Hello, dear coffee friends. There’s nothing quite like that first sip of a beautifully crafted coffee, is there? It’s a little moment of joy, whether you’re curled up at home with a Mahalia Coffee blend or catching up with friends at your favourite café. As someone who’s spent years behind the espresso machine, extracting shots and sharing stories with customers, I know how much those moments mean. At Mahalia Coffee, we pour our hearts into every roast to make them special for you. But I need to share something that’s been weighing on us: the cost of green coffee beans is soaring, and it’s affecting everyone in Australia’s coffee community—us, our café partners, and you, our cherished customers. Let me take you through what’s happening, why it’s happening, and how we’re holding tight to our promise to bring you the very best coffee, no matter the challenges.

I’ll never forget my early days in our bustling café, the wild Mulberry learning the art of a perfect pour and chatting with regulars about their favourite coffees. Coffee has always been about connection for me—a way to bring a bit of warmth to someone’s day. But right now, the coffee world is facing some tough times. The green beans we carefully select for our blends and single-origin offerings are more expensive than ever. In February 2025, Arabica beans reached AU$6.73 per pound—that’s about AU$14.90 per kilo—a huge leap from AU$2.19 per pound in 2023. And the specialty beans we love, the ones that give our coffees those rich, nuanced flavours, can cost AU$20 to AU$30 per kilo, sometimes even more.

Why is this happening? It’s a bit like a recipe gone awry, with too many ingredients stirring up trouble. First, nature’s been throwing curveballs. Brazil, which grows over a third of the world’s coffee, has been hit hard by droughts and frosts, cutting harvests by up to half in some regions. Vietnam, a big player in robusta, is struggling too. These weather challenges are more frequent, and coffee plants are delicate—they need just the right conditions to thrive. When harvests shrink, there’s less coffee to go around, and prices climb.

Getting those precious beans to Australia is another hurdle. Shipping costs have skyrocketed—think pricier freight, fewer containers, and ports as busy as a Saturday morning café queue during Summer in Robe... Global tensions and lingering post-COVID disruptions are making it worse. Then there’s our Australian dollar, which has slipped 10% since September 2024. Since coffee is traded in US dollars, a weaker AUD means we pay more for every kilo. What used to cost AU$8 per kilo a few years ago is now AU$15 or more before we even fire up the roaster.

And here’s the kicker: the world’s falling in love with coffee just like we have. Countries like China and India are embracing coffee culture—China’s imports jumped 26% in 2023 alone. Add that to Australia’s 27,000 cafés serving six billion cups a year, and there’s fierce competition for the best beans. It’s a global coffee crush, and it’s pushing prices higher.

At Mahalia Coffee, we’re artisans with a deep love for quality. We buy the finest green beans, work with our coffee broker for just the right flavour—think velvety Colombians or vibrant Ethiopians—because we believe every cup should be a little moment of magic. We pay extra for these beans, not just for their gorgeous flavours but to support farmers who grow them sustainably and ethically. It’s why your Mahalia coffee feels like a warm embrace, whether it’s our signature blend in your morning latte or a single-origin Sumatra that sparks your senses.

But with bean prices up 80% in the past year, plus rising costs for everything from staff wages to the pretty bags we pack your coffee in, we can’t keep our prices the same. It’s not just us—every roaster and café in Australia is in the same boat. I’ve had heart-to-hearts with café owners who are worried sick. They’re paying AU$30–AU$45 per kilo for beans now. Factor in higher rent and electricity, and it’s no surprise that a small flat white might soon cost AU$6 or AU$8. We’re not at AU$10 cups yet, but gentle increases of 25–50 cents are becoming the new normal.

I know nobody loves paying more, especially when life’s already expensive. But here’s what makes Mahalia special: we’re not compromising on quality to cut costs. Some might use cheaper beans or rush the roasting process, but that’s not our way. We’re all about crafting coffee that delights you, every single time. We’ve invested in top-notch roasting equipment to coax every bit of flavour from those costly beans, and we’re meticulous about consistency. Your coffee should taste just as wonderful today as it will next season.

We’re also here for our café partners and you, our lovely customers. A AU$5 per kilo increase in bean costs adds just 7–11 cents to a cup—such a small difference for coffee that’s made with so much care. We’re keeping price changes gradual and being completely open about why they’re needed. Have questions? send us an email or chat with us when you pick up your next bag of beans. We want you to feel as passionate about your coffee as we do, knowing it supports ethical farmers, local cafés, and a roastery that’s all about quality.

This isn’t just our story—it’s the story of Australian coffee. Experts say one in 10 cafés could close in 2025 if costs keep rising and customers tighten their wallets. That’s not just numbers; it’s the café where you meet your best friend for a catch-up or the barista who remembers your order with a smile. By choosing Mahalia and being okay with a slightly higher price, you’re helping keep our coffee culture vibrant. 

So, what’s next for us? We will have price increases through 2025, but our promise to you is as strong as ever: we’ll always choose the best beans, roast with love, and treat you like family. Thank you for being part of our Mahalia Coffee community. Your support means the world, not just to us but to the farmers, baristas, and café owners who make this coffee life so special. Next time you make yourself a Mahalia Coffee, know it’s made with heart. Come visit, share a coffee, and let’s keep spreading the love, one cup at a time.

With warmth,
The Mahalia Coffee Team