FAQ
what does born lucky taste like?
Chocolate, caramel and hazelnut. Smooth, naturally sweet and easy to drink, with just a hint of bright, orange-like acidity.
is it acidic?
Not particularly. Born Lucky has a small amount of pleasant brightness, but acidity is not the main event. Think orange, not lemon.
is it bitter?
We roast Born Lucky to bring out sweetness rather than roast flavor. You get chocolate, caramel and hazelnut instead of the burnt, bitter taste that can overpower darker coffee.
is this specialty coffee?
Yes. Born Lucky is specialty-grade Colombian Arabica coffee, but you do not need to be a coffee expert to enjoy it. It was made to taste good without turning your morning into a science experiment.
is born lucky good for everyday coffee?
That is exactly the point. Espresso, americano, latte, iced coffee, French press or your regular coffee maker—Born Lucky was designed to be the coffee you actually finish the bag of.
can i drink it with milk and sugar?
Absolutely. The chocolate, caramel and hazelnut profile holds up beautifully with milk, cream or sugar.
why does alterego only have one coffee right now?
Because we’re still small, and we’d rather build slowly than rush a lineup. We started with Born Lucky so we could get one everyday coffee exactly right, with a smooth, sweet, versatile and consistently good profile. We’re already working on what comes next, including smaller, more distinctive coffees, and we’re making sure the quality is there before we release anything new.
where does the coffee come from?
Born Lucky comes from Marsella, Risaralda, Colombia—the coffee town where our family grew up.
what does single origin mean?
It means the coffee comes from one defined origin instead of being blended with coffees from different countries or regions. In our case: Marsella, Risaralda.
what makes alterego different?
Our coffee takes the short way here. We buy directly from growers in Marsella, Risaralda, then keep the coffee within our own supply chain through drying, processing and roasting before flying it to New York. No maze of middlemen, no bouncing from warehouse to warehouse and no spending months sitting around before it reaches you. Just a much shorter trip from the farms to us—and from us to your cup.
how fresh is the coffee?
Freshness is one of the reasons ALTEREGO exists. We prioritize fresh batches and air transport instead of letting coffee spend unnecessary months moving through a long chain before it reaches you.
how should i brew born lucky?
However you normally drink your coffee. It works beautifully as espresso, drip coffee, French press, pour-over, moka pot or cold coffee.
do i need special equipment?
No. A good coffee should make your routine better, not more complicated.
what grind should i choose?
Choose whole bean if you grind at home. Fine works best for espresso and moka pot, medium for drip coffee makers and pour-over, and coarse for French press.
should i buy whole bean or ground?
Whole bean stays fresh longer, but if convenience wins in your house, choose ground. Coffee you actually make is better than coffee you intended to make.
how much is shipping?
Orders over $45 ship free. For smaller orders, shipping is calculated at checkout.
when will my order ship?
Orders usually leave us within 1–2 business days.
how long will my order take to arrive?
Most U.S. orders arrive within 3–5 business days after shipping.
where do you ship?
We currently ship throughout the United States.
how do i track my order?
As soon as your order ships, we will email you a tracking link.
what if my package is lost or arrives damaged?
Coffee should not become your problem before you even get to drink it. If your order arrives damaged or something goes wrong in transit, contact us and we will help make it right.
can i change or cancel my order after placing it?
Contact us as quickly as possible. If your order has not entered fulfillment yet, we will do our best to help.
can i return coffee?
Because coffee is a food product, we cannot accept returns of opened coffee. But if something is wrong with your order, contact us. We want to know and we will help.
what if i received the wrong coffee or grind?
Send us a message with your order number and we will help sort it out.
how does subscribe & save work?
Choose how often you want your coffee delivered and we will automatically send a fresh bag on your schedule. You save 10% on every subscription order.
can i skip a delivery?
Yes. Skip whenever you need to.
can i change how often my coffee arrives?
Yes. You can change your delivery frequency from your subscription account whenever your routine changes.
can i cancel anytime?
Yes. No commitment and no awkward cancellation process.
how often should i subscribe?
Every 2 weeks works well for serious coffee households, every 3 weeks is our sweet spot, and every 4 weeks works well for a more casual everyday drinker. You can change it whenever you need to.
do subscribers get free shipping?
Yes. Subscription deliveries ship free.
why subscribe instead of buying one bag at a time?
You save 10%, get free shipping and fresh-batch priority, and you do not have to remember to reorder when you are down to the last sad scoop.
who is behind alterego?
ALTEREGO was built between Colombia and New York by a brother and sister who grew up in a coffee town. Our family has been close to coffee for years, and today one side of the business stays close to the growers and production in Colombia while the other builds the brand in New York.
why is it called alterego?
One of us is all ideas. The other is all focus. Asterisk meets diamond. Somewhere in between, ALTEREGO happened.
why colombia?
Because it is home. We grew up in Marsella, Risaralda, surrounded by coffee. ALTEREGO is our way of bringing that coffee—and the place behind it—to New York without losing it somewhere along the way.