For businesses just beginning to serve coffee or those aiming to elevate their existing coffee program, the idea of creating a custom coffee blend is often an exciting prospect.
Developing a private label coffee blend (a unique coffee that’s crafted, branded, and roasted specifically for your business by a trusted wholesale roaster) can add a personal touch to your offerings, setting you apart in the eyes of your customers.
The final result is a coffee that aligns with your brand’s identity and appeals to the specific tastes of your audience.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essentials of creating your own private label coffee blend.
From selecting origins and roast levels to experimenting with blend ratios, we’ll explore the process in detail, along with the potential benefits and considerations to help you decide if a private blend is right for your business.
Creating a private label blend isn’t the right choice for every business, but for those that see the value, Bridge Coffee Roasters brings years of experience in designing custom blends that truly resonate with customers. Let’s get into it…
Is a Private Coffee Blend Worth It?
Coffee beans vary in price drastically depending on the quality and quantity, origins, roast profiles, packaging and much more. Typically, a standard one kilo bag of wholesale coffee beans costs anywhere between £8-£20 per kilo on average.
Investing in a private coffee blend adds a small cost compared to a standard bag of wholesale coffee beans due to the added elements involved, like:
- Branding
- Bespoke packaging
- Creation of a custom coffee profile
- Dedicated time, space and resources within the roastery for coffee sourcing, roasting, packaging and shipping
While there is a small increase in cost, many businesses find the added benefits of creating your own coffee blend far outweigh the cost.
A private label blend allows you to craft a coffee perfectly suited to your customers’ taste preferences, creating a more tailored experience that strengthens brand loyalty. Instead of serving a coffee under another brand’s name, you’re offering a product that’s fully your own, carrying your brand identity and values.
This unique positioning not only diversifies your product offering but opens up new revenue streams, as you can sell branded coffee bags on your shelves or online.
Moreover, a private label blend gives you greater control over pricing.
Unlike wholesale offerings, your brand can command a premium price that reflects the coffee’s exclusivity and quality. Ultimately, creating a private blend is about building a deeper connection with your customers by offering a coffee that is unmistakably yours.
What to Think About When Creating your Private Coffee Blend
So, now that you’re ready to proceed with creating your private coffee blend, let’s walk through the process as if you had come to our roastery for a consultation.
What kind of coffee are you trying to create?
The world of coffee is vast. Origins, processes, roast levels and so much more all effect flavour. For that reason, we always recommend starting with a particular idea in mind of the coffee you’re trying to create.
This could be a specific coffee you want to replicate. Or a particular origin that you’re passionate about and want to build your blend around. It could be a specific taste profile you want to create, or even a charitable cause that you want to support with your coffee.
Statements such as these are particularly helpful:
- “I want a coffee that tastes like Starbucks but with less bitterness”
- “I want beans that are grown in South America”
- “My blend needs to be Fairtrade”
- “I’m looking for chocolate and almond tasting notes”
Having a blank canvas is fun and exciting, but knowing which direction you want to take your coffee is helpful when looking to start your private coffee blend.
Not sure exactly what you’re looking for? Not to worry. During our initial consultation, we can help guide discussions by letting you taste a wide range of coffees, origins and flavour profiles.
Which Coffee Origins?
A private blend of coffees typically features two or more coffees from different origins or coffee growing countries. For example, a common blend you might see could include coffees from Brazil, Rwanda, and Vietnam.
Coffees from different origins typically have quite distinct flavour profiles which should guide your decision. But they also affect the price of the raw materials. For this reason, your blend could include a higher quality coffee with distinct flavour notes along with a more affordable coffee to bring down the price.
Deciding on the origins for your blend of coffees is one of the key factors in both its flavour profile and commercial success. As part of our consultation process, we’ll help you craft a blend with a specific makeup of origins, creating a flavour your customers will love, along with the price point to suit your needs.
Dark, Medium, or Light roast?
One aspect of coffee that you’re probably familiar with is the idea of roast level, typically broken down into light, medium or dark roasts.
Traditional coffee flavours of dark chocolates, caramels and nuts are typically found in dark roasted coffees, typically appealing to an older demographic. On the other hand, lighter roasts carry lighter, fruitier flavours and are often preferred by younger, more trend-conscious coffee drinkers.
We typically find medium roasted coffees have the widest audience appeal, offering a nice blend between traditional and interesting flavour profiles that work with all coffee drink types.
When designing a blend, the coffees you choose are typically roasted all together using the same roast profile.
