Terms of Use

Terms and Conditions

These Terms govern your access to, and usage of all content, Product, and Services available at https://capitolcitycoffee.com website (the “Service”) operated by Capitol City Coffee (“us”, “we”, or “our”).

Your access to our services is subject to your acceptance, without modification, of all of the terms and conditions contained herein and all other operating rules and policies published and that may be published from time to time by us.

Please read the Agreement carefully before accessing or using our Services. By accessing or using any part of our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to any part of the terms of the Agreement, then you may not access or use our Services.

Intellectual Property

The Agreement does not transfer from Us to you any of our or third party intellectual property, and all rights, title, and interests in and to such property will remain (as between the parties) solely with Capitol City Coffee and its licensors.

Third-Party Services

In using the Services, you may use third-party services, products, software, embeds, or applications developed by a third party (“Third Party Services”).

If you use any Third Party Services, you understand that:

  • Any use of a Third Party Service is at your own risk, and we shall not be responsible or liable to anyone for Third Party websites or Services.
  • You acknowledge and agree that We shall not be responsible or liable for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of any such content, goods or services available on or through any such websites or services.

Accounts

Where the use of any part of our Services requires an account, you agree to provide us with complete and accurate information when you register for an account.

You will be solely responsible and liable for any activity that occurs under your account. You are responsible for keeping your account information up-to-date and for keeping your password secure.

You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account that you use to access the Service. You shall not share or misuse your access credentials. You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized uses of your account or upon becoming aware of any other breach of security.

Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to all or any part of our Services at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice, effective immediately.

If you wish to terminate the Agreement or your Capitol City Coffee account, you may simply discontinue using our Services.

All provisions of the Agreement which by their nature should survive termination shall survive termination, including, without limitation, ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity, and limitations of liability.

Disclaimer

Our Services are provided “AS IS.” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis. Capitol City Coffee and its suppliers and licensors hereby disclaim all warranties of any kind, express or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. Neither Capitol City Coffee, nor its suppliers and licensors, make any warranty that our Services will be error-free or that access thereto will be continuous or uninterrupted. You understand that you download from, or otherwise obtain content or services through, our Services at your own discretion and risk.

Jurisdiction and Applicable Law

Except to the extent any applicable law provides otherwise, the Agreement and any access to or use of our Services will be governed by the laws of the USA.

The proper venue for any disputes arising out of or relating to the Agreement and any access to or use of our Services will be the state and federal courts located in the USA.

Changes

Capitol City Coffee reserves the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms at any time.

If we make changes that are material, we will let you know by posting on our website, or by sending you an email or other communication before the changes take effect. The notice will designate a reasonable period of time after which the new terms will take effect.

If you disagree with our changes, then you should stop using our Services within the designated notice period, or once the changes become effective.

Your continued use of our Services will be subject to the new terms.

How Capitol City Coffee Rates Coffee and Coffee Machines

Every coffee and coffee machine we recommend is scored on the same 100-point scale, so a recommendation on one page means the same thing as a recommendation on any other. Each pick is also labeled with how we reached its score.

Research-ratedScored from the roaster or manufacturer’s published specifications, independent results such as Coffee Review blind cuppings and SCA brewer certification, and patterns across verified buyer reviews. Most of our current picks are research-rated.
Hands-on testedThe Capitol City Coffee team has brewed the coffee or used the machine ourselves, following the testing steps below. We only use this label when that testing actually happened, and we show the date we tested.

Coffee beans: 100-point scale

What we scorePointsWhat we look at
Origin and sourcing transparency20Country, region, farm or cooperative, altitude, bean variety, and processing method are clearly disclosed.
Flavor evidence25Independent cupping scores, how closely the tasting notes match what the origin is known for, and our own cupping notes when hands-on tested.
Roast and freshness15Roast level stated, roast-date practices, whole-bean availability, and packaging with a one-way valve or resealable bag.
Brew versatility15How well the roast suits pour-over, drip, French press, cold brew, and espresso.
Value15Price per ounce compared with similar single-origin coffees or blends.
Buyer feedback10Volume and consistency of verified reviews, and recurring complaints about staleness, bitterness, or shipping.

Coffee machines and gear: 100-point scale

What we scorePointsWhat we look at
Brewing performance25Water temperature in the 195–205°F range, even extraction, and SCA certification or published test data.
Build quality and reliability20Materials, known failure points, and long-term owner reports.
Ease of use and cleaning15Setup, the daily routine, descaling, and dishwasher-safe parts.
Fit for your kitchen10Capacity, counter footprint, and noise.
Useful features10Programming, grind and temperature control, and carafe type. Features that improve the cup count more than extras that do not.
Value10Price compared with machines that perform similarly.
Warranty and support10Warranty length, parts availability, and how the brand handles repairs.

What the grades mean

ScoreGradeWhat it means
90–100AExceptional. Our first recommendation for the feeling and setting described.
80–89BStrong. Excellent, with minor trade-offs we explain.
70–79CGood. Worth it for specific needs, with clear compromises.
Below 70—Not recommended. We do not feature these as picks.

How we test hands-on

When a pick carries the Hands-on tested label, this is the method behind it, and we note the date we tested.

  1. Coffee: brewed fresh from whole beans following Specialty Coffee Association guidelines (water between 195 and 205°F, about 1 gram of coffee to every 15 to 18 grams of water) in the brew methods the roast suits best, such as pour-over, French press, or espresso. We taste it black first, then with milk if that is how most people drink it, and each taster scores it on their own before we compare notes.
  2. Machines: used in our everyday routine rather than a single demo. We brew both full and small batches, check the brewing temperature and brew time, and run the cleaning or descaling steps the manual calls for.

How we choose the feeling and setting

We match each coffee to a mood and a moment based on its flavor profile and roast. Bright, citrusy light roasts suit energizing mornings. Chocolatey, full-bodied medium roasts suit slow or social moments. Richer roasts suit espresso and milk drinks. Each pick explains which facts led us to that match.

Our scores stay independent

Every score comes only from the criteria above. No brand can pay for a pick or a higher grade. We re-check ratings when a roast, listing, or model changes, and update or remove picks that no longer earn their grade.

Some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Capitol City Coffee earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Questions about a rating? Reach the Capitol City Coffee team through our contact page.