Dreambeanscoffee.ie Reviews

Based on checking the website Dreambeanscoffee.ie, it’s clear they specialize in selling roasted coffee beans.

This aligns well with permissible activities, offering a natural and widely consumed product.

They focus on quality, ethical sourcing, and delivering fresh coffee, which are all positive aspects for consumers.

It’s a straightforward business model centered around a staple beverage.

Find detailed reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org, for software products you can also check Producthunt.

IMPORTANT: We have not personally tested this company’s services. This review is based solely on information provided by the company on their website. For independent, verified user experiences, please refer to trusted sources such as Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org.

Dreambeanscoffee.ie Review & First Look

Based on looking at the website, Dreambeanscoffee.ie presents itself as a dedicated, independent, and Irish-owned artisan coffee company with a strong emphasis on quality.

Their homepage immediately highlights their core offerings: hand-roasted coffee beans, free delivery over €40, and a bold money-back guarantee. Growthspurt.com Reviews

This quick rundown gives a solid first impression of a company confident in its product.

• Initial Impressions: The site’s layout is clean and user-friendly, making it easy to navigate through various coffee blends and origins. Key sections like “Buy Coffee,” “Why Dreambeans?”, and “Sustainability” are prominently featured, indicating transparency and a commitment to their craft.
• Product Variety: They offer a range of coffee products, including:
  • Blends: Such as ‘Torero,’ ‘Jaggy Loko,’ ‘Sweet Sorrento,’ and ‘Revolution Blend,’ each with descriptive notes about flavor profiles e.g., “Rich chocolate and malt,” “Big flavour, amazing.”.
  • Single Origins: Although the site states “Almost all our coffees are blends, apart from our decaf,” they do discuss single origins, implying a deep understanding of coffee types.
  • Decaf Options: Notably, their ‘Decaf Dream’ uses the Swiss Water Method, which they highlight as a chemical-free decaffeination process, a significant plus for health-conscious consumers.
• Customer Engagement: The website features customer ratings prominently on product pages, like ‘Jaggy Loko’ with a “Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 5 customer ratings,” building trust and social proof. They also have a blog and an extensive FAQ section, which are excellent resources for educating consumers and answering common queries.

Dreambeanscoffee.ie Features

Dreambeanscoffee.ie isn’t just about selling coffee.

They offer a suite of features designed to enhance the customer experience and build confidence in their product.

• Hand-Roasted Quality: They explicitly state “Every bean hand-roasted in Co Louth” and boast an “Uncompromising obsession with quality.” This artisanal approach suggests a high level of care and attention to detail in their roasting process, which is often a key differentiator for specialty coffee brands.
• Ethical Sourcing & Sustainability: The “Sustainability” and “Why Dreambeans?” sections delve into their sourcing philosophy. While not explicitly Fairtrade certified due to bureaucratic reasons, as they explain, they state:
  • “All our coffee is ethically sourced.”
  • They maintain “great relationships with a whole series of excellent coffee co-ops, brokers and growers” for over 25 years.
  • They claim to pay “significantly more than Fairtrade prices” for premium quality beans, ensuring growers are fairly compensated. This commitment to ethical practices without the heavy paperwork of certification is a unique stance.
• Customer Guarantee: A prominent feature is their “If you don’t love our coffee, we’ll give you your money back. We guarantee it.” This unconditional money-back guarantee significantly reduces buyer risk and demonstrates strong confidence in their product’s quality.
• Informative Content Blog & FAQ:
  • Blog: Features articles on coffee-related topics like “French Roast Coffee Supply Issues” and “Ground Coffee: A Guide to Coffee and Grinding.”
  • FAQ: A very comprehensive section covering everything from coffee processing methods “wet” vs. “natural”, coffee origins, delivery details, and even explanations of different coffee drinks like “cortado” and “ristretto.” This shows a commitment to educating their customer base, not just selling.
• Packaging and Freshness: They highlight their packaging with “one-way valves which allows gasses to leave the bag but not to enter,” ensuring freshness. They also provide detailed advice on how long coffee stays fresh:
  • Unopened, whole beans: up to a year.
  • Unopened, ground coffee: 4-5 months.
  • Opened beans: best for 2-3 weeks.
  • Opened ground coffee: signs of staleness within a week.

Dreambeanscoffee.ie Pros & Cons

Let’s break down what works well and where there might be areas for improvement based on the website’s presentation.

