Death Wish Coffee built its name on one promise: very strong coffee that still tastes good. The skull and crossbones bags are now in grocery stores across the US, but the best price is on its own site, through a subscription called the Society of Strong Coffee. This guide covers how that subscription works, what it costs, how much caffeine you are really getting, and whether it is worth it.
Our take: if you already drink Death Wish, subscribing is a no brainer, because it is cheaper than buying single bags and shipping is free. If you are just curious, start with a 2 bag order and the 30% first shipment discount before committing.
How the Death Wish Coffee subscription works
There is no mystery box here. You choose the coffee you want, the quantity and the delivery frequency, and Death Wish ships it on that schedule. Core roasts and flavors are available for subscription starting at the 2 bag or 2 box option; single bags and single boxes are not eligible.
- Delivery every 30, 60 or 90 days, and you can swap products, add one time items to an upcoming shipment, or cancel from your account.
- Free shipping on subscription orders in the continental US.
- Early access to new releases, subscriber-only merch, double points days in the Ritual Rewards program and a sampling program.
Death Wish aims to ship orders within 1 business day, so the first delivery arrives fast.
Death Wish Coffee subscription prices
Regular prices on deathwishcoffee.com are $19.99 a bag for Dark, Medium, Light, Espresso and Blueberry, $15.99 for Valhalla Java, and $14.99 for a 10 count box of single serve pods. Subscriptions take a percentage off based on how much you order:
| Subscription size | Discount on later shipments |
|---|---|
| 2 bags | 15% off |
| 3 bags | 17% off |
| 5 bags or 5 lb | 20% off |
| 20 single serve pods | 10% off |
| 50 single serve pods | 20% off |
| 100 single serve pods | 25% off |
On top of that, your first subscription shipment is 30% off. In practice, 2 bags of Dark Roast cost $39.98 one time, about $34 on subscription, and about $28 on your first delivery. The bigger the order, the lower the price per pound, so the 5 lb option is the value pick for heavy drinkers.
One time orders also ship free over $50; below that, shipping is calculated based on your location. Death Wish offers a 15% discount for service members, veterans, first responders and teachers, verified through GovX ID.
What you can get on subscription
Death Wish has grown well past its original dark roast. The main subscription options are:
- Dark Roast: the original, with notes of dark chocolate and black cherry. Ground or whole bean, 1 lb bags.
- Medium Roast: smoother, with stone fruit and caramel notes, and a bit less caffeine.
- Light Roast (1 lb bags) and Espresso Roast (14 oz bags).
- Valhalla Java Odinforce Blend: a second organic and fair trade blend in 12 oz bags, a few dollars cheaper per bag.
- Flavored roasts like Blueberry, plus seasonal limited releases.
- Single serve pods in Dark, Medium, Light, Espresso, Valhalla Java and flavors like Vanilla and Chocolate Hazelnut.
Outside the subscription, the shop also sells instant coffee sticks, espresso capsules, canned cold brew lattes, cold brew cartons and a lot of merch, from mugs to hoodies.
How strong is Death Wish Coffee?
This is the question most people ask, and Death Wish answers it with real numbers. A 6 oz cup of Dark Roast has about 180 mg of caffeine, confirmed by an independent lab, when brewed at the recommended ratio of 2.5 tablespoons of coffee per 6 oz of water. Medium Roast comes in around 165 mg per 6 oz, the pods match the Dark Roast at about 180 mg, and the canned lattes have up to 140 mg per 11 oz can.
The strength comes from the blend. Death Wish mixes arabica beans for smooth flavor with robusta, which has almost twice the caffeine per bean. Keep in mind that caffeine varies with brew method, ratio and crop, and that a big travel mug holds a lot more than 6 oz. If you are sensitive to caffeine, Medium Roast or a smaller cup is a sensible start.
Is Death Wish Coffee good?
For a strong coffee, yes. The Dark Roast is bold but not burnt, and it holds up well with milk. Purists who drink light, fruity single origin coffee will find it heavy and one-note, but that is not who it is for. The coffee is also USDA Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified, which is not a given in the high caffeine niche, and the beans come from origins including Peru, India, Guatemala, Honduras, Ethiopia and Sumatra.
