I have a confession to make; I’ve been getting the Robb Vices Subscription Box for a few years now – and I LOVE IT! Why haven’t I reviewed it until now? I have no idea. Slacker? Too busy? Who knows…BUT…the time has come and I must share! Robb Vices started out as a subscription box geared toward men, but as time has gone on, it has become more of a unisex subscription with a slight bend toward those male-types. I am all woman, but I do enjoy the finer things in life and embrace my masculine side, so it totally works for me. (Plus, I have a few vices…)
Born out of the Robb Report Magazine, Robb Vices are hand-curated luxury items delivered directly to your door. Each box contains “storied treasures in the way of fine wines, foods, toys, tools, spirits, accessories and tech items delivered to your door along with a book published to tell their story”. The plans & pricing are as follows:
- Renewing Month to Month (1 Box) – $159.95 + shipping
- Renewing 3-Month Subscription (3 Boxes): $389.85 + shipping ($129.99 per box)
- Renewing Annual Bi-Monthly Subscription (6 Boxes): $659.30 + shipping ($109.88 per box)
- Renewing Yearly Subscription (12 boxes): $1199.40 + shipping ($99.95 per box)
They also offer gift subscriptions, and a new quarterly cigar subscription! Once subscribed, all members have exclusive access to Vices Reserves, which is “V.I.P. access to extraordinary products, experiences, and limited edition gift boxes”.
Use code KNOCK60 at checkout for $60 off any subscription (expires 1/25/19)
I am not a Robb Vices affiliate, and I pay for my subscription, but there may be other affiliate links within this post. Please note however, that I *never* accept compensation in exchange for a positive review. All of my reviews are my honest, personal opinions and contain my own photography (unless otherwise stated).
Robb Vices Review, November 2018
Robb Vices does packaging WELL. You get this beautiful black box with a HANDLE. Most boxes are heavy, so the handle is great. I love their logo, too. I know it is meant to be a “V” for “Vices” (or so I assume), but I see a goat-horned devil that is taunting me to submit to my vices. Perhaps it is just me. Ha!
Inside there is a foam cover showcasing their custom ‘story book’ for the box, and underneath is laser-cut foam that holds each item in order to prevent damage.
The presentation is beautiful, and probably the best packaged subscription box out there!
So here are the all the vices for November! I am a HUGE coffee junkie, so this box made me jump up & down and squeal with glee.
Each month a booklet is included that shares the story of the products and their makers, and is filled with valuable information and gorgeous photography! I read these from cover-to-cover and keep them in my library for future reference.
Being ‘CrazyDogMama’, I’m a bit partial to this month’s cover! 😉
As you can see, these booklets are very professional in presentation, and this month’s edition has 60+ pages! I have included a few photos below so that you can get an idea, but keep in mind that there is so much more!
Robb Vices is calling this box “A Love Letter to Coffee”.
The recipes are my favorite part! I tried these two, and you will see further along in this review how they turned out.
Each month in the back of the booklet, Robb Vices gives you the website information for the items included in the box.
It’s time to take a closer look at all the items!
Alessi ‘Pulcina’ 3-Cup Espresso Maker – Retail Value $90 (Found for $75.97 here.)
Modern-looking and made in aluminum casting, it measures 20 cm high and about 9 cm wide. It’s shape is what makes it possible to prepare the perfect cuppa Joe! It is a high performance espresso maker with a boiler that stops dispensing the drink at the right time before the coffee gets a bitter aftertaste. Leave it to the Italians! The Pulcina was designed by Michele de Lucchi, and combines the technology developed by illy caffè and the design experience of Alessi.
The coffee will then percolate into this area once it reaches the optimum temperature; which is then poured into your cup through the no-spill spout designed like a chick’s beak – hence it’s name ‘Pulcina’, according to the website.
It is small, and easily stored – much more space efficient than an espresso machine. And this is where my girlishness comes in; I love that it has red accents because my house colors are black, white, taupe and red – with stainless steel appliances! Could it be more perfect?
The valve on the base. The craftsmanship is incredible.
The base screws off from the unit, with a removable filter.
Replacement parts are available on the ALESSI website, so no worries there! NOTE: You can also remove the filter and seal from the bottom of the upper unit, but in the photo they are still attached.
Step 1: Fill the base up with cold filtered water up to the valve.
Step 2: Insert the filter and fill it with ground espresso/coffee; do NOT pack it down.
Step 3: Screw the base back on tightly and place on the stove on medium heat.
Step 4: Wait a few minutes and, VOILÀ! Strong-ass brew! Easy-peasy.
When they say ‘3 cups’, they mean 3 cups THIS size – all 3 of which I require each morning. I just set the Pulcina next to my cup and saucer and refill as needed. I am super impressed with this little espresso maker! It would be a great piece to take on a camping trip or to put in a cabin, too.
Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur – Retail Value $29.95
This is hands-down the best coffee liqueur I’ve ever tasted. I was expecting to like it, but I can only drink syrupy-sweet liqueurs in small amounts, so figured it would last me awhile. WRONG. This liqueur is smooth and replaces the usual overly sweet with more of a creamy coffee flavor that blew me away! I am SO IMPRESSED. As a coffee lover and daily connoisseur, I tend to enjoy my java without sugar or sweetener so that I can savor the taste of the bean. If you are like me, this is definitely the coffee liqueur for you!
Mr. Black is produced and bottled in Australia, and has apparently acquired quite the cult following! I am now among them.
I didn’t see it right away, but tilted in the light, the bottle has some etched artwork on it!
Okay, so the first order of business was to make the included recipe ‘The Espresso Martini“. Here it is in all it’s glory with 2 oz. of Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur, and 1 oz. of fresh espresso made with the Pulcina! I put both ingredients into a shaker with ice, then strained into a martini glass. It was an orgasm in a glass, people!
La Colombe ‘Corsica’ Whole Bean Coffee – Retail Value $13
La Colombe was founded in 1994 in Philadelphia, PA. The Corsica blend includes beans from Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Honduras, and is bold blend with hints of dark chocolate and cocoa.
I drink my coffee black for the most part, and I enjoy the bolder blends, so this coffee was perfect for me. It was smooth and flavorful and using it with the Pulcina guaranteed a non-burnt taste!
(3) La Colombe Draft Lattes in ‘Original’, ‘Vanilla’, and ‘Triple Draft’ – Retail Value $9 ($3 each)
Original Draft Latte: made from cold-pressed espresso, frothed milk, with just a pinch of sugar.
Vanilla Draft: made from cold-pressed espresso, frothed milk, a pinch of sugar, and a light touch of natural vanilla & maple.
Triple Draft: made from three shots of cold-pressed espresso, frothed milk, with just a pinch of sugar.
I do love a good plain latte, but I shy away from anything sweetened unless it has alcohol in it – so these will be blended with the Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur! I did note however, that they weren’t overly sweet, and I was excited that they were made from actual cold-brewed espresso, and not just regular coffee like so many of the popular ones out there are. I could see myself drinking these on a road trip!
Here’s the combo! “The Hard Iced Coffee“: 2 oz. Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur, and 1/2 can of La Colombe Vanilla Draft Latte poured over ice – MMMMMM!
Madame Paulette Professional Stain Remover Kit – Retail Value $8 (Regularly $39.99 for a 5-pack, but is on sale for $29.99 currently.)
Apparently I’m not the only one who spills coffee on their clothes…lol! This stain kit removes other stains, too, of course, but my #1 is definitely coffee. One time I was driving to a job interview, and went to take a sip of my latte, and BAM! Dribble, dribble, dribble down my light pant suit. Needless to say I had to reschedule the interview, and the stain never did really come out. The Madame Paulette 3-step stain remover kit would have come in quite handy back then! I haven’t used it yet, but everything I’ve read about it gives high marks. There are very few DIY stain removal products that work on silk and satin, so I am thrilled to have a chance to try it!
The pack is small and would fit easily into a purse or suitcase. If you are curious, you can read the actual story of the lady called Madame Paulette in the Robb Vices booklet.
They are not pictured, but there were also (2) 20% discount codes included in the box for Madame Paulette premium services and additional stain removal kits.
A coupon card was also included for 25% off of any NY Prime Beef order. If you are a foodie and enjoy fine cuisine, I would HIGHLY encourage you try NY Prime Beef – OMG soooooo good! A few boxes back, Robb Vices included a $150 gift certificate to this company and I received the best T-Bone steaks I’ve ever had IN MY LIFE. This is a little out of my budget at the moment, but as soon as it’s feasible, I will be trying it again for sure!
So what do you think of the November Robb Vices Box?!?
The total current retail value is $149.99, which is slightly lower than the month-to-month cost of the subscription at $159.95, but added value is there for the 3, 6 or 12 month subscriptions. I can see this bothering some people, but don’t forget that if you were to purchase each item separately on your own, you would be paying individually for tax and shipping costs, which would then exceed the cost of this box. You must also consider that some of the items can only be bought in bulk (like the draft lattes and the stain removal kit), as well as the fact that this box was specially curated with it’s own little book! Curation is a service, and I personally feel it is worth adding into the cost of the box. I was quite happy with this box because I will use every single item (the Mr. Black is pretty much gone!) and I also discovered some brands I really love. I have a 6-month subscription and feel I get a great value in each box. If you are interested, my recommendation would be to start with the 3-month (at $129.99 per box) and see how you like it.
Use code KNOCK60 at checkout for $60 off any subscription (expires 1/25/19)
TTFN, CrazyDogMama – xoxo
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