So you’re thinking about opening a coffee shop, or you may be thinking of changing where you get your coffee beans. Choosing where to source your beans from is one of the most important decisions that you’ll need to make because you’ll want to have coffee that matches your standards of quality which will be loved by your customers.
Most coffee roasters will tell you that sourcing great beans is key to making great coffee. But it’s not as simple as just buying the best coffee you can find. At Elixir Coffee Roasters, we know that for a cafe, it can be tough and overwhelming to find a wholesale partner that meets all your needs, but it’s 100% worth it to take the time to find the right one.
To learn more about finding a wholesale supplier for your cafe, keep reading below as we outline a couple of things you should consider.
You might also like to check out our own wholesale options, which you can learn more about here.
What is a wholesale coffee supplier?
A wholesale coffee supplier is a company that sells roasted coffee beans to coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants and other businesses. Typically, a supplier will roast their own coffee and then package it in either bulk or smaller quantities to be sold to their partnered businesses.
For example, if you owned a cafe, you might decide to buy your coffee from a wholesale supplier in 1-kilo bags. The price you pay for the coffee will be cheaper than if you were to buy it retail because you’re buying it in bulk.
In addition to roasted coffee, some wholesale suppliers also sell other related products like chocolate powder, take away cups and lids, alternative milks, syrups, nespresso compatible pods, brewing equipment, paper filter and stirrers, and much more. For all of your cafe supply needs, your wholesale partner should be able to provide you with support. You can think of them as the one-stop shop for all your needs in running your cafe business.
What are the benefits of working with a wholesale supplier?
There are many benefits of working with a wholesale supplier, but the three main ones you should keep in mind are:
You’ll save money
When you buy in bulk, you’ll be able to take advantage of lower prices than if you were buying retail. This can help your business to be more profitable because you’re not having to spend as much on your inventory. You’ll be able to spend the money you save on other aspects that satisfy your customers’ needs (i.e. cafe ambience, cafe equipment, food innovations, etc)
You’ll have access to a range of products that will benefit you in running the business
Working with a wholesale supplier gives you access to a range of products that you might not be able to find elsewhere. This is especially helpful if you’re looking for specialty items or if you need large quantities of particular products. You’ll also be able to take advantage of the knowledge and expertise that your supplier has to ensure you’re using the best products to run your business.
You’ll have a partner that can help you grow
A great wholesale supplier will want to help you grow your cafe business. They’ll offer advice and support on running a successful cafe and will be invested with you at every step of the way. They’ll be able to help you with anything from choosing the right products to troubleshooting any problems you might have.
Important factors to consider when finding a wholesale coffee provider
Now that we’ve gone over some of the benefits of working with a wholesale supplier, let’s dive into what you should consider when trying to find the right one for your business.
The quality of the coffee beans
It’s crucial that you learn everything you can about the beans you’ll be serving to your customers. This entails inquiring not only about the region where the beans were grown, but also about how the beans are picked, processed, and roasted, as well as the equipment and techniques used at each stage.
Ideally, a good supplier will let you visit their roasting facility to see for yourself how they operate. This will give you a chance to ask any questions and get to know the people behind the company. If that’s not possible, you can ask for pictures or a video tour of their facility.
You should also inquire about the sourcing and fair-trade status of their coffee beans. This will allow you to know if farmers in regions where they’re grown get paid fairly for their work while also ensuring sustainable practices are adhered to.
At Elixir Coffee, we ensure that your business is getting the highest quality of coffee beans by closely working with farmers that have generations of experience in growing and processing coffee. We also roast our ethically sourced beans in small batches to ensure each one is roasted perfectly.
We also provide free sample taste testing at our roasting HQ in Brisbane’s Northside to ensure that you know the exact quality of coffee beans you’ll receive by partnering with us.
Consistency and reliability of supply
It’s important that your wholesale coffee supplier can provide a consistent and reliable supply of beans. This is especially important if you’re running a busy cafe where you can’t afford to run out of coffee.
Make sure to ask your potential supplier about their roasting schedule and how they handle orders. They should be able to provide you with a clear answer that outlines how they operate.
At Elixir Coffee, we guarantee that your business will never run out of coffee beans. We offer a range of services such as auto-ordering and bean storage to make sure you always have coffee when you need it. No matter what season it is, we’re confident in our ability to provide you with consistent supply and service at all times.
Your potential supplier’s track record
When considering a wholesale coffee supplier, it’s important to research their track record. This involves looking at online reviews, speaking to other businesses they work with, and generally getting a feel for what others think of them.
A good supplier will have a strong reputation built on the quality of their products and service. They should also be able to provide you with references from other businesses they work with.
At Elixir Coffee, we’re proud of the reputation we’ve built as a top wholesale coffee supplier in Australia. We have a long list of happy customers who would be more than happy to vouch for the quality of our products and service. We’ve also won numerous rewards for our coffee artisan blends with 62 awards and counting!
So there you have it! These are the important factors you should consider when trying to find the right wholesale coffee supplier for your business.
If you’re looking for a top-quality wholesale coffee supplier in Australia, then look no further than Elixir Coffee Roasters. We offer a range of services to make sure your business always has access to freshly roasted coffee beans and full ongoing support backed by our years of experience. Coffee is our bread and butter and we love to share that with you! From your cafe supplies to barista training to wow your customers, we’re confident that we’re your solution to help you grow your business. Contact us today to learn more!