FAQ
Real answers to questions we actually get asked. Anything missing? Email us.
About the brand & mission
How much of every purchase goes to ocean cleanup?
Every bag of Tide & Bean coffee recovers a pound of ocean plastic. That's more than the bag itself weighs. Which partner does the work depends on where you bought it — orders placed through this site are matched through CleanHub, and bags bought from a cafe or shop are matched through 4ocean. One bag, one pound, either way. You can see our running CleanHub totals at our live impact report, or read the full story on our Impact page.
Who are your ocean cleanup partners?
Two, working at different ends of the same problem.
CleanHub is a verified plastic recovery service that funds collection in coastal communities most affected by ocean plastic, with collection hubs in places like Indonesia, India, and Egypt. Local crews collect, weigh, and process plastic on land — intercepting it before it ever reaches the water. CleanHub covers every order placed through this site.
4ocean runs full-time crews pulling plastic directly out of oceans, rivers, and coastlines — recovering what already got there. 4ocean covers bags bought through our wholesale partners: cafes, boutiques, and grocers.
We wanted both ends covered, and we wanted a bag bought in a cafe to count exactly as much as a bag bought here. Read more on our Impact page.
Does it matter where I buy Tide & Bean?
Not for the impact. A pound is recovered either way — only the partner changes. Buy it here and CleanHub intercepts a pound of ocean-bound plastic; buy it at a cafe and 4ocean pulls a pound out of the water. Buy it wherever is easier for you.
Is Tide & Bean a nonprofit?
No. We're a for-profit specialty coffee brand operated by Hearth & Harbor Holdings LLC. We chose this structure because for-profit businesses can sustain ongoing financial commitments to ocean cleanup partners rather than depending on episodic fundraising. You're not making a donation when you buy from us — you're buying coffee that funds the work.
How do I know plastic actually gets recovered?
Every pound recovered through CleanHub is weighed at the collection hub, shipped with documentation, and audited by an independent third party. You can see our running impact total — live, updated as the work happens — at our CleanHub Impact Report. Pounds recovered through our wholesale channel are handled and reported by 4ocean.
There's no opaque NGO middleman and no aspirational claims — just verified collection on the ground, in the places where the plastic actually is.
What is the “Path to the Sea”?
It's our way of connecting coffee origin to ocean restoration. Every region we source from sits in a watershed — rain falls on a farm, joins a creek, joins a river, and eventually reaches the sea. Peruvian coffee water crosses 3,700 miles of Amazon to reach the Atlantic. Ethiopian water joins the Blue Nile to reach the Mediterranean. The water that grew your coffee returns to the sea we're cleaning. Each origin page on our Origins index tells its own version.
What about the bag — is it compostable?
Mostly — and we'd rather tell you exactly what that means than round it up. Our bags are made from Biotrē™ 1.0, a film from TricorBraun Flex that is about 60% plant-based and home compostable. The outer layers are natural kraft paper and wood-pulp cellulose, which break down in a backyard pile. The remaining ~40% is a thin polyethylene barrier that keeps your coffee fresh — it's designed to disintegrate much faster than conventional plastic, but it will not fully compost.
How to compost it at home:
- Remove the label and the degassing valve — the small plastic disc on the front — plus the zipper if your bag has one. These parts aren't compostable, so they go in the trash.
- Tear the empty bag into strips and add it to your backyard compost along with your spent grounds.
- After about 12 weeks, pull out any bag material that hasn't broken down and put it in your regular trash.
Please don't put it in curbside compost. Biotrē 1.0 is not accepted by municipal or industrial composting programs and can contaminate the stream. Home pile only.
Biotrē 1.0 is tested against ASTM D6868 standards. We're not going to call it fully compostable, because it isn't — but it keeps far less permanent plastic in circulation than a conventional foil-lined coffee bag, and we'll move to a higher-compostability film as soon as one meets our freshness requirements. Full material details are on TricorBraun Flex's Biotrē page.
About the coffee
Is your coffee Fairtrade certified?
Our Fairtrade Single Origins collection carries formal Fairtrade certification. Our other single origins and house blends are sourced under specialty-grade standards from cooperatives and farms with transparent labor practices, even where they don't carry the formal Fairtrade label.
How fresh is the coffee when it arrives?
We roast in frequent small batches based on customer demand, so our coffee isn't produced far in advance or held in storage. Every bag carries a roast date, so you always know exactly what you're working with rather than having to take our word for it.
