, select your roast preference or specific blend, and choose your delivery frequency. 

Pact roasts your coffee, dispatches it, and delivers your order within 3-5 days of the roast date.

What Plans and Frequencies Are Available?

For beans, Pact Coffee offers three tiers.

House (£8.95 per bag): It has consistent, reliable profiles. The bourbon cream and Fruit Nut are also part of this.

Select (£9.95/bag): These are rotating seasonal coffees from individual farms. 

Micro-lot (£12.95/bag): Rare limited coffees from small harvests from specific plots.

For delivery frequency, you can choose from every 2 days to every 60 days using a flexible slider. 

And, for pods, delivery runs every 2, 4, or 6 weeks.

You get a 20% off on all subscription orders. 

How Easy Is It to Customise Your Order?

While doing this Pact coffee review, it was quite easy to customise on the website. 

You can select the brewing methods, adjust the grind size, and change the delivery frequency.

Pact grinds beans when they receive your order.

So if you tell them you’re buying for a Moka Pot, they’ll do so accordingly.

Can You Pause or Cancel the Subscription?

Yes, the process is straightforward. 

Laptop showing Pact Coffee checkout with subscription cycle illustrations, delivery box, coffee bag, calendar, and espresso.

You can pause, skip, cancel, or reschedule your subscription through your online account.

No phone calls required.

Subscription Price vs. One-Off Purchase

Subscriptions are 20% off, while one-off purchases are not.

Free delivery is available for orders over £15.

For a regular drinker, the subscription is the most cost-effective option.

What I Like About the Pact Coffee Subscription

  • The coffee arrived quickly, and the roast date revealed that it was roasted only 3 days ago. 

  • I opened the bag, and the smell of freshly roasted beans hit me. 

  • The flexibility of choosing delivery frequency was great. I chose a 2-day delivery to prevent coffee from sitting around.

What I Don't Like About the Pact Coffee Subscription

The initial sign-up process is a bit overwhelming, even though Pact has tried to simplify it with a quiz.

You have to make too many decisions up front. 

It may trip up a new subscriber, who just wants a bag of good coffee.

Customer Feedback on the Subscription

Maisie Redfern on Trustpilot reviewed:

“The flexibility with being able to pause or move your order is incredible.”

Pact has an overall rating of 4.5 stars or higher.

Most reviewers praise it for freshness, taste, and responsiveness to customer service.

Criticism, where it exists, talks about their unexpected selections, gaps in subscription communication, and gift voucher expiry terms.

Negative reviews also exit for orders delayed and inability to cancel subscription due to long process of log ins.

Some reviewers have reported receiving unexpected flavours when choosing from Pact’s recommendations.

So, if you want complete control over what you receive, set specific preferences and get the coffee accordingly.

Is the Pact Coffee Subscription Worth It?

For drinkers who want freshly roasted speciality coffee delivered flexibly, the answer is yes.

The 20% off on the subscription is a bonus.

The roast-to-order model and the consistent taste of the House range make it a recommended subscription.

Pact Coffee Products Compared

Product

Roast

Bean Origin

Price

Score

Best For

Buy

Bourbon Cream Espresso (beans)

Dark

Brazil and Colombia

£8.95/250g

79/100

Everyday espresso, milk-based drinks

Pact’s site / Waitrose

House Espresso Blend (beans)

Dark

Brazil + Colombia

£8.95/250g

77/100

Complexity in a dark roast.

Pact’s site.

Bourbon Cream Pods

Dark

Brazil + Colombia

~47p/pod

75/100

An upgrade from Nespresso 

Pact’s site.

Fruit & Nut Pods

Dark

Brazil + Rwanda

~47p/pod

73/100

Speciality pods: an upgrade for Nespresso users.

Pact site.

Is Pact Coffee Worth It?

Yes, Pact stands firm and is worth it for its freshness and transparent farmer partnerships.

For making speciality coffee accessible through a flexible subscription model, delivery system, and a wide coffee range.

Pact Coffee products beside a blurred final verdict card, black coffee, magnifying glass, empty vial, and subtle balance-scale illustration.

However, if you're buying for health and purity, it might disappoint you.

Pact has no disclosure whether their beans were tested for toxins, mould, or pesticides.

What Pact Coffee Does Well?

Pact’s roast-to-dispatch model is the best of all things.

Its transparency report makes it a more accountable brand in the speciality coffee market.

Their subscription is easy to use, and you can choose a delivery frequency of 2 to 60 days. 

Overall, across the coffee range, Pact is producing great coffee in terms of flavour and freshness.

Where Pact Coffee Falls Short?

There's no disclosure of quality control operations anywhere.

So it’s not the best choice if you're a health-conscious drinker looking for an organic bean coffee.

Moreover, it's a good entry point into the speciality coffee, but not an endpoint.

Pact won’t challenge or hit the same outclass speciality-coffee heights for experienced speciality-coffee drinkers.

The pod range is limited to 2 pods, both of which are dark roasts: 

Bourbon Cream pods, Fruit & Nut pods.

Decaf is an option too, if you want to taste the other blends, you’d have to buy beans.

The website onboarding system is also a bit tedious.

Who Should Buy Pact Coffee?

  • If you’re switching from regular coffee to speciality coffee and are looking for an everyday speciality coffee.

  • Pod users: If you’re looking to upgrade from Nespresso to speciality coffee, Pact is a reliable choice.

