Last Updated on October 2, 2021 by John Moretti
Gourmet coffee brands have become very popular in recent years and provide unique and fun varieties for a variety of different tastes. However, it’s getting hard to know which of these brands are worth your time or not. For example, Lifeboost has become a very well-known gourmet coffee option in recent years. So are they worth your time and money? Let’s take a look at this company to get an idea.
Lifeboost Coffee produces gourmet coffee that focuses on ethical and organic growing methods. They make big claims in their advertising and seem to want to position themselves as a leader in the industry. They mostly do seem to live up to their potential as a brewer and are an exciting option to consider. However, there are downsides that you should understand before trying out this brand.
Pros and Cons of Lifeboost Coffee Beans
All coffee has upsides and downsides that make them worth considering. Lifeboost is no different. While my research definitely found far more positives than negatives, not all is perfect with this brand. Make sure you read through these concerns and weigh them to understand what to expect fully. Doing so will ensure that you don’t make the wrong purchasing choice for your needs.
The Benefits of Lifeboost Coffee
After trying out Lifeboost Coffee and researching its brand, I can definitely say that it has many advantages worth considering. Each of these benefits shows that they genuinely care about their coffee quality and do what they can to make it worth your choice. Just a few advantages that you’re likely to experience when trying this unique blend of flavors include:
- Delicious Taste – While Lifeboost isn’t 100% my favorite coffee beans, it’s hard to deny that it doesn’t have a great taste and aroma. I think that most coffee fans will enjoy their blend of low-acid and high-taste beans, though again, that will vary on a person-by-person basis.
- Organic Growing Methods – The legitimacy of Lifeboost’s organic claims cannot be disputed. Their USDA certification shows that they take the necessary steps to earn this acclaim. Their pesticide-free and shade-grown design help to produce a healthier and safer coffee bean.
- Multiple Varieties – While I ultimately felt that most Lifeboost coffees had a pretty similar taste, I liked their focus on variety. Their decaf options are particularly interesting because not enough brewers take the time to provide this choice for those who don’t want a high caffeine content in their coffee.
- Surprisingly Good Cold Brew – You might think that a smaller company like Lifeboost would lag in the taste department for cold brews compared to their competitors. That is simply not the case. Lifeboost can produce a high-quality cold brew coffee that will fit many taste profiles.
I also liked their single-origin design, their lack of Mycotoxins, and their low-acid nature. On a broader scale, I was happy to find that they paid higher rates to their coffee farmers and worked with Direct Trade sources. In this way, they provide a perfect example for other small-scale and small-batch brewers. However, there are concerns that should be addressed before you try them out.
The Cons of Lifeboost Coffee
Here comes the part of the article I know many of you were waiting to read: the negatives surrounding Lifeboost. With such high acclaim and reviews throughout the online world, it’s fair to say that many people want to know what concerns they might experience with this brewer. I’m happy to say that there aren’t many you need to worry about here. Just a few you might notice include:
- Fairly High-Priced – As I’ve highlighted before throughout this article, you’re going to pay more for Lifeboost. You might find yourself spending double what you would for a standard or traditional brand of coffee. You do get what you pay for in quality, but those on a budget may find it hard to justify.
- May Seem Monotonous to Some – Single-origin coffee beans are both a good and bad thing. They’re good because they produce a very consistent and high-quality cup of coffee. However, they’re also an issue if you want a diverse array of tastes. Lifeboost does what it can to diversify, but single-origin beans usually produce uniform coffee tastes.
- Not a Good Blend With Coffee Additives – Do you like using sugar, creamer, or any other type of additive with your coffee? Lifehouse may not be the brand for you. Its taste simply doesn’t go well with most of these additives, though that will again depend on your subjective preferences, of course.
Do these downsides mean that you shouldn’t try out Lifeboost? Not exactly. However, they are essential to highlight because they could affect your enjoyment. For example, you might find it hard to drink your standard 3-4 cups of coffee when you know each cup is so expensive. Or you might find the various coffee varieties a little too similar in taste and not worth your investment.
What is Lifeboost Coffee?
Lifeboost is a unique company that claims to source all of its beans from the Nicaraguan mountains. They choose this area because they believe that it produces the best Arabica coffee beans in the world. In addition, they focus on beans grown without pesticides and which have been certified as organic, bird-friendly, and Fair Trade. This single-origin option has become a popular choice with many gourmet brewers.
