There is nothing quite like that first sip of a beautifully crafted coffee. It is a small moment of joy, whether you are enjoying it at home or catching up with friends at your favourite café. After more than 30 years working with coffee, I still feel that same connection every single day.

But I need to be honest with you about something that has been weighing on all of us at Mahalia Coffee. The cost of green coffee beans has risen sharply, and it is affecting everyone in Australia’s coffee community — our café partners, our farmers, and you, our customers. I want to explain exactly what is happening, why it is happening, and what we are doing about it.

The Price of Green Beans Has Changed Dramatically

Green coffee — the raw, unroasted beans we source before they reach our roaster in Robe — is the single biggest cost in every bag we sell. In February 2025, Arabica beans reached AU$6.73 per pound on the commodity market. That is more than three times the price from just two years earlier.

The specialty beans we choose for their clarity, sweetness, and character are now sitting between AU$20 and $30 per kilo, sometimes higher. What used to cost around AU$8 per kilo a few years ago is now often AU$15 or more before we even start roasting.

Why Is This Happening?

Several big factors have come together at the same time.

Brazil produces over a third of the world’s coffee and has been hit hard by back to back droughts and frosts. Some regions lost up to half their harvest. Vietnam, the biggest robusta producer, has faced similar weather challenges. Coffee plants are delicate and need very specific conditions. When harvests shrink, there is simply less coffee available and prices rise quickly.

On top of that, the Australian dollar has slipped about 10 percent since September 2024. Because coffee is traded globally in US dollars, every kilo costs us more once it arrives here. Shipping and freight costs have also increased significantly due to fewer containers, higher rates, and busy ports.

At the same time, global demand is growing fast. China’s coffee imports jumped 26 percent in 2023 and India is following. Australia already drinks around six billion cups a year across 27,000 cafés. More people are competing for the best beans than ever before.

What This Means for Cafés and for You

Many of the café owners we work with are now paying AU$30 to $45 per kilo for quality beans. When you add rising rent, wages, and energy costs, the old economics of a $5 flat white no longer work. Gentle price increases of 25 to 50 cents are becoming common. In some markets, $6 to $8 flat whites are already the new reality.

To give you a sense of scale, a $5 per kilo increase in green bean cost adds roughly 7 to 11 cents to a single cup. That is the real figure being passed on.

Our Commitment to You

We are not cutting corners. We are not switching to cheaper beans or rushing our roasts. The quality you expect from Mahalia Coffee is not negotiable. It is the whole reason we exist.

We will continue to buy the very best beans we can find, roast them with care in Robe, and deliver the same flavour and consistency you have come to love. We will keep our price increases as gradual and fair as possible, and we will always be transparent about why they are needed.

If you ever have questions about pricing, sourcing, or what is in your bag, please reach out. I would much rather have an open conversation than have you wondering.

This Is Bigger Than Just One Roaster

One in ten cafés could close in 2025 if costs keep rising and customers pull back. That is not just a statistic. It is the local café where you catch up with friends, the barista who remembers your order, and the community space that makes your suburb feel like home.

By choosing Mahalia Coffee and understanding these small price adjustments, you are helping keep that coffee culture alive. You are supporting the farmers who grow the beans, the cafés that serve them, and a small Australian roastery that still believes in doing things properly.

Thank you for being part of our community. Your support means more than you know.

Next time you brew a Mahalia Coffee, know that it is still made with the same care and heart it always has been. I would love to hear how you are enjoying it — feel free to drop me a note anytime.

With warmth, Mahalia