The Rising Cost(s) of Coffee & Simple Ways to Save

Amongst the whirlwind that is the cost-of-living crunch, the coffee industry has received particular media attention, pointing to the importance of a great cup of coffee in the life of the average Aussie. 

We last bought light to this topic in a late-2023 newsletter. However, we could not come close to forecasting the extreme market conditions that have unraveled, which have seen the C-Price skyrocket to 50 year highs to begin 2025, more than doubling over the last 12 months.

An insight into the C-Market

The C-Price (or Coffee Commodity Price) is the benchmark for green (unroasted) Arabica coffee, traded globally on the C-Market (part of New York's Intercontinental Exchange) much the same as other global commodities, such as wheat or oil.

While the C-Price offers a baseline, specialty grade coffee also includes a differential added by coffee producers to account for the final cup quality & factors such as sustainable growing practices, meaning the price of specialty coffee sits well above the C-Price. Also worth noting are the additional contractual costs when dealing with green coffee brokers & importers, such as financing & storage for larger contracts once landed on Australian soils.

Factors Influencing the C-Price Spike

The record price highs facing coffee roasters (& end-consumers alike) result from a culmination of factors that have created a cauldron of uncertainty & volatility in the industry.

Climatic changes & extreme weather events in key growing regions, such as a record droughts in Brazil (the largest producer of Arabica in the world, paired with increasing global demand means that current supply is struggling to keep pace with the world's thirst for coffee.

To add to this, rife disruptions to global logistics & supply chains influenced by conflicts & political tensions(such as the war in Ukraine & rebel activity targeting vessels sailing from Ethiopia), compounded by a global container shortage, are working to add both significant cost & delay to the arrival of containers into Australian ports.

Last but not least, the AUD is at pre-pandemic lows, far-from-advantageous when the C-Market runs off USD!

The impact on the consumer

It is no secret that roasters & cafes nation-wide are feeling the pinch, with most being forced to pass (just some) of their rising costs onto customers. While we are fortunate to have enough cover to hold current prices in the coming months, we will review our pricing in line with market conditions come July 1st.

Despite rising costs, our priority remains upholding the quality & consistency of the product that our customers are familiar with, while also continuing to ensure we roast ethically sourced coffee, whereby specialty coffee producers around the globe receive fair reward for their efforts.

Ways to save on White Whale coffee

It's not all bad news! We have created a few super simple ways to save your hard earned dollars when purchasing beverages & coffee beans.

BYO Discounts [in-store or via the White Whale App] - 

SAVE 50c when using a BYO cup for any beverage ordered at our Portsmith Roastery or via the White Whale App.

SAVE $4/kg on all coffee beans purchased from our Portsmith Roastery (at the till, or via the app) when re-using a bag, re-filling one of our great White Whale Re-Usable Coffee Pouches, or bringing your own container in-store. If you're a Cairns-local & get your coffee delivered via the White Whale App to your home address, you are welcome to return your bags & we will put them aside for you to refill for future orders!

*please note BYO Bag discounts do not apply to our sister store, Teddy Espresso Edge Hill.

White Whale App - 

Download the White Whale App & earn $10 of store credit back for every 1000 loyalty points gained on beverages, beans, & treats. 

The app is not only a great way to skip the queue & order ahead at our Portsmith Roastery & sister-store, Teddy Espresso. 

Home delivery on our full range of beans is also available to QLD customers, with FREE DELIVERY over $50 spent.

Please note - rural QLD addresses & addresses requiring air freight (eg. Thursday Island) must add Express Post $9.99 at checkout. 

Webstore Loyalty Program - 

For interstate customers, & those that prefer to shop via our webstore, we have a great loyalty program offering $20 of store credit for every $250 spent. We also offer FREE Shipping over $100 nationwide via our website.

You will receive an automated email with a unique credit code to be used at checkout, but make sure to check your junk folder as it may end up there!

B2B Pricing - 

If you are purchasing coffee for a business with an active ABN, we have adjusted B2B pricing for orders over 3kg! Send an email to support@whitewhalecoffee.com.au to find out more.

Most importantly, continue supporting the specialty coffee value chain

Throughout the turbulence, it is important to acknowledge the livelihoods of those across the specialty coffee value chain - particularly producers across the globe that work tirelessly to grow the stuff that gets you out of bed in the morning. Your continued support of the specialty coffee industry ensures producers remain incentivized to grow a premium product year-after-year & are remunerated fairly for their efforts.

Thank you for your continued support.