Pros:

• Clear Quality Focus: The emphasis on “hand-roasted,” “small batch,” and “uncompromising obsession with quality” resonates with specialty coffee enthusiasts. Their claim that “even Dreambeans coffee will start to lose the high points and top notes that make it so amazing, and even though it will still taste better than the vast majority of coffee you can buy, you won’t be getting the full Dreambeans effect” after opening for too long speaks volumes about their quality standards.
• Strong Customer Guarantee: The “money-back if you don’t love our coffee” guarantee is a significant trust-builder. It shows confidence in their product and reduces perceived risk for new customers.
• Transparency in Sourcing Ethical, if not Certified Fairtrade: While they opt out of Fairtrade certification due to bureaucracy, their detailed explanation of paying premium prices and having long-standing, ethical relationships with growers is commendable. This transparency can be more meaningful to some consumers than a simple label.
• Excellent Educational Resources: The detailed FAQ and blog posts are invaluable. They don’t just sell. they educate about coffee processing, bean types Arabica vs. Robusta, grinding methods burr vs. blade, and even coffee drink definitions cortado, macchiato, lungo, ristretto, flat white. This positions them as experts.
• Focus on Freshness: Their meticulous explanation of coffee outgassing and packaging with one-way valves, along with storage advice, demonstrates a deep understanding of coffee freshness and a commitment to delivering optimal flavor.
• Convenient Delivery & Collection: Free delivery for orders over €40 and a local click-and-collect option in Dundalk add convenience for customers.

Cons:

• Limited Delivery Scope Currently Ireland Only: While they deliver throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland, the website states they are “working on arranging deliveries to other European countries.” This limits their reach for international customers who might be interested in their specialized coffee.
• Lack of Explicit Fairtrade Certification: While their explanation for not being certified is understandable and highlights ethical practices, some consumers specifically seek the Fairtrade label for its widely recognized assurance. They might miss out on this segment.
• No Subscription Service Details on Homepage: While many coffee companies offer subscription models for recurring orders, it’s not immediately apparent on the homepage or navigation if Dreambeanscoffee.ie offers this. This could be a missed opportunity for customer retention and consistent revenue.
• Limited Product Filters: While they have categories like “Black Coffee,” “Coffee with Milk,” and “Great Taste Awards,” more granular filters e.g., by roast level, tasting notes, origin country for blends could enhance the browsing experience for discerning coffee drinkers.
• Click & Collect Specificity: The “NOTES panel” instruction for click and collect, and waiting for the “order completed” email, while practical, adds a small layer of manual process that could be streamlined with more advanced e-commerce functionality.

Dreambeanscoffee.ie Pricing

Dreambeanscoffee.ie prices their coffee products competitively within the artisan coffee market, reflecting the quality of hand-roasted, ethically sourced beans.

• Typical Pricing Range:
  • Most 250g bags of coffee blends e.g., Jaggy Loko, Sweet Sorrento, High Segovia range from €10.60 to €12.30.
  • Larger bag options, often 1kg, are also available, bringing down the per-gram cost significantly e.g., Jaggy Loko 1kg at €36.10, Torero 1kg at €37.60.
  • Specialty or premium blends like ‘Tiger Paw’ are priced slightly higher, starting around €15.40 for 250g.
  • Gift packs are also available, such as the “Dreambeans All-Stars Gift Pack” ranging from €40.00 to €110.00, depending on size and contents.
• Value Proposition:
  • The pricing seems to be based on the quality of the beans, the hand-roasting process, and ethical sourcing practices paying premium prices to growers.
  • They emphasize that “every fourth bag of coffee is free,” which serves as a significant discount for loyal customers, potentially bringing down the effective per-bag price for repeat purchases.
• Shipping Costs:
  • Shipping is free for orders over €40.
  • For orders under €40, shipping is a flat €6.
  • Click & Collect is always free for any order value, offering a cost-effective option for local customers.
• Price Transparency: The prices are clearly displayed on product pages, and the automatic free shipping for orders over €40 is a straightforward incentive. The pricing structure is easy to understand, with options for both smaller trial purchases and larger, more economical bulk buys.

Dreambeanscoffee.ie vs. Competitors

When evaluating Dreambeanscoffee.ie against other specialty coffee roasters, particularly those in Ireland or similar markets, several factors come into play: quality, sourcing, price, and customer experience.