  • Home Brewers: If you’re looking for a reliable subscription with ethical sourcing.

  • Busy individuals who want a simple speciality cup with minimal jargon.

Who Should Look Elsewhere?

  • Health-conscious drinkers looking to buy organic, mould-free and clean coffee beans

  • Speciality drinkers who already know their favourite Ethiopian and Colombian washed coffees.

  • Drinkers who don’t own Nespresso Original Line machines should ignore Pact pods because they’re only compatible with Nespresso Original machines. 

  • Anyone looking for rare speciality coffee or competition-tier coffee.

  • Those drinkers are on a tight budget. Pact is not cheap, but you get a discount with a subscription. It’s reasonably priced for a speciality coffee but still more expensive than supermarket alternatives.

Where to Buy Pact Coffee

Pact Coffee Website

You can directly buy from the Pact Coffee website at Pactcoffee.com.

It is the best place to buy Pact Coffee from, because you get the freshest roasting, and the full range of coffees.

Third-Party Stockists

Pact Coffee is available at Waitrose, Ocado, Whole Foods, and Amazon.

Amazon has both the 250g and 500g bags of Bourbon Cream and Fruit & Nut.

But buying from third-party stockists means you lose Pact's main advantage: fresh roasting.

Subscription Options Available?

Subscription is only possible via Pact’s official website. 

No third-party retailer will have a subscription service for Pact coffee.

Now…

If Pact still doesn’t feel like your cup of coffee.

Then there’s one alternative that’s one step ahead of Pact.

Pact Coffee Alternative (Balance Coffee)

Where Pact makes speciality coffee accessible, Balance makes coffee clean.

Balance Coffee produces organic coffee and focuses primarily on mould-free beans.

Balance’s emphasis is on organic coffee beans, which are lab-tested for toxins and mould.

I know and you know, it’s my brand, but rest assured because …

I do blind testing with the same framework I use for other coffees.

And it comes out as really great-tasting coffee every time. 

Balance’s coffee claims over 1,000 antioxidants per serving, a figure attributed to organic sourcing and lab testing.

It is free of mycotoxins and pesticide residues that can creep into lower-quality speciality lots.

For health-conscious drinkers and fitness-focused speciality coffee enthusiasts, Balance is worth a look.

How Balance Coffee Compares on Quality, Sourcing, and Price?

Balance Coffee produces speciality-grade coffee across blends, single origins, and decaf options.

The beans are ethically sourced so that you can trace them back to the farm, and they are roasted fresh before dispatch.

Balance’s Stability Blend has clarity, balance, quality, and a flavour you'll come to love.

And, other blends such as Lion’s 

The price is comparable to Pact’s Select range, and the product is excellent across every measure.

Balance Coffee also offers a subscription that’s just as smooth, with a 15% discount.

You can buy coffee beans online at Balance’s website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some questions you might have about Pact Coffee are answered here.

  • Is Pact Coffee good quality?

Yes, Pact coffee is of good quality. It is a speciality coffee sourced ethically, and they roast fresh before dispatching your order. 

  • Where does Pact Coffee source its beans?

Pact Coffee sources its beans from 10 origins, including Brazil, Colombia, the DRC, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Peru, and Rwanda. They have direct partnerships with over 150 farmers, and Pact publishes details of these partnerships in its transparency report.

  • Is Pact Coffee ethically sourced?

Yes, Pact Coffee is ethically sourced through direct trade. They have direct partnerships with farmers. They pay 25% above the Fairtrade base price. Pact has a B Corp certification, and it runs its roastery on a carbon-neutral basis. 

  • Does Pact Coffee offer a subscription?

Yes, Pact offers a subscription with great flexibility. You can choose your grind size and delivery frequency as per your preferences. You can even choose to get coffee delivered fresh every two days. You can cancel, skip, or pause your subscription whenever you want. 

  • Is Pact Coffee Nespresso compatible?

Yes, Pact Coffee pods are Nespresso-compatible, but not with Nespresso Vertuo machines. Buy the pods only if you own a Nespresso Original Line machine. 

  • What is the best Pact Coffee product to try first?

The Bourbon Cream Espresso is the obvious first choice. It’s reliably a great dark roast. If you’re new to Pact, you should taste Bourbon Cream Espresso. 

Conclusion

Pact has a reliable, consistent flavour you can trust and come to love as your morning brew.

The Bourbon Cream Espresso beans are interesting, and the House Espresso Blend is a consistent, flavourful cup overall.

The Pact pods are convenient if you’re looking for the flavors in capsule form.

Don’t choose Pact if you’re an experienced speciality coffee drinker looking for world-class speciality coffee.

Pact Dark roast might not suit you if you’re accustomed to a lighter roast speciality coffee.

If you're a health-conscious drinker, the lab testing for mould, pesticides, and toxins is a real deciding factor.

Pact has not delivered on that.

The quality control transparency is more important to me than flavor in my cup, so it’s a red flag.

Pact Coffee Average Scores

Bourbon Cream Espresso Beans

79/100

House Espresso Blend Beans

77/100

Bourbon Cream Espresso Pods

75/100

Fruit & Nut Pods

73/100

Pact Coffee Final Score

76/100

Choose Pact for everyday comfort and chocolatey notes.

If Pact still feels like the ceiling rather than the floor, then…

Choose the Balance Coffee subscription for clean coffee beans, and Balance Coffee pods for convenience and quality.