Coffee Pricing & Market Update
As both a coffee roaster and cafe owner, we wanted to offer some context around recent price adjustments and the broader conditions affecting our industry, here at home and around the world.
Navigating Rising Green Coffee Costs
Over the past 12 months, the cost of green coffee has increased by more than 70%, with the Commodity market price for arabica coffee trading above US$4.00 per pound, the highest levels seen in decades. The commodity market is the global benchmark price (C price) and the foundation for most coffee purchasing contracts worldwide regardless of the grade (commodity or specialty).
Even though we pay a premium above the C price for the quality, traceability, and sustainability we value, those premiums are still based on a moving benchmark. So when the C price rises sharply, as it has recently, the cost of all green coffee increases accordingly. It’s not just our business that’s affected as every roaster and café in the world is impacted, from large multinational chains to small independents like us.
So, about your flat white...
For cafes, these raw cost increases translate to an additional 10–20¢ per cup just in green coffee alone. That's before accounting for other rising expenses, including milk, wages, rent and utilities. As a result, you may have noticed a modest price increase of around 5–10% on your daily coffee.
These adjustments help us continue delivering the quality and consistency you expect while also ensuring fair pay for our team and continued investment in the relationships and practices that underpin our coffee offering.
For producers, higher prices can offer some relief, especially when they’re facing rising costs themselves. For the rest of the supply chain, however, it means tighter margins and tough decisions. Roasters are paying significantly more for the same coffees they bought a year ago and cafés are absorbing higher costs per cup before it even reaches the grinder.
With the market remaining volatile heading into 2026, we’re all navigating this together and adjusting carefully so we can continue offering great coffee without compromising on quality or sustainability.
While the pressures are real, our focus remains steady:
supporting our partners, maintaining integrity in sourcing and roasting and delivering the best possible experience in every cup.
Doubling Down on Direct Trade
Now more than ever, we’re deeply committed to direct-trade partnerships with our growers. These longterm, meaningful relationships provide farmers with the confidence to reinvest in their farms and ensure the sustainability of their operations, even in challenging times.
For us, these partnerships also mean we can continue offering you exceptional coffee, regardless of the fluctuations in global markets. The trust you place in us and in the farmers who grow your coffee is something we take very seriously.
You've made it clear that you care about the story behind your cup, and we’re proud to support practices that are transparent, ethical, and sustainable.
Ultimately this trust shared between growers, roasters and you, the coffee drinker, is what keeps the entire system moving forward ensuring that every cup we serve is the result of care, collaboration, and commitment.