• Quality & Craftsmanship:
  • Dreambeanscoffee.ie: Their core strength is the “hand-roasted” and “small batch” approach, emphasizing an “uncompromising obsession with quality.” They delve into the nuances of coffee processing wet vs. natural and decaffeination Swiss Water Method, indicating a deep understanding of their product. This artisanal focus often appeals to coffee connoisseurs looking for distinct flavor profiles and freshness.
  • Competitors: Many competitors also boast artisan roasting, but the level of detail Dreambeans provides about their methods and commitment to freshness e.g., one-way valves, outgassing explanation sets them apart in transparency. Some might be larger operations, potentially compromising the “small batch” feel.
• Sourcing & Ethics:
  • Dreambeanscoffee.ie: They take a unique stance on ethical sourcing, explaining why they don’t pursue Fairtrade certification due to bureaucracy, yet affirm paying “significantly more than Fairtrade prices” and having long-term, trust-based relationships with growers. This “direct-ish” ethical approach aims to ensure fair compensation directly.
  • Competitors: Many specialty roasters will either be Fairtrade certified, Rainforest Alliance certified, or promote their own direct trade relationships. Dreambeans’ detailed explanation for not being certified is a refreshing level of honesty, appealing to those who look beyond labels to genuine practice. However, for consumers who strictly adhere to recognized certifications, this might be a point of divergence.
• Pricing:
  • Dreambeanscoffee.ie: Their pricing e.g., ~€10.60-€12.30 for 250g is competitive within the artisan coffee segment. The “every fourth bag free” loyalty program is a strong incentive for repeat customers, effectively reducing the overall cost. Free shipping over €40 is also a standard yet appreciated offering.
  • Competitors: Prices for specialty coffee can vary, but many comparable roasters might be in a similar range. Some might offer slightly lower prices for larger volumes or standard blends, while others might go higher for extremely rare or exotic single origins. The “every fourth bag free” is a unique value proposition that not all competitors offer.
• Customer Experience & Education:
  • Dreambeanscoffee.ie: Their comprehensive FAQ and blog are a significant asset. They provide valuable information on coffee science, brewing, and preparation, empowering customers to get the most out of their beans. The money-back guarantee is a strong confidence booster.
  • Competitors: While many have FAQs and blogs, the depth and detail provided by Dreambeans on topics like coffee processing methods wet vs. natural and the nuances of various coffee drinks “cortado,” “ristretto” are particularly strong. Some competitors might focus more on brand storytelling or recipe sharing rather than detailed education.
• Delivery & Accessibility:
  • Dreambeanscoffee.ie: Currently focused on Ireland and Northern Ireland, with plans to expand. The local click-and-collect option is a bonus for nearby customers.
  • Competitors: Many larger online coffee retailers might offer wider international shipping, appealing to a broader audience. However, local roasters often prioritize regional delivery for freshness and to support their community.

In essence, Dreambeanscoffee.ie distinguishes itself through its transparent ethical sourcing story without formal certification, its deep educational content, and a strong customer satisfaction guarantee.

While its geographical delivery is currently limited, its focus on quality and customer education positions it well against other artisan roasters.

How to Get Free Shipping at Dreambeanscoffee.ie

Getting free shipping at Dreambeanscoffee.ie is straightforward and designed to encourage slightly larger orders or local collection.

• Meet the Minimum Order Threshold: The primary way to qualify for free shipping is by ensuring your order total is over €40. This applies automatically at checkout once your cart meets or exceeds this value.
  • Pro Tip: The website notes that “every fourth bag of coffee is free,” which is a loyalty discount. If you’re using this coupon, ensure your order total after the discount still remains above €40 to maintain free shipping. Sometimes, the discount might drop your total below the threshold, so double-check before finalizing.
• Utilize Click & Collect: If you are local to their roast house in Dundalk, County Louth, you can opt for their Click & Collect service, which offers free shipping regardless of your order value.

  • Process: Refinegroup.co.uk Reviews

    1. Place your order online through their website.

    2. During the checkout process, select “Click & Collect” as your shipping option. This will waive any shipping fees.

    3. Crucially, remember to mention in the “NOTES panel” during checkout that you intend to collect the coffee.

    4. Wait for the “order completed” email before heading to the roast house. This email signifies that your coffee is ready for pickup. They cannot facilitate walk-in sales without a pre-purchased order and confirmation.