Whole bean or pre-ground?
Your call — every product offers both as a selectable option on the product page. Whole bean preserves freshness longest (coffee starts losing aromatics within minutes of grinding), so we recommend it if you have a grinder. If you select Ground, we'll grind to a standard drip spec — versatile for most home brewing methods. For a specific grind size (espresso, French press, Aeropress, cold brew), leave a note at checkout with your brewing method and we'll match it.
Do you offer decaf?
Yes — our Quiet Drift · Peru Decaf is a Fairtrade-certified medium roast, and Still Pull · Decaf Espresso is a dark-roasted Fairtrade decaf blend built specifically for espresso. Both are decaffeinated using the Swiss Water® Process — 100% chemical-free, water-based, and 99.9% caffeine free. Real coffee flavor without the caffeine. How the process works →
Do you offer coffee subscriptions?
Yes — our Subscribe & Save program offers 10% off every order on three delivery cadences: every 2 weeks, every 4 weeks (monthly), or every 8 weeks. You can change frequency, swap coffees, skip a delivery, pause, or cancel anytime from your customer account. No commitments, no pricing tricks. Choose "Subscribe & Save" on any product page.
What's the difference between single origins and blends?
Single origins come from one specific country, region, or farm and showcase the unique flavor of a place. They tend toward distinctive, sometimes adventurous profiles. Blends combine multiple origins to hit a consistent flavor target — usually broader-appeal profiles like “smooth and chocolatey” or “balanced everyday cup.” If you're curious, start with a single origin. If you want consistency, start with a blend.
Which coffee should I try first?
If you're not sure where to start, take the Find Your Coffee quiz — three questions and a personalized recommendation. If you're new to specialty coffee in general, start with our Colombia or Mexico — both are broadly appealing and easy to love. If you're already deep in specialty, try our African origins (Ethiopia or Kenya) for the wildest flavor profiles.
Brewing & storage
What's the best way to brew your coffee?
Depends on the bean and what you like. Bright, fruity coffees shine in pour-over. Full-bodied, low-acid coffees shine in French press. Medium-dark roasts make great espresso. Our Brewing Guide covers ratios, grind sizes, and step-by-step methods for pour-over, French press, espresso, Aeropress, drip, and cold brew.
How should I store coffee?
Airtight container, room temperature, away from light and heat. Don't refrigerate — it introduces moisture and dulls flavor. Use within 4 weeks of the roast date for peak flavor.
How long does coffee stay fresh after opening?
About 2 weeks at peak quality in a sealed bag at room temperature, sometimes longer for darker roasts. Whole bean lasts considerably longer than pre-ground — coffee loses aromatics fast once ground.
Orders & shipping
How much does shipping cost?
Free U.S. shipping on all orders — no minimum, anywhere in the continental United States. Order one bag, order six — shipping is on us.
How long does shipping take?
About 5 business days on average, start to finish. The breakdown: 2–5 business days for roasting and processing, then 1–5 business days for shipping. During holidays or product launches, total time can stretch to 10 business days. You'll get a tracking link when your order ships. Full details on our Shipping page.
Do you ship internationally?
Not yet. International shipping is on our roadmap. Sign up for the newsletter for launch updates.
What's your return policy?
If your coffee arrives damaged, incorrect, or otherwise not as described, email us at contact@tideandbeancoffee.com within 14 days and we'll make it right. We don't accept returns of opened coffee for food safety reasons. Full details on our Returns page and our Made Right Guarantee.
Can I cancel or change an order?
The cancellation window is short. Orders enter production quickly after they're placed. Email contact@tideandbeancoffee.com as soon as possible if a change is needed — if your order hasn't been packed yet, we can usually modify or cancel. Once it's shipped, we can't change it, but we can work with you on a replacement or refund if something arrives wrong.
Wholesale
Do you sell to cafes, restaurants, or retailers?
Yes. We work with a small set of carefully chosen wholesale partners — independent boutiques, cafes, gift shops, and specialty retailers whose values align with ours. We're not chasing big-box placement. Bags sold through those partners recover their pound through 4ocean.
How do I become a wholesale partner?
Email wholesale@tideandbeancoffee.com with details about your business — location, what you currently carry, and what you're looking for. We respond personally, usually within a few days.
Still have questions? Get in touch — we're a small team and answer email ourselves.
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