Why is that the case? Single-origin brewing helps to minimize unnecessary or unwanted taste varieties in coffee beans. Multi-origin coffees may have surprise undertones and vary heavily from bag to bag, depending on the beans used and how they are prepared. Single-origin coffee cuts out this potential risk by focusing entirely on one bean. In this way, you get a very consistent cup of coffee every time you brew.
Lifeboost also focuses on beans with a low-acid content to produce a coffee that is very gentle on the stomach. What is interesting is that they make this claim for their light, medium, and dark roasts. You probably know that light-roast coffees typically have a high acid count (and if you didn’t, you do know). However, Lifeboost claims to cut back on this acidity to make their coffee gentler.
As you’d expect, a gourmet brand like this is not a cheap option. While Lifeboost is nice enough to provide many incentives (such as saving 50% on your first order), you’re going to pay more for this brand than you would others. Is this extra price worth it? In many ways, yes, if I’m to be honest. Lifeboost coffee is very good. But it might not be right for everybody.
Their Unique Coffee Experience
Before delving into the pros and cons of Lifeboost, it’s worth knowing more about their story. They were founded by Dr. Charles Livingston (I presume), a chiropractor who wanted a better cup of coffee. He wanted not only a higher level of taste but a healthier experience. His ultimate goal was to produce organic coffee with no pesticides or poison exposure. And it seems that they’ve reached their goal.
They claim to grow all their beans on a small plantation 5,700 feet in the area. Surrounding guava trees provide shade for their beans and also help contribute to soil health. Each bean is hand-picked and washed in spring water. Lifeboost works hard to meet Fair Trade guidelines, meaning that coffee pickers and workers are treated fairly and paid competitive wages for their hard work.
Before preparing any of their beans, Lifeboost takes the time to test for over 400 different Mycotoxins. These toxins can cause upset stomachs and even contribute to long-term damage if exposed to in high levels. Lifeboost states that they do not and will not sell beans with Mycotoxins. If they find any on their beans, those beans are thrown away, and the growing environment is tested and checked for toxins.
Like all brewers, Lifeboost focuses on a four-stage production method. In the first stage (sourcing), they identify what they believe are the top 0.05% coffee beans in the world from their single crop. They then roast beans in small batches, based on your order. This step is what seems to set them apart from others. Rather than mass-roasting beans, they focus on providing beans by the order.
This step helps to ensure a higher level of freshness with each bag of coffee. Once roasted, the coffee is then sealed in air-tight bags that keep your coffee fresh until it arrives. Here’s another fascinating difference between this manufacturer and other brewers: they ship directly to you and not to stores. As a result, your coffee will be even fresher than you’d expect from other sources.
They also provide a membership club that you can join that will save up you up to 48% on each delivery. I want to point out that these discounted prices are still much higher than you’d pay for your standard cup of coffee. Is this extra price worth it? Let’s review a few of the most popular brews before making the ultimate decision on the value of this fascinating coffee company.
Coffee Varieties Available
Lifeboost produces many high-quality blends that are more than worth your consideration. While I did find that the underlying flavors between the light, medium, and dark options were very similar, that wasn’t a significant deterrent. I liked all three! However, I know that some coffee drinkers may expect a wider variety of taste options. Keep that in mind when trying out this company’s blends.
Light
Lifeboost produces a pretty good light roast variety, which I found had a little less acidity than other light brews on the market. Understand, though, that it will still have more acidity than different Lifeboost coffees. Lighter roasts simply have that extra kick that may not appeal to some. Don’t try this option for a cold brew or pour over: light roasts just don’t go well with these methods, and Lifeboost is no different.
Medium
I find that medium roasts are the “neither fish nor fowl” of the coffee world. They are less acidic than light brews and have less of a smoky aftertaste than dark brews. I would suggest the medium Lifeboost blend as a starter option for most people. It works very well with a French Press and can even produce a relatively mild espresso. That said, Lifeboost also has espresso beans worth trying.
Dark
Honestly, I think that Lifeboost’s best brew is this blend right here. It has that smoky, earthy, and chocolate-rich flavor that I crave from a dark-roasted blend. The sweetness typical with the dark roast is particularly potent with this option. And since Lifeboost focuses on low-acid beans, this variety is their least acidic option. I’d ultimately end up buying this brew if you’re interested in Lifeboost.
Espresso
Espresso fans rejoice: Lifeboost makes one of the better espresso beans I’ve ever tried. Though the brew is very acidic for most brands, Lifeboost is clever enough to produce a medium-acid blend. This step is brilliant because it makes espresso easier for more people to enjoy. That said, you may also find that it lacks a bit of the acid punch that makes espresso so fascinating as a drink.
