Coffee and cocktails with a conscience: Two drinks subscription services for a meaningful last-minute Mother’s Day gift

If Mother’s Day has completely slipped your mind during the lockdown – which would be completely natural given how one day seems to blur into the next – there is no need to panic. Though it may be too late to get a conventional present, this gives you the perfect excuse to try something different and offer your mum a gift that keeps on giving. Subscriptions are a great way of continuing to show you care long beyond the arbitrary date of 14^th March, and what’s more, a service with a good cause is a way of helping people and the planet on her behalf. Here are two great services that will fuel your mum through the year whilst helping her to sleep well at night.

Support sustainable suppliers with Nørlo Coffee

Most of us have got through a hefty amount of coffee to drag us out of bed during the lockdown, and that’s why it’s more important than ever to make sure we are drinking the good stuff. No one deserves a quality cuppa more than your mother, so treat her to a premium coffee gift subscription from Nørlo. We’ve tried a lot of coffee in our time, but this lighter roast offers a wonderful change from the dark and bitter blends that have become so common. Nørlo’s Nordic-inspired method of roasting better retains the nutrients in the beans, which means your mum will have regular access to much-needed antioxidants and natural minerals to keep her glowing. This healthier technique also makes the flavour more accessible to all drinkers – it’s vibrant enough for the connoisseurs but smooth enough to convert the tea-drinkers. On top of this, the brand are committed to fair trade and sustainability: they use award-winning, fully recyclable packaging; they ethically source their coffee from organic farms; and each purchase helps replant the rainforest tree by tree. Nørlo is available as beans or ground coffee in three types: caffeinated, lightly caffeinated (a welcome addition) and decaf. There is also an option for a compostable pod-based subscription if your mum loves her Nespresso machine. Shop subscriptions here. Plans range from three to six months, starting at £40.50.

Help the hospitality industry with The Cocktail Factory

Photo: Cristiana Ferrauti

There’s only one thing better than cocktails: cocktails with a cause. And this is exactly what is being served up by new subscription service The Cocktail Factory, which supports bartenders affected by the pandemic whilst simultaneously delivering fresh and colourful monthly concoctions straight to your door. Each innovative instalment is brought to you by a professional mixologist, allowing top creatives from the industry to express themselves through exciting original concepts whilst bars and restaurants remain closed. The boxes come with everything your mum needs to finish her glass – from garnishes including fruit and fresh herbs to premium soda and even a Spotify playlist for the full immersive bar experience. Stefan Bussi is behind the March edition, which comes with three delicious twists on classics: How Everything Starts, a sweet strawberry twist on the margarita; Rising Star, an upgrade on your popular pink G&T complete with indulgent cacao liqueur and vanilla cordial and finished with champagne; and the Grand Finale, a fitting climax which gives the hanky panky a delicious makeover with a splash of absinthe and Italian bitters. Instead of sending a one-off bottle this Mother’s Day, set your mum up with a subscription by signing up online. Use the code MYROCK10 when checking out for a special 10% Mother’s Day discount!

The editorial unit