Something we do differently at Bridge is roast the coffees individually as single origins, then blend them together after roasting. Also known as post-roast blending. This allows for each element of the blend to be roasted to its desired level to help bring the best out of each component before blending.Learn about our roasting process here -> Our Roastery.
Experiment with Blend Ratios
Once the origins and roast levels have been decided, it’s time to experiment with the ratios inside the blend. This refers to the precise amounts of each coffee that the blend is made up of.
For example, a blend could be made up of 70% Brazil, 25% Rwanda, 5% Vietnam, or the ratio could be altered to more heavily highlight the Vietnamese coffee. The two resulting blends will have wildly different flavours in the cup.
The job of a private label coffee roaster is to help you tweak and perfect the blend’s recipe so the coffees highlight and complement each other nicely, creating a drink that perfectly matches your goals.
Tips for Starting Out with a Private Coffee Blend
Creating a private coffee blend can be an exciting journey, but it helps to start with the basics:
Start with Quality Beans. High-quality coffee beans are essential for a successful blend. Partner with a roaster who sources consistently top-grade beans to create a superior, reliable product that keeps customers coming back.
Keep It Simple. Start with two or three origins. This will help you understand each bean’s flavour contribution. It also simplifies fine-tuning and allows for easier adjustments as you grow.
Prioritise Freshness. Work with your roaster to ensure a storage and delivery plan that keeps your coffee fresh. Store coffee in airtight, cool, dry conditions to maintain its flavour from the first cup to the last.
Set a Clear Vision. Have a specific flavour profile or audience in mind. This clarity helps your roaster create a blend that matches your brand’s identity.
Think Long-Term. Consistency is key, but coffee harvests are seasonal. Work with your roaster to establish a blend that can be reliably replicated over time.
What are Some of the Downsides to Creating a Private Label Blend vs Buying Wholesale?
While creating a private label blend offers unique advantages, it comes with some limitations that may not suit every business:
Higher Initial Costs
Private label blends require upfront investment for branding, packaging, and custom profiling, adding a small premium over standard wholesale options. This cost can be prohibitive for smaller businesses or those just starting out.
Minimum Order Requirements
Most roasters set minimum order quantities for private label blends, which may not align with your sales volume or storage space. This could lead to overstocking or logistical challenges if demand varies.
Limited Flexibility
A private blend is customised to your specifications, which can make it less adaptable to changing trends or customer preferences. Adjusting the profile of your blend often requires coordination with the roaster, making it harder to pivot quickly.
Brand-Building Responsibility
With a private label blend, the marketing is entirely up to you. Unlike recognised coffee brands that come with a reputation, a private blend requires effort to establish credibility and customer trust.
Bridge Coffee’s Private Label Process
If you’re ready to create a coffee blend that’s uniquely yours, Bridge Coffee Roasters is here to make the process seamless and rewarding. With decades of experience in private label coffee, our team works alongside you to craft a blend that captures your brand’s identity and delights your customers. Here’s how our process works:
Initial Consultation
We start with an in-depth consultation to understand your brand’s vision, customer preferences, and goals for your private label coffee. Whether you have a specific flavour profile in mind or are just exploring possibilities, our team will guide you every step of the way.
Coffee Selection and Tasting
Next, we invite you to taste a selection of coffees from various origins, roast levels, and flavour profiles.
We’ll help you choose beans that align with your taste, goals, and budget, blending together origins that create a balanced and memorable experience for your customers.
Crafting the Blend
Once we’ve settled on your preferred beans, we get to work perfecting the blend.
Using our unique ‘post-roast’ blending technique, we roast each coffee separately to enhance its natural flavours and then combine them, ensuring your blend is as flavourful and consistent as possible.
Custom Branding and Packaging
We work with you to create a branding and packaging solution that reflects your brand’s identity.
From labels to packaging design, we’ll help you create a polished, market-ready product that stands out on your shelves.
Ongoing Support
Our partnership doesn’t end with the first order. We’re here to provide ongoing support, ensuring you have a reliable supply and a consistent flavour profile. As your needs evolve, we’ll be there to adjust and fine-tune, helping your brand stay competitive and relevant.
Ready to Create your Dream Coffee Blend?
Creating a private label coffee blend is an opportunity to offer something truly unique. If you’re ready to start this journey, reach out to Bridge Coffee Roasters today, and let’s build a coffee experience that your customers will love.
Start your journey with an initial consultation.
Ask About Private Label