Flight Coffee
Flight Coffee is a Wellington-based specialty coffee roaster founded in 2009, supplying roasted beans, instant, pods, and canned beverages via DTC e-commerce, wholesale to 100+ NZ cafés, Z Energy retail distribution, and international shipping to ten countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersWellington, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Flight Coffee does
Flight Coffee Limited is a New Zealand specialty coffee roaster founded in 2009 by Richard Corney, Matt Graylee, and Nick Clark, headquartered in Wellington with roasting operations, a wholesale arm, and The Hangar flagship café. The company operates across the full coffee value chain: it owns El Fénix, an 8-hectare farm in Quindío, Colombia, through its affiliated Raw Material green-bean company; roasts on a 70kg Loring machine installed in 2020; distributes direct to consumers through flightcoffee.co.nz and to over 100 wholesale accounts across Aotearoa New Zealand; and places canned cold brew and frappes in Z Energy stations and supermarkets nationwide.
Its product portfolio centres on roasted coffee across five signature blends (Bomber, Thunderbolt, B2, Memphis, Big Cozy), single origins, decaf, specialty instant (including a Gesha variant from Hartman Estate, Panama), Nespresso-compatible pods, canned cold-brew and oat-milk RTD coffees, and drip bags. Adjacent categories include brewing equipment via a Breville partnership, pantry items (Bon Accord hot chocolate, Morning Made matcha), and branded merchandise. A subscription programme with Pay-As-You-Go and Prepaid tiers (up to 12 months, up to 20% savings) provides recurring revenue alongside one-off e-commerce orders with free shipping above NZD 35 urban and NZD 50 rural.
The company generates revenue across direct e-commerce, wholesale supply to hospitality businesses, café operations at The Hangar, and packaged retail distribution. It is B Corp certified (score 90.3 vs sector average 76) and Toitū Net Carbon Zero certified, with strategic partners including Veneziano Coffee Roasters (Melbourne), Breville, Life Flight, and the Hurricanes rugby franchise. International DTC shipping covers ten countries across APAC, North America, and Europe, while US shipments remain temporarily suspended due to customs compliance.
Flight Coffee firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Flight Coffee
- Legal name
- Flight Coffee Ltd
- Website
- https://flightcoffee.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Flight Coffee is a Wellington-based specialty coffee roaster founded in 2009, supplying roasted beans, instant, pods, and canned beverages via DTC e-commerce, wholesale to 100+ NZ cafés, Z Energy retail distribution, and international shipping to ten countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Flight Coffee industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee Roasting
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Coffee Roasting & Grinding (AFAFADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG), Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE), Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA), Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Beverage Wholesale (AFAIAGAD)
Keywords
Where Flight Coffee is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wellington
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices3 records
Markets served
Flight Coffee business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct E-commerce Sales: Consumer direct purchases through flightcoffee.co.nz including coffee beans, pods, instant coffee, canned cold brew, equipment, and merchandise with subscription options offering 10-20% savings.
- Wholesale Supply: B2B supply to cafes, restaurants, offices across NZ. Regional sales team manages accounts with clear communication, responsiveness, and adaptation to industry changes. Coffee pit crew approach for hospo businesses.
- Café Operations: The Hangar flagship café in Wellington operating 7 days from 7am-2pm, offering craft espresso drinks and brunch dishes. Community events including coffee cuppings and latte art classes.
- Equipment Partnerships: Partnership with Breville for espresso machine and coffee subscription bundles, bringing equipment and coffee deals to consumers.
