Is the printed magazine the only way to read Cherry Bones?

Yes it is. We love the analog experience of reading on paper, and are fully committed to the somewhat rare fusion of superb design and quality writing in print. This does mean that shipping to some parts of the world is tricky, but we're working to make that more affordable.

Where does my money go?

We don't publish any advertisements or do sneaky “collaborations” that look like journalism but are actually paid agreements — Cherry Bones is pure, original content, end to end. We also pay our contributors fairly and spend a LOT of time looking for fresh and diverse voices. So, the cover price is the only way everyone gets compensated. 

What happens if you sell out?

UPDATE: We actually have sold out twice now, and we're delighted! We've done two print runs, and that's it for Issue 1. It's all gone. Every issue is a limited edition.

What makes your paper so special?

We print on Extract paper. It is a remarkable example of how the layers of a disposable paper coffee cup can be separated and reused. To our knowledge, there is only one paper plant in the UK that can do this, and our co-founder James Hoffmann filmed some of the process in our launch video. We'd like to see more coffee companies committing to this type of waste reuse, and we think it's worth the expense in this case. More on this inside Issue 1.

Shipping charges are a bit steep!

Yes, they are. Unfortunately, there's no other way to get a full-size magazine to you with standard tracking. Believe it or not, we've absorbed some of the shipping cost to keep this as accessible as possible.

Where's my order?

Delivery times will vary by destination, and we're shipping initial orders once per week. After receiving your dispatch notice, UK orders take 1–3 days for delivery. EU orders take 7–10 business days, orders to the US and Canada take 10–14 business days, and orders to other countries can take up to 30 days. If it's been longer than that, please use our contact page to let us know of any problems.

Will there be import taxes or duty charges?

We ship from the UK, so there will not be additional charges for purchases in the country. The US generally does not charge import taxes for magazines. Other countries may, however, and any applicable fees or taxes are the responsibility of the recipient.

Can I buy these at a bulk or wholesale rate?

For our first print run, we're prioritising individuals and trying to ensure that Cherry Bones reaches as many people as possible. We're open to wholesale arrangements on future print runs, so drop us a note on the contact form if you're interested.

How often will you publish?

Twice per year to start. Sign up for an email alert when our next issue drops at the bottom of the page here.

Can I subscribe?

For now, no. In the future, probably.

Should I write for Cherry Bones?

Quite possibly! We're very interested in good ideas, new and marginalised voices, and great writing/photography/art. We have the experience to help develop new writers, and we also appreciate professionals who know how to speak to a broad audience (newspaper/magazine journalists, where are ya?). We're also very interested in academic research that hasn't yet reached a wider audience, as well as really weird and funny stuff. Send us your weird stuff.

How do I pitch an idea?

It's best to read the magazine first, so you have an idea of the kinds of things we publish. Then, send us a message with a little bit about yourself (one paragraph) and a clear idea of what you want to contribute. Here are some guidelines:

We're aiming for a general audience, not just coffee people. That means pitches need to be compelling to the average person. Specifically, we're looking for:

• Strong journalistic profiles, features, or newsy pieces
• Interesting research recast for a wide audience
• Expert analysis written for the average reader
• First-person tales that are arresting and worth telling
• Otherwise attention-getting or really odd/unusual/funny angles

A good rule of thumb: If it's something that would easily fit into another coffee publication, it's probably not right for us. (Those other pubs do a good job, and we're not trying to compete with them.) It's not a problem to be a new or unpublished writer, but a strong and clear idea is important. And yes, things connected to tea, chocolate, food, etc. are fair game.