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What's so special about Chica Bean coffee?
1) Specialty Coffee because of quality
– Human involvement and quality control throughout all processes
– Shade grown
– Single origin Guatemalan coffee
– Strictly Hard Beans
– Minimum elevation 1485 MASL
– 100% arabica with defined varieties
– Small batch roasted
2) Specialty Coffee because of Community Impact and Responsibility
– Producers earn 54% more than the market price
– Improved access to technical support, education, and professional opportunities
– 10% of profits are returned to a community fund the producers themselves organize, design, and execute
– All coffee is produced and roasted by women
– Eco-friendly practices focusing on regenerative agriculture
Is Chica Bean coffee organic?
The short answer is no, our coffee is not certified organic. However, our producers use minimal chemical substances on their crops and focus on regenerative agricultural practices to support soil health, water management, and ecological biodiversity on their land.
We have very strategically chosen not to pursue organic certifications (or actually any other certification) with our producers for 1 very big reason: certifications are expensive.
As a small company working with small producers, we would rather increase the price we pay our producers than spend that money (thousands of dollars) on a third-party certification. Considering the many arguments that the retailers are actually the actors that most gain from the certification, instead of the farmers, and the fact that “Certified Organic” does not actually mean that no chemicals were used in production, we’ve made a conscious decision to invest more in our producers themselves.
That being said! If a customer wants to help sponsor us to become certified, we’d be happy to do so! As our producers are already used to using natural fertilizers and pesticides*, with the financial support, our farms would be certified quite quickly.
*Please note, our producers, as nearly all producers in the world, do use some chemical fungicides, which is what helps them protect their crops from Coffee Rust, a power fungus that can (and has) wiped out large regions of coffee throughout the world.
Can I get more information on a coffee?
Absolutely! We’d be happy to pass on any information you would like. Feel free to contact us with your specific inquiry and we’ll make it happen.
When is the coffee harvest in Guatemala?
Our harvest for the New Orient region of Guatemala starts in December and goes into April. That being said, there are many variables. Some of our producers are at a higher elevation than others, which will have a later harvest start. Rain can also great affect the harvest times.
What is "Single Origin Coffee"
Single Origin simply means that the coffee is produced in a single place- it’s not mixed to create a blend. Our coffee is not only single origin, but also single producer and single estate (although, our producers are almost all too small to be even considered an “estate”), meaning we never mix any of our coffees at all. If we receive a sack of coffee from Ilcia, that will always be marked as Ilcia’s coffee. You will always know the exact woman who cultivated, processed, and roasted your coffee.
The only blend we do is our Impact Blend, which we blend to combine the lovely fruity characteristics of the Natural Process with the sweet and full characteristics of the Washed Espresso Roast.
Why aren't the specific producers named in the Medium, Dark, or Espresso Roast?
We work with a group of small producers from a rural village outside of Mataquescuintla called San Antonio las Flores (Las Flores, for short). These women do not produce enough for them to have their own individual roast profiles however since they all come from the same community and use the same processing strategies, their coffees all come out to be very, very similar.
So we maintain the same roast profile but vary the coffee producer, depending on whose coffee we’re roasting that day. While we don’t know whose coffee you’ll get when you order, we will make sure that you know exactly who she is when you get your bag(s).
It says out of stock for a coffee I'm interested in. How long will it take to get in?
Items which are ‘Out of Stock’ vary in timescales to get them back in stock. If we can find new producers that offer coffee that matches the quality of the coffee we already offer then we will get that offering back up ASAP. If it’s the end of the year, right before the new harvest starts up (January), we’ll wait until we start getting the new harvest in.
What courier do you use for deliveries?
We use UPS for all of our door-to-door deliveries.
We are so proud to partner with UPS and recognize we could not roast in origin, share value, and deliver to you so quickly if it were not for this collaboration!
How much is shipping?
We charge a flat rate of $7 per package for all US orders. Orders above $75 have free shipping included! (And so do subscriptions!)
Can you ship outside of the USA?
Yes, we absolutely can! Please just:
– Contact us directly so we can organize everything (shipping will be case-by-case so we work all shipments outside of the US via quote)
– In order to receive the best possible rate, there threshold is a minimum of 32kg (75 lb). We can ship less, no problema, but the per lb shipping cost will increase as the weight decreases
Can you ship to people serving abroad in the military or State Department?
Yes, we absolutely can! Please be sure to use your DPM address. That’s the address that typically has Dulles, VA as the city and state versus the DPO that has AA, AE, or AP as the state.
How long does it take for my coffee delivery?
Upon leaving our roaster, your coffee will usually be delivered in 3-7 days.
As of March 23, 2021, we roast and ship out 1 time per week (usually Tuesdays), meaning you can have your coffee as early as Thursday!
As the coffee does cross international borders, there are rare instances when it is held by customs for further inspection. These inspections are completely unpredictable and, as our logistics brokers have informed us, usually random. When this has happened to us (7 times in the past 3 years), there is usually an additional 1-3 day wait.
We have had even rarer experiences in which the packages are held longer. This has happened to us 3 times in the past 3 years. Luckily it’s very rare, but we wanted to mention it because it’s better to be transparent, right? We work hard to make sure that we do all our paperwork perfectly so any delays are never our fault and we continue to work closely with our logistical partners to reduce as many risks as possible.
Where can I find when the next shipment to the US is?
This information is super easy to find on a laptop or desktop. Just check the top of any page and you will see a black banner that specifies the date.
As a general rule of thumb, we ship out every Tuesday.
I placed an order on Friday, when will I get my coffee?
As we usually roast on Tuesdays, and ship out the same day, so the earliest you will most likely receive your coffee is the following Thursday.
