Local Hero Coffee Works - Espresso Bar & Roastery

I have read through the comments on the latest NewZealand Herald article about coffee possibly reaching $10.50 a cup. Some say, “If people won’t pay it, cafés will just lower their prices.” This is absurd.

I have run a small, independent roastery in New Zealand for the last 9 years, and I want to explain what that really looks like from my POV.
Coffee is traded globally. I do not control the raw price and over the past four years green bean prices have surged. Many have doubled by the time they land here in New Zealand. Freight, fuel, power, packaging, and wages have all increased too.

When I roast coffee, I lose 20% of the weight. One kilo of green beans becomes roughly 800g of roasted coffee and that roasted kilo makes about 45 cups. Before milk, cups and lids, wages, rent, equipment maintenance, GST etc, the beans alone in your cup sit around 60 to 80 cents.

Milk adds more cost. Standard milk is around 34 cents per cup. Alternative milks can cost .80 cents to $1 per cup. We often charge $1 extra, which barely covers the difference. Other costs like cups, lids, cleaning, rent, power, equipment, EFTPOS fees, and GST quickly add up.

At a $6 coffee, the profit per cup is tight: roughly $1–$2 for standard milk, and sometimes as little as 50 cents for alternative milk. A small drop in sales, a higher proportion of alt-milk orders, or any unexpected cost can wipe out that margin completely.

Sales are slowing fast as the cost of living rises. In-store traffic is down, and online orders that used to be multiple per day are now often just one per week. A 15–20 percent drop in volume can remove the profit entirely for a small business like ours.

Lowering prices is not a simple solution. If input costs remain high and we reduce prices, margins shrink further. If volume does not increase enough to offset that, we move closer to closing.

This is not about greed. It is about survival in a global supply chain we do not control. Independent, local coffee businesses operate on thin margins. Many of us are already absorbing increases to stay viable.

If you value small, local coffee, your support right now genuinely makes a difference. Without it, we close—and we are closer to that point than most people realise.

☕️“It’s not just the coffee in the cup. It’s everything behind it that makes it cost what it does.”

Jason - Your local bean dealer ☕️

Jump online for a subscription today with 5% off for recurring orders. Www.localherocoffeeworks.com

Read the article via the link below ⬇️⬇️
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/wellington-coffee-roaster-says-a-flat-white-should-cost-1050-under-rational-pricing/3UO2GO6Y6FGQDHXA3T3D53OIYI/

We are OPEN today for Coffee and treats 😋

7.30am - 12pm

See you soon!

Opposite the Beerspot
5/322 Main Road, Huapai

We have recently released our very own Nespresso compatible coffee pods - roastery grade coffee, roasted fresh instore and encapsulated in a fully recyclable pod!

A note from our production team -
"The pour was slow and consistent. The result, a thick, creamy crema, rich aroma, bold strength and a smooth lingering aftertaste!"

20 capsules for $25.00

Available instore or on our website www.localherocoffeeworks.com

Hey Local Hero lovers

We will be OPEN this Kings birthday Monday 2nd June for anyone not going away and needs a damn good coffee 🙂

OPEN 8AM- 1PM

Come see us!
LH Team

We are OPEN today - Friday 18th April

7am - 1pm

Come and enjoy our Coffee, treats and good chat!!

See you soon
LH Team

Hey Team

Just a quick note to let you know we’re taking a short break to rest, reset, and catch our breath. ( actually business related)

That means the Espresso Bar at 5/322 Main Road, Huapai will be closed from Tuesday 22 April through to Tuesday 29 April. We will be back and pouring your favourite coffee from Tuesday 30 April.

Our online store will also be taking a break, so if you need a coffee top-up, be sure to get your orders in before Wednesday 16 April-10 pm to make the courier cut-off for Thursday.

Thanks for all your ongoing support — we’ll miss seeing your faces and can’t wait to catch up when we’re back!

Take care,
The Local Hero Team

Easter hours .....

Crikey it's getting to that time of the year again!

April 18th Good Friday - OPEN 7am - 1pm
Easter Saturday and Sunday CLOSED
April 21st Easter Monday - OPEN 7am - 1pm

Then from the 22nd April (Tuesday) to the 29th April (Tuesday) we will be CLOSED.

Reopen Wednesday 30th April.

We are hiring!!! 🥳

We are looking to expand our team and open weekends!

We are looking for 2 amazing people -

Experienced barista with 2 + yrs experience behind the coffee machine. Sole charge of a 3 group vibemme Coffee machine. Ability to craft exceptional espresso based drinks fast. Weekend shifts only - 7am - 2pm.

Foh superstar with experience. Taking orders and running coffees/food. Clearing tables, stacking dishwasher and other duties.
Weekend shifts only - 7am - 2pm.

Casual contracts

Both roles require a strong work ethic, reliability and enthusiasm for working in a fast paced, customer focused environment.

Please send your CV with covering letter to [email protected]

Shop is located at 322 Main Road, Huapai

Important Update on Our Coffee Machine Repairs & Maintenance

At Local Hero Coffee Works, we take pride in providing top-quality coffee machine repairs and maintenance. When we replace burrs or perform a deep clean, we always inform customers that their grind settings will need adjusting, as the machine is essentially like new again.

For customers using our coffee beans, we usually assist with recalibrating their grind settings. However, for those using other brands, we advise them to make the necessary adjustments themselves.

Recently, we had a situation where a customer, despite being informed to reset their settings, brought their machine back, requiring us to use our time and stock to diagnose an issue that could have been avoided. As a small business, our time and resources are valuable, and we cannot afford to provide additional services at no cost—especially when met with abuse after offering assistance.

Moving forward:
✔️ All maintenance and repair costs will be clearly outlined before any work is done.
✔️ A deposit will be required before we begin service.

We understand that times are tough, but respect goes both ways. We’re here to help, and we’ll always do our best to provide great service. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support.

— Local Hero Coffee Works

Coffee Prices & Our Small Business

We don’t usually post about this kind of thing, but it’s important to be upfront with you—coffee prices have been steadily rising for the last few years, and it’s reaching a point where we, as a small business, just can’t absorb the costs anymore.

From green bean prices to shipping, packaging, and everything in between, the costs have kept creeping up. We’ve held off on raising prices for as long as we could, but to keep bringing you quality coffee, we have to make a small adjustment.

We know price increases are never ideal, and we appreciate every one of you who continues to support us. We’re still committed to roasting the best coffee we can and keeping it as affordable as possible.

Here’s an article that gives a bit more insight into what’s happening across the industry. ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Things 'about to get scary' for coffee industry Café owner Richard Corney says the sector is in "uncharted territory" as coffee prices hit levels not seen since the '70s.