- Retail Distribution: Products sold through Z stations nationwide (canned cold brew/frappes), supermarkets including Deep South Caramel Frappe Ice Cream, and liquor stores for Besos Espresso Margarita.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coffee beans and grounds - Various sizes from 250g to 1kg |
| Subscription | Monthly | Subscription Plans - Pay As You Go and Prepaid options |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Specialty Instant Coffee - 20 serving sizes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Specialty Coffee Pods - Nespresso compatible, 10 pods per box |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Canned Cold Brew Coffee - Ready-to-drink |
| Hybrid | Multi-year contract | Machine & Subscription Bundles with Breville |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels10 records
Flight Coffee product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Flight Coffee roasts specialty coffee beans in Wellington, New Zealand, distributing them via direct-to-consumer e-commerce and subscriptions, wholesale supply to cafes and offices, and a flagship cafe. Its portfolio includes signature blends, single origins, Nespresso-compatible pods, specialty instant coffee, canned cold brew beverages, drip bags, and complementary brewing equipment and merchandise. The business operates El Fenix coffee farm in Colombia and sister green-bean trading company Raw Material to control its supply chain and pay producers fixed prices.
Product overview
Flight Coffee is a specialty coffee roastery founded in 2009 in New Zealand, operating as both a direct-to-consumer e-commerce business and wholesale supplier. The product portfolio centers on roasted coffee beans across multiple formats: whole bean/ground coffee in five core blends (Bomber, Thunderbolt, B2, Memphis, Big Cozy), single origins, decaf, specialty instant coffee, Nespresso-compatible pods, canned cold brew beverages, and drip bags. Subscription options provide flexible recurring delivery with pay-as-you-go and prepaid plans. The company also offers complementary categories including equipment (machines, manual brewing, grinders), merchandise, and pantry items. Their flagship café, The Hangar in Wellington, serves as a roastery and training facility, while wholesale operations supply over 100 cafes and businesses across New Zealand. The company maintains a B2C e-commerce platform (Shopify-hosted) alongside B2B wholesale channels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bomber Blend (Roasted Coffee Beans) The original flagship Flight Coffee blend since 2009, featuring orange, caramel, and cacao nib notes; an all-rounder designed for both espresso and filter brewing. Targeted at home coffee enthusiasts and wholesale café partners.
- Thunderbolt Blend (Roasted Coffee Beans) Bold blend designed for deep, strong coffee lovers with peanut slab, fig jam, and brown sugar flavour notes. Targeted at specialty coffee drinkers who prefer high-intensity espresso and filter profiles.
- B2 Blend (Milk Blend) Milk-focused blend using the same origins as Bomber but roasted longer for lower acidity and intensified sweetness, with vanilla, red cherry, and chocolate notes. Targeted at flat white, latte, and cappuccino drinkers.
- Memphis Blend (Roasted Coffee Beans) The strongest Flight Coffee blend, with hazelnut praline, caramel, and milk chocolate notes; named after the Memphis Belle Coffee House. Targeted at drinkers who want a heavy, sweet espresso profile.
- Big Cozy Blend (Roasted Coffee Beans) Cult-favourite rich, chocolatey blend designed for cold mornings with chocolate, sultana, and malt biscuit notes. Targeted at home specialty coffee drinkers.
- Hurricanes Blend (Roasted Coffee Beans) Bold and strong blend created in partnership with the Hurricanes rugby team, featuring chocolate, caramel, and hazelnut notes. Targeted at rugby fans and broader specialty coffee drinkers.
- Single Origin Coffees Fresh, seasonal single-origin coffees sourced from producer partners, roasted for both espresso and filter brewing methods. Targeted at specialty coffee enthusiasts wanting origin-specific flavour profiles.
- Decaf Coffee Decaffeinated coffee options including Decaf Mexico, providing specialty-grade caffeine-free coffee. Targeted at specialty coffee drinkers who avoid caffeine.
- Specialty Coffee Pods (Nespresso-compatible) Recyclable Nespresso-compatible single-serve pods containing Flight Coffee blends for convenient at-home brewing. Targeted at home consumers with Nespresso machines.
- Specialty Instant Coffee Specialty instant coffee range including Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Bomber with Lion's Mane, and standard Bomber varieties. Targeted at convenience-seeking specialty coffee drinkers, including travel and office use.