Will I receive an email confirmation for my order?
Please be aware an automated email is sent to you to the given email address when:
-Your order is placed
-Your order is completed (roasted and packed)
From there, you will receive an email with your UPS tracking number on it.
If you are missing any of these emails, please check all folders (including you junk) as it will come from an automatic server. To ensure emails reach you, add the domain chicabean.com to your contacts list. If you are still missing any of these emails, please contact abbigail@chicabean.com for support.
Can I track my item?
You absolutely can! You will be sent an email with your tracking numbers when we get them from UPS, usually Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
Just copy the number in the email, go to www.ups.com, click “Track a Package”, and paste the tracking number in the box.
Why am I being charged for shipping on my order that's a subscription or over $75?
In all honesty, this is a mistake and please bring it to my attention so I can get you a refund ASAP and fix it.
Running an e-commerce website requires all sorts super detailed things, and, as someone with a social science degree, limited computer science experience, and not much patience with technology, I sometimes miss some things. I apologize for that, appreciate your patience, and promise I’m getting better at this!
Is a signature required for my package?
No, unless you have specified in your UPS account that you require a signature.
Do I have to pay Customs & import charges since it's coming from the US?
Nope! No worries about all that fun stuff, we take care of it all so all you have to do is pay, sit back and relax as you wait for your coffee to be delivered to your doorstep.
Can I collect from a local store?
We do not currently have a brick & morder store, just e-commerce, but if you’d prefer to purchase our specialty coffee at a store, feel free to contact us with your location and we’s be happy to pass you the information of the nearest store/coffee shop that serves Chica Bean.
Do you deliver on Weekend?
As a heads up, UPS does not deliver on Sundays, although that’s usually not an issue since we generally ship out at the beginning of the week.
I'm new, how do I order coffee roasted in Guatemala?
First off, bienvenidos!
Ordering is simple, we’ve worked to deliver you coffee that truly benefits the community it comes from while being just as convenient for you as any roaster in the US. Just go to the shop page, find the product that most calls your attention (or try out a Bundle or Sample Pack to explore more than 1 coffee!), add that coffee to your cart, click the cart symbol in the upper right hand corner, and check out as you normally would.
Since you’re new, be sure to sign up for the newsletter to receive a coupon code that’ll save you 10% off your first purchase!
Is it safe to order online?
Yes! While we may be new comers to e-commerce with more experience in social sciences than computer science, we had stopped at nothing to provide a completely safe online shopping experience. Your privacy and safety are the most important things for us.
We use industry standard SSL encryption to protect your details. All payment information is encoded so they can only be read on the secure payment platform servers. We specifically use PayPal and Square. This information is authenticated to ensure it only gets sent to the secure server and is checked to make sure it has not been tampered with during transfer.
Security checks are also made on all transactions, to ensure the authenticity of each card payment, including all automatically reoccurring subscription payments.
We also use antispam plugins and ReCaptcha to ensure our site is free of spam and bots.
We’ve even had experiences where our security caused inconveniences as it would require users to manually reenter data, even after it’s been saved. Safer is always better.
Which credit cards do you accept?
We accept all cards, no worries!
How do I apply a promotional code?
You can add a valid promotion code in the check out. It’s the very first prompt you’ll see during check out, before your personal information and everything!
Where is my order?
Most of our deliveries are sent via UPS and we will send you an automated email with the tracking number of your order. You can also find the tracking number on your order in My Account
Is it possible to change the address/cancel or amend my order?
Due to the high volume of orders we receive, we cannot make any promises that orders and can changes, but we will try our hardest to meet your needs. For any changes to your order, please write us immediately after placing the order. We can attempt to stop or amend your order with our dispatch team, if it is not possible, we will advise you on the next steps.
Can I have an update on my order status?
You can get an update on your order status by checking your order in your My Account section. You will need to [sign in] to access this area
I have a new email address, and I am unable to reset my password. How do I change my password?
We are able to change the email address for you, provided you are able to answer some security questions. We take data privacy very seriously and need to verify who you are. After your email address is validated and changed, you can request a new password online.
What do I do if I have received a damaged package?
In our history, we have had a few instances were an overzealous customs worker opens up packages of coffee. If you receive your coffee and it has been opened, please:
– Take a picture of the damage, including the box/packaging
– Write abbigail@chicabean.com ASAP and include those pictures
We understand the detail required to import into the US and as such always make sure to dot our ‘i’s and cross our ‘t’s to avoid any issues. If this every happens, our brokers are required to open an investigation with customs as to why product was destroyed. We will receive a refund for all damaged products, as well as shipping, making it out top priority to get you more coffee ASAP.
How do I make a complaint?
If you are not happy about any service we offer or you have a general comment, feel free to write to us at abbigail@chicabean.com
What is the Chica Bean Affiliate Program?
We are looking for amazing people to become a part of our community and believe connecting through word-of-mouth is one of the best ways to do so. We also believe harnessing the power of like-minded bloggers, influencers, and everyday coffee lovers can be our biggest source of growth.
As such, we’re developing a simple, easy to use Affiliate program that rewards our current community that helps us grow. For every sale that comes from the individual, assigned link, the affiliate receives a certain percentage kickback.
We use an Affiliate Program plugin on our website so it is all automatically registered in our system to ensure that all commissions are correctly assigned.
If you are a female entrepreneur, female or minority owned business, or nonprofit organization, we especially want to team up with you. Be sure to mention that information when you contact us!
How can I become an Affiliate?
If you or your organization are interested in becoming an Affiliate or Chica Bean Ambassador, to help spread our good word and coffee, while also getting some $$$ in return, please write abbigail@chicabean.com to get all the details and started today!