Makin’ Smiles Coffee answers the questions asked most often about ordering, shipping, roasting, and coffee care — from a family-run specialty coffee roastery in Palmyra, Virginia.
What happens after I place my order?
After you place an order with Makin’ Smiles Coffee, here’s exactly what happens:
- You’ll see an order confirmation page with an order number.
- You may get an email saying your order is on hold — that happens for every order, not just yours.
- Makin’ Smiles Coffee may call, text, or email to confirm or clarify your order details.
- The master roaster roasts your coffee to order.
- The order usually ships the next day.
- Your fresh coffee arrives and makes your mailbox smell incredible — that’s the SMILE part!
- Come back and rate the coffee you loved, so other customers know what to expect.
Is it possible to get coffee in less than 24 hours?
Yes — Makin’ Smiles Coffee offers same-day rush roasting for local pickup in Palmyra, Virginia. Text 530-227-0864 and start the message with “Rush Makin’ Smiles Coffee,” and same-day service will be arranged whenever possible, though it can’t be guaranteed every day.
How does shipping work?
Makin’ Smiles Coffee ships every order via USPS or UPS, with free shipping automatically applied at checkout on orders of $50 or more. Below that, shipping runs about $7.55 — close to the actual cost, since the margin on a bag or two of coffee isn’t enough to absorb free shipping on every order the way larger orders can. Full policy details are on the Shipping & Returns page.
Local pickup in Palmyra, Virginia is available at no charge — call or text 530-227-0864 to arrange it. Makin’ Smiles Coffee is also available at local farmers markets and partner locations around central Virginia; see the Where to Find Us Locally page for the full list.
Is anything added to the coffee?
No — Makin’ Smiles Coffee is only quality, specialty-grade, fresh-roasted coffee, with nothing added. The flavors listed on each product page are natural tasting notes present in freshly roasted coffee, not added flavoring or syrup. Professional tasters can pick up even more complex notes than what’s listed; Makin’ Smiles Coffee lists only the most prominent notes noticed by most coffee drinkers, since everyone tastes a little differently. Those tasting notes fade with time after roasting, and fade even faster once the coffee is ground — worth keeping in mind when deciding how much to buy at once.
Is Makin’ Smiles Coffee Third Wave Coffee?
Yes — Makin’ Smiles Coffee is part of the third wave coffee movement, which treats coffee as a craft product rather than a commodity. That means specialty-grade beans, small-batch roasting to order instead of mass production, single-origin coffees sold by name and region, and a roast date on every bag so freshness is never a guess — the same philosophy that separates a craft coffee roastery from a grocery-store can.
How do I choose between light, medium, and dark roast?
Roast level is about how long the beans stay in the roaster, not the type of bean. Light roasts keep more of the coffee’s original, often fruitier or brighter flavor notes. Medium roasts balance that origin flavor with a little more roasted sweetness. Dark roasts bring out bold, toasty, sometimes chocolatey notes, letting the roast itself shine through more than the bean’s origin. Browse Makin’ Smiles Coffee by roast level and read the tasting notes on each, or just ask — Makin’ Smiles Coffee is happy to help find a favorite.
My doctor told me to cut back on caffeine, but I love my coffee. What should I do?
Makin’ Smiles Coffee offers two options, depending on what a doctor recommends. For eliminating caffeine completely, the Decaf Mexican is fully caffeine-free and made with the Mountain Water Process, a chemical-free method that keeps the flavor most decaf coffees lose. For cutting back rather than quitting entirely, the Half Caff – Medium Roast is a real medium roast with roughly half the caffeine of a regular cup, so it doesn’t taste like a compromise. Either way, nobody has to settle for a flat, watery cup just to watch their caffeine intake.
How should I store my coffee at home to keep it fresh?
Keep coffee in an airtight container, away from light, heat, and moisture — a cabinet works better than next to the stove or in the fridge, since condensation isn’t coffee’s friend. Buy only what will be finished within 30 to 60 days of the roast date, since that’s the window where the flavor is best. Because Makin’ Smiles Coffee roasts to order, the roast date is usually very recent — just ask if you want to double-check freshness.
Can I get my coffee ground?
Yes — Makin’ Smiles Coffee grinds coffee at no extra charge. Whole beans hold their flavor better and stay fresh longer, but not everyone owns a grinder, and grinding is free on request. For the best flavor, grinding right before brewing is ideal, but Makin’ Smiles Coffee is glad to do it in advance too. If a brew method or grind preference isn’t listed on the product page, just describe it in the notes section at checkout and it’ll be accommodated.
What happens if I do not like the coffee and want to return it?
Makin’ Smiles Coffee does not accept coffee returns or offer refunds, since roasted coffee can’t be resold once it ships. If a bag doesn’t work out, email orders@makinsmilescoffee.com with a name, order number, and what didn’t work — Makin’ Smiles Coffee will talk it through and try to make it right, whether that’s a different roast recommendation or another fix. Full policy details are on the Shipping & Returns page.
What if I would like to cancel or change my order after placing it?
Makin’ Smiles Coffee can often cancel or change an order when contacted right away, since roasting and shipping happen quickly. Text 530-227-0864 with CANCEL or CHANGE at the start of the message, and Makin’ Smiles Coffee will confirm whether the change can be made. Once roasting has started and a shipping label is created, changes can’t be made without extra cost — reaching out fast is what makes a change possible.
Have another question? Contact Makin’ Smiles Coffee by call or text at 530-227-0864, by email at orders@makinsmilescoffee.com, or through the Contact page. Looking to order coffee for a business? Visit the Wholesale page for details, or browse the current coffee selection.