Did someone say coffee??

I’ve never been much of a coffee drinker.

This was a bit of an anomaly; I spent a summer as a Starbucks barista, and never really jumped into the espresso biz with much gusto. Now when I go to a coffee shop, I always order my soy chai latte and get on with my day, without giving much extra thought into the rest of the menu.

However, I’m a modern millennial woman with things to do. I’ve got goals, and not even my anti-morning stance will get in the way of what I aim to achieve each day. So, in an effort to put an end to my sleepy morning shenanigans (as well as decrease my Starbucks budget), I decided to order a coffee maker for our house.

Since my husband and I are new to the coffee drinking arena, we’ve explored different options for our homemade cuppa. It wasn’t long before I stumbled upon a new brand that sounded right up my alley: Coffee Over Cardio.

I like cardio even less than I like mornings. So, I gave the new brew a shot.

And—

I like it. I really like it.

The Taste

I never got into coffee drinking purely because the taste doesn’t appeal to me. Usually I take my blend with a crazy amount of cream and sugar, which makes for a unhealthy dose of not-worth-it.

With Coffee Over Cardio, the taste is something I can handle and enjoy without a ton of additives. I have tried the Messy Bun (Cinnamon Bun flavored) and Saturdaze (Chocolate Donut flavored) light roast options, which I picked because the names sound compatible to my sweet tooth. It was satisfied without being the main focus; more of a slight aroma rather than a large punch—a good balance for a morning wake up call.

I do pour a little bit of almond milk into my mug. I don’t need any sugar, though if I wanted to sweeten it up, a packet of stevia would do the trick without doing much harm.

When you open that bag of coffee for the first time, go ahead and take a hefty inhale. I especially liked the aroma of Messy Bun, which brings back memories of walking through the mall and begging my parents for a Cinnabon treat. It’s not overpowering, but it’s a rich smell that is almost as delicious as it tastes.

Saturdaze definitely has hints of chocolate, which goes well with any time of the day.

The Extras

I decided to get the most out of my order and go with a bundle. I received two bags of coffee and a T-shirt, which I plan to wear whenever I do the dreaded cardio.

I am a sucker for tees with fun writing and graphics on them, and they do tend to give me an extra dose of motivation when I work out. I like that this package offers a little more than just coffee as an additional perk.

There is also a java rewards program, where you can join for special perks and specials. I haven’t joined yet, but I think if you plan on ordering this stuff every month (I’m not that addicted to coffee yet, I am easing into things!), that would be the path to take.

When I placed my order, I also signed up for newsletters. I wanted to learn more about the business and what cardio has to do with coffee. I ended up unsubscribing, but I did enjoy a few days of emails that provided motivation to workout, as well as some exercise ideas. From their perspective, cardio and coffee go together when the coffee is healthy and gets your booty out of bed and into a routine that prioritizes well-being and exercise.

 The Business

Coffee Over Cardio is a fun online coffee shop. That’s about it. I’m not going to lie, there’s not much more to it. There isn’t a major cause that’s being supported, funds aren’t being donated, and the world will not change if you place an order.

It’s definitely geared and heavily marketed toward women, with feminine packaging and cutesy names and trendy verbage on the website. The newsletter has tips about working out and staying healthy, and seems a little superficial. If you don’t like that sort of thing, this isn’t for you. While I prefer gender-neutral products (coffee is for EVERYBODY), it’s a nice change to order from a company that is made for women by women.

There are also a few universally good things to note: the coffee has zero calories, is made from organic beans, has high caffeine, and boasts supporting clean energy. And, like I said, it tastes good.

The Code

Imagine, if you will, that I could ever step into Oprah’s shoes for just a moment:

You get a discount! And you get a discount!

That’s right: if you place an order with Cardio Over Coffee, you can enter a code and get a  10% off discount. When you do, I’ll also benefit and earn a little money from my referral. It’s a good gig. But most importantly, it’s a good product.

Here it is: 10savmarie

Enjoy your coffee, do some cardio if you must, and consider supporting your local recently-converted coffee drinking blogger. 🙂