Fetch Coffee is still out fetching coffee, literally

Tony Chen is an Americano guy, but he’ll be happy to deliver whatever other Starbucks beverage your heart desires.

Over a year after launching in four zip codes around Georgetown, Fetch Coffee is still, well, fetching coffee. Around 30 to 40 cups per day, Chen told Technical.ly. The young company also delivers in Bethesda and Dupont now, and hopes to expand to Potomac and Arlington in the near future.
In case this is the first you’re hearing of it, Fetch Coffee works like this — for a $3 delivery fee (plus the cost of the drink, of course) Fetch will bring Starbucks to your doorstep in the morning. See:

I'm so happy that I live in a time & a place that will deliver a @Starbucks latte to my door. Thanks @FetchCoffee. pic.twitter.com/r0mNSHChpt

— Tammy Gordon 🦩 (@Tammy) November 17, 2015

If you want coffee delivered every morning you can also save a little with a $45 monthly subscription. One-off orders must be placed the day before, or you can set your schedule for a whole week or month. A Fetch currier will send you a text when your beverage is at the front door — all arrive between 6-8 a.m. in a thermos Chen and his team have discovered will keep the drinks warm for up to 45 minutes.
In an era when you can get almost anything delivered to your doorstep at the tap of a button, Fetch Coffee doesn’t really surprise us. But Chen argues that coffee is different — it presents its own challenges and benefits.
“Coffee is special,” Chen said.
How? Well, think of it, as Chen does, like a newspaper. People who drink coffee tend to drink it every day at around the same time. Because users can foresee their coffee needs they can easily order ahead, which allows Chen to optimize the delivery route. This makes delivery economical, and Chen can keep his delivery fees (fairly) low.
It also means Chen can “pay a fair wage” to his three couriers. Unlike services such as Postmates where the courier is waiting around for the whim of a customer, Fetch Coffee’s schedule, and delivery needs, are clear in advance. Early on Chen himself did many deliveries, these days he says he only occasionally helps out.
As for coffee challenges, these mostly have to do with the logistics of keeping beverages sorted (delivering the right one to the right doorstep) and warm while in transit. Chen says by now he’s got this pretty much figured out — after some trial and error he’s identified which Walmart thermos fits each Starbucks cup best.
Chen is enthusiastic about the future of coffee delivery. He’s expanding slowly, based on geography of deliveries, and finds that customers range from college students to retirees. A lot of people like coffee, he said, and “it’s hard to make a latte at home.”
But while delivery is certainly hot these days, there’s still the fact that Starbucks (not to mention so many other great coffee shops) blanket this city. Are you willing to pay a premium to save on walking a few blocks?