Ember Coffee FAQ

Most coffee is roasted in a spinning metal drum where beans contact a hot surface. Ember uses fluid-bed (hot-air) roasting, the approach pioneered by Sivetz and other early air-roast innovators, where convection lifts and roasts the beans evenly in superheated air instead of scorching them on metal. We combine modern AI-assisted roast engineering with that convection-based heating so each batch stays even, clean, and less bitter. This is not the same as industrial “flash roasting,” which is a different high-heat, high-speed process.

Many customers with sensitive stomachs prefer Ember because air roasting tends to produce a smoother, less harsh cup than typical drum-roasted coffee. Everyone’s stomach is different. If you’re highly sensitive, try a smaller bag or our decaf first.

No. Darker roasting alone doesn’t make coffee truly gentle. Ember’s approach is the roast method, fluid-bed hot-air roasting, not “roast it darker and call it low acid.”

No. We don’t use chemical treatments or steam processes to strip acid. The difference comes from how we air-roast.

We’re not a medical product and can’t treat reflux or GERD. A lot of people who find regular coffee harsh prefer Ember’s air-roasted profile. If you have a medical condition, check with your clinician.

Yes. Our coffee is third-party lab tested for mold and mycotoxins. We don’t publish the lab name or testing schedule publicly. If you need more detail for a dietary need, email help@embercoffee.co and we’ll help however we can.

No. Fluid-bed roasting doesn’t remove caffeine. A regular Ember roast has a normal caffeine range for specialty coffee. Want less? Choose a half-caff option if shown on the product page, or our decaf.

We roast in small batches in Big Lake, MN and ship quickly. Bags carry a roast date. Coffee often tastes best in the days after roast as it degasses, timing that usually lines up with delivery.

Whole bean stays fresher longer, so grind just before brewing if you can. Prefer ground? Pick your grind at checkout. Grind choice isn’t returnable once fulfilled, even unopened, so double-check before you buy. Not sure yet? A 4 oz sample bag is the low-risk way to try a coffee first.

Yes. Several Ember coffees are available as K-Pods.

Our decaf uses Swiss Water or sugar-cane (ethyl acetate) processed methods, depending on the lot. Email help@embercoffee.co if you need to know which one is in the bag you’re buying.

Look at the label on the front of your bag. It names the farm, the region, the elevation, and the variety of the actual lot inside. Some of our coffees we source directly, and the rest come through importers who specialize in traceable green. We pay around three times the commodity price for it either way. Certifications work per coffee rather than across the whole shelf, so some lots are certified organic and some aren’t. Each product page lists what that coffee carries.

Keep it cool, dark, and airtight. The bag’s one-way valve is fine, or use a sealed canister. Skip the fridge, it can pull in odors. Freeze only if fully airtight and you won’t open it often.

Use fresh water, a consistent grind, and don’t over-extract (too fine or too long). For a dialed-in recipe for your gear, use our brewing fundamentals guide.

If you’re new, start with a house favorite like Young Lions or browse bestsellers. Prefer a guided pick? Take the Find Your Coffee quiz or try Roaster’s Choice. Sensitive stomach? Begin with a classic air-roasted blend before flavored options.

• One-time orders: free standard shipping on orders $65+ in the contiguous U.S.
• Subscriptions: free shipping on every 2+ bag subscription shipment (mix and match).

We typically process and dispatch within about three business days. Most contiguous U.S. orders then arrive in about four business days in transit via USPS Priority or UPS Ground. You’ll get tracking by email.

Promotions rotate. Check the site banner, email, or social for the current new-customer offer. Popup and checkout codes change, so use whatever is live when you order.

Not at this time. We currently ship within the U.S. only.

Free standard shipping applies to the contiguous U.S. only. For Alaska or Hawaii, shipping is available at checkout rates and is not included in free standard shipping. Enter your address at checkout to see options.

Ember Circle subscriptions are flexible. Skip, pause, swap coffee, or cancel anytime in your account, with no contracts. You’re charged when each order processes so we can roast fresh, and first orders usually ship within two business days.

Ember Circle is our online subscription membership. Perks include free shipping on 2+ bag subscription shipments, 3× reward points, a $5 credit after your 2nd shipment, a $20 credit after your 4th, and a private virtual barista session after your 8th. No contracts, and you can skip, pause, or cancel anytime.

Yes, if it hasn’t shipped yet. Email help@embercoffee.co as soon as you can with your order number. Once it’s with UPS or USPS we can’t cancel, but we can help with tracking or a return if the item qualifies.

Email help@embercoffee.co with your order number and photos for damage or wrong items. For packages marked delivered but missing, contact us and the carrier and we’ll help make it right.

Contact help@embercoffee.co first. We accept returns on unopened apparel, mugs, brewing equipment, and subscription coffee within 14 days from delivery, refunded after our roastery team inspects it. Opened coffee isn’t refundable, and that includes not liking the flavor. Wrong grind isn’t eligible either, even unopened, because we can’t return ground coffee to stock. Prepaid subscriptions and gift purchases aren’t returnable. If an item is damaged or we made the error, we’ll make it right.

Use the tracking link in your shipment email first, and check spam. Still stuck? Email help@embercoffee.co with your order number and we’ll dig in.

No, they’re two different systems and aren’t interchangeable. Café gift cards can be purchased online and are for the Big Lake coffeehouse. Website gift cards are for embercoffee.co orders only and can’t be redeemed in the café. Choose based on where the gift will be used. Need help picking? Email help@embercoffee.co.

No. Ember Circle covers subscriptions, shipping perks, shipment credits, and online rewards on our website. In-café loyalty at Big Lake runs on TapMango, which is also tied to our mobile app. Points and balances don’t carry over between the two, so use Ember Circle online and TapMango or the app in the café.

Yes, roasted in Big Lake, Minnesota. We’ve been named a Minnesota’s Best Gold Winner for Best Coffee, Coffeehouse, and MN-Made Product (2023–2026).

Yes. Our coffeehouse and roastery is at 450 Jefferson Blvd., Ste. 1, Big Lake, MN 55309, just off Highway 10. Hours are Mon–Fri 6am–4pm and Sat–Sun 7am–4pm. Check Visit Us for holiday changes. Phone: (612) 416-2588.

For cafés, offices, retail, or local pickup options, contact us and we’ll point you the right way. You can also use our store locator to find Ember on a shelf near you, or email help@embercoffee.co.