Coffee FAQ
Straight answers about orders, freshness, brewing, subscriptions, wholesale and Cars & Coffee.
How to Use This Page
These are the questions we hear most. Jump to the section you need below. If your question isn’t here, send us a note and one of us will get back to you within 24–48 hours.
Orders & Shipping FAQ
The short version: orders of $35 or more ship free, and we roast before we ship. Full details are on our shipping page.
Yes. Every order of $35 or more ships free within the United States. Smaller orders ship at the rate calculated at checkout. Details are on the shipping page.
Most orders are roasted, packed and shipped within 48 hours. Delivery usually takes a few business days after that, depending on where you live.
Right now we ship within the U.S. If you’re outside the U.S., reach out and we’ll let you know what’s possible.
If your coffee hasn’t been roasted yet, we can usually change it. Email nathan@sheppardscoffee.co as soon as you can and include your order number.
Coffee is a food product, so we handle returns case by case. If something is wrong with your order, let us know and we’ll make it right. See our refund and returns policy for details.
Take a photo of any damage and contact us with your order number. We’ll work with the carrier and get you sorted out.
Freshness & Roasting FAQ
Here’s what matters once your coffee leaves the roaster.
Whole beans taste their best from a few days to about four weeks after roasting. Ground coffee fades much faster, often within a week or two. Our guide on how long coffee stays fresh walks through the timeline.
Yes. Every bag is marked with its roast date, so you know exactly how fresh it is.
Freshly roasted coffee releases carbon dioxide, which can make brewing uneven. A short rest lets it settle. Learn more in our post on coffee degassing.
Keep them in an airtight, opaque container at room temperature, away from heat, light and moisture. Skip the fridge. Our coffee storage guide covers the details.
Light roasts keep more of the bean’s origin character and brighter acidity. Dark roasts lean bold, smoky and bittersweet. Read light vs. dark roast to find your lane.
Brewing FAQ
Good beans deserve a good cup. These are the fixes we recommend most often. For more, browse our coffee guides.
Match grind to brew time: coarse for French press and cold brew, medium for drip, medium-fine for pour-over and fine for espresso. See the coffee grind size chart.
A good starting point is 1:16, or about 15 grams of coffee to 240 grams of water. Adjust stronger or weaker to taste. Our coffee-to-water ratio guide has a quick chart.
Bitterness usually means over-extraction: grind too fine, water too hot or brew too long. Try a coarser grind first. More fixes in why does my coffee taste bitter.
Steep coarse grounds in cold water at roughly 1:8 for 12 to 18 hours, strain, then dilute to taste. Full steps are in our cold brew guide.
Single origins show off one place’s flavor; blends are built for balance and consistency. Our post on single origin vs. blend breaks it down.
Subscriptions FAQ
Never run out again. Sign up on the subscribe page.
Pick your coffee and how often you want it, and we roast and ship it on your schedule. Prices are shown at checkout.
Every one, two, three or four weeks. Most home brewers find a bag every two weeks keeps them stocked.
Yes. You can pause, skip a shipment or cancel from your account anytime before your next order processes.
Subscription orders of $35 or more ship free, just like regular orders. See shipping for details.
Wholesale & Events FAQ
For cafés, offices, churches and event hosts. Start a conversation on our wholesale page or see event coffee.
Yes. We supply roasted coffee to local businesses and organizations, starting at 5 lb a week. Fill out the form on our wholesale page and we’ll set up a free tasting.
We’re glad to talk through equipment, grind and recipes so your coffee tastes the way it should, every pot.
We do. From weddings to community gatherings, we bring a coffee station to events around the Ozarks. Book as early as you can.
Share your date, headcount and location through the events page or contact form, and we’ll follow up with options.
Cars & Coffee FAQ
Good coffee and good machines. Full details are on the Cars & Coffee page.
We announce every meet by text, email and on Instagram and Facebook. Check the Cars & Coffee page or join our list.
No. Classics, trucks, daily drivers and projects are all welcome. So is anyone who just wants to look around and drink coffee.
Absolutely. Bring the kids.
Yes. We bring fresh coffee to drink and bags to take home. Look for us at the farmers market starting in the 2027 season, too; see locations.
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