New Website, Same FRED!

Hey… Did You Spot Something Different?

We’ve given the FRED website a bit of a spruce-up!

It was about time, really. The old site was getting a bit dated, so we gave it a fresh coat of digital paint.

Now, before you worry - nothing’s changed where it matters.
Same fresh coffee, same friendly crew, same place, just a snazzier setup online to make it easier for you (and all the new FRED folk joining the party) to order your beans.

This is actually the first proper update we’ve done since we launched, so if anything looks a little wonky or isn’t working right, don’t be shy. Flick us an email or give us a ring.

Go on then, have a nosey around, we hope you like it!

Navigating Rising Coffee Costs

The coffee industry is facing an unprecedented surge in raw bean costs, far beyond what was initially expected. What seemed like a temporary spike has evolved into a sustained increase in raw material prices, with no signs of relief on the horizon. Unfortunately, to continue delivering the same quality coffee you love, we must adjust our pricing to reflect these increased costs.

Since Jan 2025 the price has surged again by 40% and we are now sitting at a 47 year high!

Why are prices rising?

1. Soaring Green Coffee Prices

• Robusta: Prices surged 73% in 2024, reaching USD $5,885 per tonne in December.

• Arabica: Up 83% this past year, now sitting at USD $7,716 per tonne.

2. Harvest & Supply Chain Challenges: Severe weather conditions in key coffee-growing regions have dramatically affected global supply:

• Brazil: The worst drought in 70 years (August–September) followed by heavy rains in October has raised concerns about crop failures.

• Vietnam: The world’s largest Robusta producer has seen a 20% reduction in its harvest due to extreme weather.

This pattern isn’t limited to coffee—global cocoa prices have doubled over the past 12 months due to similar climate-related disruptions.

Effective April 1st 2025, the following changes will take place:

• Roast & Ground Coffee products: 12.5%

• All subscriptions wil lincrease as well

We deeply appreciate your support and understanding as we navigate these industry-wide challenges. Our commitment to providing you with the freshest, highest-quality coffee at an affordable price remains.

Team FRED.

We’ve Outgrown the Garage – FRED is Growing Up!

We’re thrilled to announce that FRED has officially partnered with The New Zealand Coffee Company! After years of roasting in the garage, it’s time for a big leap and we couldn’t have found a better partner to take it with. With shared values around delivering fresh, quality coffee to Kiwis, this partnership feels like the perfect fit.

So, what does this mean for you? Honestly… not much (and that’s a good thing).

It’s still the same FRED you know and love - same great coffee, same roasting process, just now with the ability to roast more, faster. Thanks to their epic FRED-yellow roaster (seriously, the colour’s spot on), we’ll be able to keep up with demand while keeping our prices sharp.

Even better, this move helps us stay efficient, cut unnecessary costs, and focus on what we do best: roasting ridiculously fresh coffee for everyday legends like you.

We're buzzing about what’s ahead…new blends, fresh single origins, and a whole lot more. Keep an eye out, NZ. FRED’s just getting started!

Coffee Subscriptions are here!

We’ve noticed a pattern, most of you are ordering coffee on a regular basis, often every fortnight. That’s music to our ears, because it means one thing: you’re drinking your coffee fresh, the way it’s meant to be.

So, to make things even easier, we’ve just launched Coffee Subscriptions!

You’ll find the option under the "Shop" section. Whether you’re a daily flat white drinker or a weekend drip coffee expert, a subscription makes sure you never run out and you’re always brewing with freshly roasted beans.

Here’s how it works:

• Choose your favourite coffee

• Pick your delivery frequency

The best part? Pause, cancel, or change your subscription anytime. No commitment, no hassle, just consistently fresh coffee turning up right when you need it.

Because coffee shouldn’t sit on a shelf. It should be roasted fresh and delivered fast. That’s the FRED way.

Why choose FRED over supermarket coffee?

The great thing about our little community is that I get to catch up with a lot of regular customers in person (one of the perils of an online business is that it can be a little impersonal.)

One of the main questions/comments I get regularly is: Why is supermarket coffee so average/bad?

Well, you really do notice the difference when you get some fresh coffee don’t you! Supermarket coffee is averagely bad because it just really is not fresh. Also the supermarket duopoly pushes roasters really hard on price. Most coffee in the supermarket is supplied by large production facilities, or is a little inferior, cheaper to produce, or all of the above. The packaging reflects the freshness problem. Coffee has to be protected while it sits in warehouses and on shelves. From a packaging point of view, they are using 25% more plastic than they need to.

It is not unusual to see people rummaging through packets of coffee in the supermarket, trying to find the latest “Best Before” date. Sadly this doesn’t actually tell you much. Some Roasters choose BB dates of 3, 6 or even 12 months.

The other unspoken point about supermarket coffee is that it is nearly all sold in packs of 200grams. While the specialty coffee industry standard is 250grams. I’m sure that the supermarkets chose the smaller weight for a better price perception.

The whole system is skewed towards what is good for the Supermarket!

They are really relying on convenience to get you to buy whatever it is that they put in front of you. It’s like a really bad date, You’re there, the coffee’s there …

TO THE POINT…

Most of our coffee is dispatched within 24 hours of Roasting. If you get it into an airtight container in a cool dark place, your coffee should be awesome for the next 2-3 weeks (we’re talking about beans.). We don’t let our beans sit on shelves in plastic – and we know you taste the difference!