Privacy Statement

Your Privacy Matters

At Unpacking Coffee, we believe in transparency about how we collect and use your information. This privacy statement explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your choices regarding your personal data.

Information We Collect

Account Information

• Name, username, and email address when you create an account
• Password (stored securely using encryption)
• Optional profile information you choose to provide

Content You Create

• Coffee cuppings, including scores, notes, and flavor selections
• Feedback and suggestions you submit
• Connections to coffees, roasters, and other users

Automatically Collected Information

• Session information to keep you logged in
• Basic technical information like IP address and browser type for security
• Timestamps of your activities
• Usage data through cookies and analytics (see details below)

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your experience on Unpacking Coffee. Cookies are small data files stored on your device.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for the service to function (session management, authentication). These cannot be disabled.
• Preference Cookies: Remember your choices like visualization preferences. Stored for 1 year.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how you use Unpacking Coffee (production environment only).

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling essential cookies may impact your ability to use Unpacking Coffee.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how people use Unpacking Coffee and improve the service. Google Analytics collects information such as:

• Pages you visit and features you use
• How long you spend on the site
• Your general location (city/region level)
• Device type, browser, and screen resolution
• How you arrived at Unpacking Coffee (referral source)

This data is anonymized and aggregated. Google Analytics uses cookies that typically expire after 2 years.

Opting Out of Google Analytics

You can opt out of Google Analytics by:

• Installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
• Using your browser's "Do Not Track" settings
• Blocking analytics cookies in your browser settings

Learn more about how Google uses data: Google Privacy Policy

How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide and personalize the Unpacking Coffee service
• Send important account-related emails (password resets, verification)
• Improve our service based on aggregated usage patterns
• Protect against fraud and abuse

What We DON'T Do

• We don't sell your personal information to anyone
• We don't show advertisements
• We don't share your data with marketing companies

Third-Party Services

We use a limited number of services to run Unpacking Coffee:

• Gravatar: To display profile pictures (you can opt out by not using a Gravatar-enabled email)
• Email delivery: To send account-related emails
• AI assistance: Optional feature to help describe coffees (no personal data is shared)
• Google Analytics: See detailed information in the dedicated section above

Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services. When you delete your account:

• Your personal information is permanently removed from our active databases
• Some information may remain in backups for up to 30 days
• Aggregated, anonymized data may be retained indefinitely for analytics

Your Rights and Choices

All Users

You can:

• Access and update your profile information at any time
• Delete your cuppings and content
• Request account deletion by contacting us
• Choose not to provide optional information
• Opt out of analytics tracking (see Google Analytics section)
• Export your data by contacting us

Additional Rights for EU Users (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area, you have additional rights under GDPR:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate personal data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data
• Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Right to Object: Object to processing of your data
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing at any time

Additional Rights for California Users (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have rights under CCPA:

• Right to Know: Request information about data we collect and how we use it
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: We do not sell personal information, but you can opt out of analytics
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at ray@needmoredesigns.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

International Data Transfers

Unpacking Coffee is operated in the United States. If you access our service from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries.

When we use third-party services like Google Analytics, your data may be processed in countries outside your home country. These services comply with applicable data protection frameworks and standards.

Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including:

• Encrypted passwords
• Secure HTTPS connections
• Regular security updates
• Limited access to personal information

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but continually work to improve our protections.