Private Label Coffee: Who Makes White Label Coffee?
Are you looking for white label coffee from your coffee spot? Want a special private label coffee supplier for your cafe or business. It can be a little overwhelming at first, but it's usually easy to find a coffee roaster to make a unique coffee for any business. Ask most roasters and they are happy to do custom labeled coffee for you. From how to find a private label roaster to ordering white label coffee, let's look at how to find custom coffee to fit your needs.
What Are Private Label And White Label Coffees?
White label and private label coffees are basically coffees roasted by one company but used or sold by a second company. While there are specific nuances between the two, the terms are often used interchangeably.
In either case, a coffee company roasts the beans. They also usually package them for delivery or shipping. However, the exact packaging can vary. The main difference is the level of input the company buying the beans has in the blending and roasting process.
In some cases, private and white label blends are related to wholesale coffee. Here at Cupa, I'm happy to sell de-labeled coffees or create custom blends for my wholesale customers.
As a roaster, I will blend green coffees - unroasted coffee - to make a custom profile just for you. I will then send wholesale beans for your coffee cafe or shop or to fuel your employees with caffeine.
If you want to sell coffee beans to your customers, I can even help you get custom labels or package retail bags. Depending on the situation, we can even work out a dropshipping arrangement. More on dropship coffee later.
What Is A Private Label Coffee?
A private label coffee is a custom coffee made by a roaster and sold directly to a client, usually a coffee shop or a restaurant. The client can usually ask for custom blends, roast levels, or specific flavor profiles. The final product is almost always specific to that buyer and not sold by the roaster or to another client.
Most private labels are ordered by coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, or businesses that want to offer a unique coffee to their customers or employees. It allows them to make a distinctive coffee for much less than the cost of getting into roasting.
What Is A White Label Coffee?
Just like private labels, white label coffees are made by a roaster and sold to a client. However, white labelling is basically an unbranded version of the roaster's own products. This allows you to put your own label on a product that another company is already making.
Generally speaking, they are less expensive than private blends because it's an existing coffee product with a different label. Any business can order a white label product, but they are most common with store brands and coffee shops because of the cost savings.
Who Sells White Label And Private Label Coffees?
There are a number of companies that specialize in private and white-labeled coffees. I'm not going to drop any names because I haven't used any of these companies and I don't want to sound like I'm endorsing them.
But based on internet reviews, most of them are reliable and reasonably priced. There were two recurring themes that I saw as yellow flags: the quality of their coffees and their wholesale limits.
While you might call me a coffee snob, I like knowing where my coffees come from and the quality I'm going to get. And I'm wary of any company that is vague about those details. Maybe they are more specific once you start ordering, but coffee shouldn't be that secretive.
And secondly, several companies have a steep price for their minimum order quantities. We all deserve a fair wage for our skill and effort, but there is no reason to price gouge customers who are meeting your minimum quantity. Especially when white label and private label services are your business.
This is why you should ask a small coffee roaster about private-label and white-label coffees. Most roasters will sell you de-labeled or specialty coffee blends.
I'm based in Central Florida, and I know several different roasters in the area. And almost all of them are open to selling a custom coffee, myself included.
So, if you are looking for something specific, reach out to a small roaster you like. Not only are you supporting a small business, but you are probably getting a fresher product.
Can You Use Your Own Packaging?
If you are buying custom coffees from a roaster, you can almost always use your own labels or custom packaging.
Most will handle the packaging for you. You just deliver the labels or bags, and they take care of the rest. However, some will send you bulk coffee that you need to repack yourself.
If you are looking to find a roaster for your private label coffee brand, ask them about their labeling and packaging policies.
Other Terms You Should Know In Custom And Commercial Coffee
When it comes to buying private, white, and distinctive coffee blends, there are a few related terms that you should know.
Green Coffee
Green coffee is coffee that hasn’t been roasted yet. Also called raw coffee beans, this is how most coffees arrive at a roastery. The green beans are then roasted to accentuate their natural flavors. Some green coffees are blended before roasting to create a specific profile.
Bulk Coffee
Strictly speaking, bulk coffee is any volume of beans over a few pounds. Many roasters sell five-pound bags of bulk coffee.
While usually meant for personal use, some roasters also sell them to restaurants and cafes. You don't get to customize the coffee, but it's a more affordable option to get large amounts of coffee.
Wholesale Coffee
If you are regularly going through bulk bags or are looking to have a regular supply for your business or restaurant, wholesale is a great option. You can order custom amounts of existing coffee roasts or products. And depending on how much and how frequently you order, you can get a moderate to significant cost break.
Toll Roasting
Traditionally, toll roasting is where you buy green coffee beans, but another company roasts them for you. You pay the roaster for their time and use of equipment but sell the coffee as your own brand.
This is most common with experienced coffee professionals or wholesale coffee roasters who want to create specific flavors and blends without the expense of buying their own coffee roasting equipment. However, some coffee roasters pay someone else to toll roast for them to supplement their own roasting capacity.
Contract Roasting
Similar to both private labels and toll roasting, you contract a roaster to create a custom coffee based on your specifications. The roaster then buys the green coffee and roasts it, but you sell it under your own brand or label.
Contract roasting is common with coffee shops, restaurants, and wholesalers who want to create a custom coffee but are less familiar with developing a custom coffee or roast profile.
Coffee Dropshipping
Dropshipping is a fulfillment service some private label coffee suppliers offer. Basically, you sell coffee as your brand, but the roaster fulfills the orders.
While you pay the roaster for their services and expenses, you don't have to worry about storing or shipping the coffee. In addition to white and private label suppliers, dropshipping is also an option for toll roasting and contract roasting customers.
However, not all roasters offer this service. It usually depends on the amount of product you are buying and how much you are willing to pay.
Get White Label & Private Label Coffee
From white label coffee to private label and toll roasting, Cupa Coffee Roasting is here to help with all of your coffee needs. We can even toll roast for you. Fill out our wholesale inquiry form and let us know how we can help. Wholesale orders start as low as 10 pounds of coffee, and we can scale to meet any needs. We also sell 250 gram bags of whole bean coffee and 5 pound bags of bulk coffee so you can get the perfect amount for your business.