Is the subscription worth it?
If you drink Death Wish regularly, yes. You save 15% to 25% on every delivery, shipping is free, and you control the schedule. The main thing to watch is that you have to order at least 2 bags at a time, so light drinkers should pick the 60 or 90 day cadence to avoid a backlog.
Pros
- 30% off the first shipment, then up to 25% off
- Free shipping in the continental US
- Organic and fair trade, with published caffeine numbers
- Bags, pods and flavors all eligible
- Delivery every 30, 60 or 90 days, easy swaps
Cons
- Minimum of 2 bags or 20 pods per delivery
- Coffee cannot be returned
- Subscriptions only ship to the US and Canada
- Changes must be made 36 hours before shipping
Death Wish Coffee vs other coffee subscriptions
- Death Wish vs Stumptown: Stumptown is a specialty roaster with a wider range of blends and single origins. Pick it for flavor variety, Death Wish for strength.
- Death Wish vs Trade Coffee: Trade matches you with coffees from many independent roasters. Better if you want to explore; Death Wish is better if you know what you like.
- Death Wish vs Atlas Coffee Club: Atlas sends a single origin coffee from a different country each shipment, a travel themed discovery box.
- Death Wish vs Blue Bottle: Blue Bottle is a premium specialty roaster with lighter, more delicate coffees.
Also see Bean Box and Driftaway Coffee, or browse all coffee subscription boxes.
Death Wish Coffee promo codes
The most reliable discount is the subscription itself: 30% off your first shipment with no code. After that, Death Wish runs sales around launches and holidays, and members of its Ritual Rewards program earn points on every purchase. The 15% GovX discount covers military, first responders and teachers.
How to cancel or change your Death Wish subscription
Log into your account on deathwishcoffee.com, click Subscriptions in the left column, and you can cancel, swap products, change the frequency or update your shipping address. Billing is updated through a secure link sent by email, or directly in Shop Pay, Google Pay or PayPal if you pay that way. Any change or cancellation must be made at least 36 hours before the scheduled ship date; once an order is processed, it cannot be changed.
Frequently asked questions
Death Wish Coffee: your questions answered
How much caffeine is in Death Wish Coffee?
Death Wish says a 6 oz cup of its Dark Roast has about 180 mg of caffeine, confirmed by an independent lab, when brewed at its recommended 2.5 tablespoons per 6 oz of water. Medium Roast has about 165 mg. The canned cold brew lattes have up to 140 mg per 11 oz can.
Does Death Wish Coffee have a subscription?
Yes. It is called the Society of Strong Coffee. You save 30% on your first shipment and 10% to 25% on later ones depending on quantity, get free shipping in the continental US, and choose delivery every 30, 60 or 90 days.
How much is a Death Wish Coffee subscription?
Bags cost $19.99 a pound before discounts, and subscriptions start at 2 bags. With the 15% subscription discount, 2 bags of Dark Roast come to about $34 per delivery, and the first order is 30% off. Pods start at 20 per delivery.
Is Death Wish Coffee organic and fair trade?
Yes. Death Wish and Valhalla Java Odinforce Blend are USDA Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified. The beans come from origins including Peru, India, Guatemala, Honduras, Ethiopia and Sumatra.
Why is Death Wish Coffee so strong?
The blend mixes arabica for flavor with robusta, a bean with almost double the caffeine of arabica. The recommended brew ratio is also stronger than many people use at home.
How do I cancel my Death Wish Coffee subscription?
Log into your account on deathwishcoffee.com, open Subscriptions and cancel. Changes and cancellations must be made at least 36 hours before the scheduled ship date.
Can I return Death Wish Coffee?
Coffee is treated as a grocery item and cannot be returned, but Death Wish offers a money back guarantee if you contact them within 30 days of an order from its own site. The guarantee does not cover orders over $40, retail or third party purchases.
Does Death Wish Coffee ship outside the US?
Subscriptions ship only to the US and Canada. Canadian subscribers pay a flat $30 shipping fee, and Alaska and Hawaii subscribers pay $20. One time orders ship to many other countries, with shipping and customs calculated at checkout.
Questions & reviews
Have a question about this box?
Share a question, opinion or experience. Our team reads every message and will reply.