Exhibiting at Melbourne International COFFEE EXPO (MICE) 2025

Established in 2009 in North Melbourne, Small Batch Roasting Co. has become a benchmark for Australia’s specialty coffee industry through its relentless commitment to quality, traceability, and direct trade. As one of the early movers in Melbourne’s third-wave coffee movement, Small Batch has grown into a respected coffee roaster and café operator serving ethically sourced beans to cafés and consumers across Australia.

Core Business and Offerings

Operating both as a coffee roasting company and retail café, Small Batch focuses on importing and roasting the highest quality coffee beans, often sourced directly from producers they know and support long-term. Their product portfolio includes:

• Espresso Blends:

  • Candyman Espresso Blend: A flagship blend known for its rich, chocolatey base and balanced profile.
  • The Ones We Love – Seasonal Espresso: A rotating blend celebrating fresh seasonal lots.

• Single Origin Coffees: Roasted for filter or espresso, Small Batch’s single origin lineup is dynamic and includes:

  • Alemayehu Sali – Filter (Ethiopia)
  • Nelson Fabio Cordoba – Bourbon Aji Filter (Colombia)
  • Wilmar Muñoz – Pink Bourbon Filter (Colombia)

• Decaffeinated Coffee:

  • Available in both espresso and filter roast profiles, using processes that retain flavor integrity.

• Coffee Equipment:

  • V60 brewers, Aeropress filters, precision filter baskets, and drip scales to support home brewing excellence.

• Merchandise:

  • Sample boxes and gift vouchers curated for coffee lovers.

• Subscriptions:

  • Drip Feed Subscription: A rotating delivery of seasonal single origin coffees directly to customers' doors.

Specialisation and Core USP

Small Batch Roasting Co. is known for pioneering direct trade practices in Australia, and for treating coffee as an agricultural product rather than a commodity. Their core USPs include:

• Farm-to-Cup Traceability: Nearly every coffee listed is accompanied by detailed information on the producer, region, variety, processing method, and even tasting notes.
• Long-Term Producer Relationships: Small Batch frequently revisits the same producers year after year, ensuring stability and fair pricing at origin.
• Minimal Intervention Roasting Philosophy: Highlighting the intrinsic qualities of the beans through careful, lighter roasting styles.

They are widely regarded for their contributions to producer transparency, investing in producer visits and publishing detailed information about sourcing on their website and packaging.

Financial Strength and Performance

While financial records are not publicly disclosed, the company demonstrates operational strength through:

• Multiple Retail Points: In addition to their North Melbourne roastery café, Small Batch has developed strong wholesale relationships across dozens of partner cafés nationwide.
• E-commerce Capabilities: Robust online platform delivering subscriptions and one-off orders throughout Australia.
• Steady Growth Since 2009: Over a decade of sustained presence in a highly competitive coffee landscape.

International Shipments and Trade Records

Though Small Batch’s operations are mostly domestic, public trade data and sourcing transparency reveal frequent interaction with international producers and occasional exports. Key trade attributes include:

• Primary Trade Countries (Imports):

  • Ethiopia
  • Colombia
  • Guatemala
  • Kenya

• Export Reach:

  • Boutique coffee shops in New Zealand, Singapore, and Japan occasionally feature Small Batch’s beans via distributor partnerships.

Due to the small-lot, premium nature of their coffees, international exports are niche but high in value per kilo.

Target Market

Small Batch caters to a discerning audience of:

• Specialty Cafés looking for consistent, ethical, and high-quality coffee.
• Home Brewing Enthusiasts who value flavor transparency and ethical sourcing.
• Wholesale Clients interested in training, education, and long-term supply partnerships.
• Environmentally and Socially Conscious Consumers aligning with Small Batch’s values.

Capabilities

• North Melbourne Roastery: Houses both their roasting facility and flagship café.
• Sourcing and Importing Team: Handles all green coffee procurement, often traveling directly to origin.
• Quality Control: In-house cupping labs and roasting consistency programs.
• Education and Training: Offers training to wholesale clients on brewing, espresso technique, and café workflow.

Certifications and Compliance

• Direct Trade Advocacy: While not reliant on formal certifications like Fairtrade, Small Batch emphasizes above-market prices and transparent dealings.

• Environmentally Conscious Operations:

  • Packaging made with recyclable or compostable materials.
  • Encourages customers to reuse bags or use in-store refill options.

• Traceability Reporting: Each coffee offering includes transparency data such as FOB price and farmer details.

Customer Testimonials

“Small Batch's commitment to farmers and quality is unmatched. Every brew feels like a story in a cup.”
— Regular Online Subscriber

“We’ve worked with Small Batch for years. They’re reliable, supportive, and their beans always impress our customers.”
— Wholesale Café Owner, Victoria

Achievements and Milestones

• Over a Decade of Ethical Coffee Roasting since inception in 2009.
• Influence on Melbourne’s Specialty Coffee Scene: One of the city’s most recognized names in quality and transparency.
• Featured in Australian Coffee Magazines and Broadsheet for coffee quality, producer partnerships, and sustainable practices.
• Sourcing Partnerships in Latin America and Africa that span multiple harvest cycles and reflect deep, ongoing engagement.

Small Batch Roasting Co. stands as a model of sustainable, transparent, and ethical coffee sourcing in Australia, continually raising the bar for what specialty coffee can and should be.