- Canned Cold Brew Coffee Ready-to-drink canned cold brew beverages including Sparkling Cold Brew, Oat Milk Flat White, Iced Latte, Mint Mocha, Oat Milk Strawberry Mocha, Oat Milk Chai Latte, and Oat Milk Matcha Latte, distributed via Z Energy stations and supermarkets nationwide. Targeted at on-the-go consumers.
- Coffee Drip Bags Coffee drip bags for convenient on-the-go brewing, allowing customers to make Flight Coffee without equipment. Targeted at travellers, campers, and office workers.
- Coffee Subscriptions (Pay As You Go and Prepaid) Subscription coffee delivery service with two plans: Pay As You Go (no contract, flexible, up to 20% savings) and Prepaid (fixed period of 1, 3, 6, or 12 months, up to 20% savings, fortnightly shipments). Targeted at home specialty coffee drinkers seeking automated delivery and savings.
- Wholesale Coffee Supply B2B coffee supply to cafés, offices, and restaurants across Aotearoa New Zealand with dedicated regional sales managers, account managers, coffee specialists, barista training, and equipment support. Targeted at hospitality operators.
- The Hangar Café (Wellington Flagship) Wellington flagship café at 119 Dixon Street combining a working roastery, full kitchen, and front-of-house service for craft espresso drinks and brunch dishes. Hosts community events including coffee cuppings and latte art classes. Targeted at Wellington consumers and visitors.
- Coffee Equipment and Accessories Range of brewing equipment including espresso machines (via Breville partnership), manual brewing gear (Aeropress, Chemex, Hario), grinders, cups, flasks, and accessories. Targeted at home brewing consumers and wholesale customers.
- Machine & Subscription Bundles (with Breville) Hybrid bundles offering espresso machines paired with coffee subscription deals through the Breville partnership, with machines shipped direct from Breville in 5-7 business days. Not available for international shipping.
- Branded Merchandise (Apparel, Gifts, Gift Cards) Branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, caps), accessories (tote bags, notebooks, pens), gift packs, gift subscriptions, gift cards, and Mother's Day gift bundles. Targeted at consumers and gift buyers.
- Pantry Products (Chocolate and Matcha) Pantry items including Bon Accord hot chocolate and Morning Made matcha. Targeted at consumers building out a specialty home beverage pantry.
Quantifiable outcome
- B Corp score of 90.3 (vs sector average 76)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Flight Coffee
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Flight Coffee technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Flight Coffee partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Veneziano Coffee RoasterscoreAustralian specialty coffee roaster partnered with Flight Coffee in 2019 after years of relationship since 2012. Work together to map goals, share insights and learnings from their years of experience. Veneziano helps Flight Coffee carry out their vision to make great coffee simple for all of NZ.
- Raw MaterialcoreGreen bean farming, exporting, importing, and consulting company founded by Matt Graylee (co-founder). Provides stable pricing for coffee producers and improved income equality along the value-chain. Owns El Fénix 8ha farm in Colombia.
- Future PostminorNZ company that takes soft plastics from coffee bags and recycles them into fence posts that last 50+ years. Used in vineyards, farms, and dairy operations across NZ. Fully recyclable product.
- Save BoardminorKiwi innovators who take used coffee bags and turn them into durable construction boards for building projects. Circular economy solution keeping soft plastics from landfill.
- BrevillecorePartnership to bring espresso machine and coffee subscription deals to consumers. Machine & Subscription Bundles offered through flightcoffee.co.nz. Machines shipped direct from Breville.
- Besos (Chef Luis Cabrera)minorCollaboration with Mexican-born chef Luis Cabrera to create the Bomber Espresso Margarita using award-winning Bomber Blend. Available at Super Liquor and Liquorland stores nationwide.
- Motueke CreameryminorPartnership to create Caramel Frappe ice cream that's become a freezer staple in NZ supermarkets.
- Deep SouthminorIce cream maker producing Flight Coffee Caramel Frappe Ice Cream available in supermarkets around NZ.