Flavored Coffee
Lifeboost produces various flavored beans, including Hazelnut, Pumpkin Spice, White Russian, Caramel Macchiato, Highlander Gross, and French Vanilla. These help to change up the taste profile of Lifeboost and make it more enjoyable for those who crave diversity in their coffee.
What Advantages Do They Advertise?
All coffee companies make big claims about their blends. For example, even a firm as simple as Folgers claims that their coffee is the best part of waking up (I’d tend to disagree with that). However, Lifeboost has bolder claims than average, and the validity of these claims must be understood. Our research found that most of what Lifeboost claimed they did was accurate, though some vary based on subjective observation.
Ethical Growing Methods
As mentioned before, Lifeboost focuses on ethical growing to minimize its impact on the world. They include certifications from the USDA for organic, single-origin, and shade-grown beans. They also have Fair Trade certification, certification for third-party Mycotoxin testings, and are also considered kosher. In addition, they actively sponsor the Rainforest Trust and do what they can to minimize their environmental impact. Unfortunately, we found very few companies have the accolades of Lifeboost.
High-Quality Growing Process
We touched on the growing situation preferred by Lifehouse earlier in this article. They grow on a single plantation at more than 5,700 feet above sea level. This higher altitude slows down coffee cherry growth, which produces a higher concentration of nutrients and vitamins. They also grow their beans in the shade, which helps to cut back on sun damage. Shade-grown beans have become something of a trend in coffee circles in recent years and seem to be the future for all serious organic growers.
Worthwhile Taste
Lifeboost claims that all of these growth processes and careful selection of growing environments help to produce a better-tasting coffee bean. Of course, this claim is highly subjective. One person’s perfect coffee beans is another person’s least favorite. However, I found that their beans competed with the best I’ve had on the market. I don’t know if I’d call them the best for my taste, but I definitely enjoyed each cup I drank. I can easily see many people calling Lifeboost their all-time favorite coffee bean.
Potential Benefits
Lifeboost’s biggest goal is to produce a healthier and safer coffee bean. I think that they mostly achieved this goal. Their careful testing for Mycotoxins and their certified organic growing methods show their willingness to protect their many customers. They also work hard to breed naturally low-acid coffee beans to help make them settle easier on the stomach. And their slow-growth process is based on scientifically proven methods for improving the quality and health value of coffee beans.
Should You Try Lifeboost Coffee?
Here’s the million-dollar question: is Lifeboost worth it? Well, that probably depends on many factors. We know that some coffee fans (even those who like gourmet blends) are going to balk at the price. As we mentioned, that’s the biggest concern I have with this blend. But, on the other hand, is it economically feasible for the average person to enjoy Lifeboost Coffee regularly? Honestly, I don’t think that’s the case.
However, if you have a pretty high coffee budget and want high-quality coffee, I can honestly say that Lifeboost is an excellent option for you. Their coffee is delicious, and their organic growing methods are acclaimed. Their many, many certifications prove that they put their money where their mouth is when it comes to producing high-quality, organic blends. They’re not just blowing smoke: they’re the real deal.
Does that mean you should automatically try them out? That does depend on more than just your budget. Lifeboost blends tend to have a reasonably smooth but natural taste. They don’t do much to alter the flavors of their coffee, preferring the natural taste of their beans. They’re also single-origin, which means most of their coffee varieties ultimately taste pretty similar to each other.
That said, if you love Central American coffee, you’ll likely find Lifeboost fits your needs. The single-origin consistency ultimately means that you’re going to get a great cup of coffee, no matter what type you try. And even if the flavor is finally very similar between each variety, you always know what you’re going to get. For picky coffee fans, that’s something of a godsend.
Ultimately, I think budget and taste will dictate whether Lifeboost is right for you. If you want a high-quality and consistent source of coffee that uses organic and Fair Trade growing methods, it’s hard to imagine a better option. Just know that you’re going to be paying more for each cup you drink. Seek out various codes and discounts when shopping with this brewer to get the best results for your needs.
Final Verdict
Lifeboost Coffee is a legitimate company that offers a surprisingly excellent array of different coffee blends and flavors. But does that mean that they’re automatically worth your time? I would suggest at least trying them out if you’re a big coffee fan who is concerned about the environmental impact of growing.
They have a no-risk membership program that doesn’t require a high level of commitment. You can make orders as you like or never make orders again. Try it out and see what you think! You might be surprised. Or you might end up sticking to your standard cup of java – who could blame you?