  • Collection Hours: Their office hours for collection are Monday to Thursday 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and Friday 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The roast house entrance is on Coes Road, Dundalk, near John Laverty Motor Factors.

By following these guidelines, you can easily avoid shipping charges and enjoy Dreambeans coffee conveniently.

How Long Does Dreambeanscoffee.ie Coffee Stay Fresh?

Dreambeanscoffee.ie provides excellent, detailed guidance on coffee freshness, which is crucial for appreciating specialty coffee.

Their insights are based on industry knowledge and practical experience.

• Unopened Whole Beans:
  • Generally, unopened, whole coffee beans will stay in “tip-top condition” for up to one year.
  • They confidently state that an unopened bag will “definitely be in great shape for at least a year,” although they personally recommend a “best by” period of 6 months for optimal enjoyment.
  • The reason for this longevity is their packaging: “All our bags have one-way valves which allows gasses to leave the bag but not to enter.” This process allows for outgassing release of CO2 after roasting, which pushes oxygen out, creating a CO2 blanket that prevents spoilage from yeasts, enzymes, bacteria, or molds.
• Unopened Ground Coffee:
  • Unopened bags of ground coffee will stay fresh for about 4-5 months.
  • Ground coffee has a larger surface area exposed to oxygen compared to whole beans, which speeds up the staling process, even when unopened.
• Opened Whole Beans:
  • Once a bag of whole beans is opened, it is at its best for around 2-3 weeks.
  • Beyond this, the coffee will start to lose its “high points and top notes” and distinctive flavors, though they note it will “still taste better than the vast majority of coffee you can buy.”
• Opened Ground Coffee:
  • A bag of opened ground coffee will show “signs of staleness within a week.”
  • After about 3 weeks to a month of being opened, it will start to “taste the same as ordinary, mass market coffee” due to accelerated oxidation.
• Storage Tips:
  • Store unopened bags in a cool, dry place.
  • While some might consider freezing opened coffee, Dreambeans notes that for average consumption rates, it might not be necessary, especially if you go through a kilo in about two weeks. They recommend opening one bag at a time for optimal freshness.

This clear breakdown helps customers manage their coffee supply to ensure they always experience the best possible flavor from Dreambeans’ products.

Understanding Coffee at Dreambeanscoffee.ie: Blends vs. Single Origins

Dreambeanscoffee.ie offers valuable insights into the world of coffee, particularly the distinctions between blends and single origins, which helps customers make informed choices. Ukhairtransplantclinics.co.uk Reviews

Coffee Blends:

• Definition: Coffee blends are compositions made from more than one type of coffee bean. These beans can originate from various countries or regions, and a blend can consist of just two or three carefully selected origins, or many more.
• Historical Significance: Dreambeans notes that for most of coffee’s history, it has been served as a blend, with famous examples like the classic Mocha Java pairing Mocha beans from Yemen with Java from Indonesia being “hugely popular for several centuries.”
• The Art of Blending: Dreambeans clearly favors blends, stating, “Almost all our coffees are blends, apart from our decaf. We are quite clear in our view that blends perform better than single origins.” They explain that a skilled roaster has an “intuitive sense of how a single origin will interact with other types,” focusing on how flavors, aromas, and textures complement each other.
  • Synergy: The magic lies in creating something “more than the sum of its parts.” A blend can achieve a higher quality profile e.g., a “9 out of 10” by combining beans that might individually be “6 or 7 out of 10,” leveraging the strengths of each.
• Flavor Profile: Blends are crafted to achieve a consistent, balanced, and often more complex flavor profile year-round, as roasters can adjust the ratios of constituent beans to compensate for variations in individual crops.

Single Origin Coffee:

• Definition: A single origin coffee comes from a particular country, region, farm, or co-op. The defining characteristic is its specific, singular geographical source.
• Unique Characteristics: Single origin coffees are prized for their “unique flavour characteristics or specific taste profiles,” offering a direct representation of the terroir—the environmental factors like soil, climate, and topography where the coffee was grown.
• Exclusivity & Scarcity: For many, the appeal of single origin coffee is its “exclusivity.” The limited production of a specific region or farm creates a “natural limit to the number of sacks in the coffee crop each year,” which can drive up prices.
• Single Estate Coffees: These are an even more exclusive subset, promoted as coffee from “on one particular farm or plantation.”
• Considerations: While single origins offer distinct flavors, they can also be more susceptible to variations in flavor from crop to crop and might lack the consistent balance that a skillfully crafted blend provides. Dreambeans’ preference for blends suggests they prioritize the consistent, rounded profile that blending can achieve.

In summary, Dreambeanscoffee.ie champions the art of blending to create superior, consistent coffee experiences, while acknowledging the unique appeal and characteristics of single origin coffees for those seeking specific, exclusive flavors.

Their comprehensive approach to explaining these fundamental concepts empowers customers to make well-informed choices based on their preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of coffee does Dreambeanscoffee.ie sell?

Dreambeanscoffee.ie primarily sells hand-roasted coffee beans, including various blends and a decaf option, all sourced ethically.

Is Dreambeanscoffee.ie coffee hand-roasted?

Yes, Dreambeanscoffee.ie emphasizes that every bean is hand-roasted in Co Louth, highlighting their artisanal approach to quality.

Does Dreambeanscoffee.ie offer decaf coffee?

Yes, they offer ‘Decaf Dream,’ which is decaffeinated using the Swiss Water Method, a chemical-free process.

How much does shipping cost at Dreambeanscoffee.ie?

Shipping is free for orders over €40. For orders under €40, there is a flat shipping fee of €6.

Can I get free shipping on any order value?

Yes, if you choose the Click & Collect option from their roast house in Dundalk, shipping is free regardless of your order value.

What is the money-back guarantee at Dreambeanscoffee.ie?

Dreambeanscoffee.ie offers a strong guarantee: “If you don’t love our coffee, we’ll give you your money back.”

Is Dreambeanscoffee.ie Fairtrade certified?

No, Dreambeanscoffee.ie is not Fairtrade certified.

They explain that they opt out due to paperwork but ensure ethical sourcing by paying premium prices to growers directly. Lobbystackle.co.uk Reviews

Where does Dreambeanscoffee.ie deliver?

Currently, Dreambeanscoffee.ie delivers to every part of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

They are working on arranging deliveries to other European countries.

How long do unopened whole coffee beans stay fresh from Dreambeanscoffee.ie?

Unopened whole beans will generally stay fresh for up to one year, thanks to their specialized packaging with one-way valves.

How long does opened ground coffee stay fresh from Dreambeanscoffee.ie?

Once opened, ground coffee will show signs of staleness within about a week, and after 3-4 weeks, it will taste similar to mass-market coffee.

What is the “Swiss Water Method” for decaf coffee?

The Swiss Water Method is a natural, chemical-free process used to decaffeinate coffee beans by soaking them in a supersaturated organic green coffee extract.

What is the difference between a coffee “blend” and “single origin”?

A coffee blend is made from more than one type of coffee bean from various regions, crafted for a consistent flavor profile, while a single origin coffee comes from a specific, singular geographical source, offering unique characteristics of that region.

Does Dreambeanscoffee.ie have a physical store?

While they don’t have a walk-in retail store, they offer a Click & Collect service from their roast house in Dundalk for pre-purchased online orders.

What are the office hours for Click & Collect?

Office hours for collection are Monday-Thursday 9:30 am-1:00 pm and 2:00 pm-5:00 pm, and Friday 9:30 am-1:00 pm and 2:00 pm-4:00 pm.

How do I pick up my Click & Collect order?

You need to place your order online, select “Click & Collect” at checkout, mention it in the notes, and wait for the “order completed” email before collecting it from their roast house.

What is a “cortado” coffee?

A cortado is a strong coffee drink from the Basque Country, typically half espresso and half heated milk, with the milk “cutting” through the coffee’s acidity. Patients.microgendx.com Reviews

What is a “ristretto” coffee?

A ristretto coffee is a type of espresso made with half the amount of water, resulting in a more concentrated and intense flavor.

What is the difference between a burr grinder and a blade grinder?

A blade grinder chops beans inconsistently and can generate heat, while a burr grinder crushes them between discs, providing a more consistent grind size and preserving flavor.

How soon will I receive my coffee order?

Generally, orders are dispatched quickly, and you will usually receive your coffee within 2 working days after receiving the “order completed” email.

What is the recommended storage for Dreambeanscoffee.ie coffee once opened?

Once opened, it’s best to store the coffee in a cool, dry place and consume whole beans within 2-3 weeks, and ground coffee within a week, for optimal freshness.