- Honest RumminorCollaboration to run series of Markets at Auckland site (222) and release Flight Coffee and Honest Coffee Liqueur.
- Life FlightminorNZ rescue helicopter and air ambulance service partnership. Part of B Corp journey - supporting an organisation that literally saves lives. Contribution from every roast, wholesale order, and Flight Coffee brew poured.
- HurricanescoreOfficial coffee partner of Hurricanes rugby team (2025). Hurricanes Blend created to show support for the team. Bold and strong coffee matching team character.
- RUN4 AucklandminorRunning community partnership for all fitness levels. Weekly Sunday runs from Victoria Park with post-run coffee at Flight Coffee Auckland studio.
- PalsminorCollaboration pop-up event that had people queuing around the block.
- Hartman Estate (Panama)minorWorld-renowned coffee farm collaboration in 2021 to craft world's first (or one of) specialty instant coffees using Gesha variety.
- New Ground ManufacturingminorPartnered with Hartman Estate and New Ground Manufacturing for specialty instant coffee project using Gesha variety.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Flight Coffee competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Allpress Coffee: NZ-founded specialty roaster with wholesale to cafes, multiple espresso bars, and full DTC offering; closest direct competitor in NZ specialty coffee with similar product breadth and international expansion.
- Kokako Organic Coffee: NZ specialty organic coffee roaster with Auckland café, wholesale, and DTC; comparable smaller-scale direct peer with sustainability-led positioning similar to Flight's B Corp profile.
- Veneziano Coffee Roasters: Melbourne specialty roaster and Flight Coffee's strategic partner; directly comparable roastery-cafe operation with shared collaboration since 2019 and similar vertically integrated specialties.
- Coffee Supreme: NZ specialty coffee roaster with wholesale, café (like Flight's Hangar), and own farms in Colombia; very comparable vertically integrated model serving the same NZ wholesale and DTC customer base.
- Campos Coffee: Australian specialty roaster with DTC, wholesale, and flagship cafes in Sydney/Melbourne; comparable premium specialty positioning serving the trans-Tasman market Flight also targets.
- St Ali Coffee Roasters: Melbourne-based specialty roaster with cafe operations, DTC, and wholesale across Asia-Pacific; comparable premium specialty positioning targeting similar consumers.
- Supreme Coffee: Long-established NZ specialty coffee roaster serving wholesale and DTC channels across New Zealand; comparable mid-sized scale and product mix focused on roasted beans and blends.
- Atomic Coffee Roasters: Wellington-based specialty roaster and cafe operator (Rocket Espresso franchise); smaller-scale direct peer in same NZ city with shared café-and-wholesale model.
Others
- Cafés de Córdoba: Latin American specialty coffee producer/exporter; relevant as a comparable farm-owned, vertically integrated operator that competes for the same origin-direct specialty positioning Flight cultivates.
Broad incumbents
- Lavazza: Italian global coffee incumbent with roasting operations across multiple continents; broad incumbent for context on what scaled coffee manufacturing and distribution looks like versus Flight's specialty focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Flight Coffee social profiles
Digital presenceFlight Coffee compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Flight Coffee financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Flight Coffee leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Flight Coffee funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Flight Coffee M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Flight Coffee
What does Flight Coffee do?
Flight Coffee roasts specialty coffee beans in Wellington, New Zealand, distributing them via direct-to-consumer e-commerce and subscriptions, wholesale supply to cafes and offices, and a flagship cafe. Its portfolio includes signature blends, single origins, Nespresso-compatible pods, specialty instant coffee, canned cold brew beverages, drip bags, and complementary brewing equipment and merchandise. The business operates El Fenix coffee farm in Colombia and sister green-bean trading company Raw Material to control its supply chain and pay producers fixed prices.
Is Flight Coffee a public or private company?
Flight Coffee is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Flight Coffee founded?
Flight Coffee was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Flight Coffee based?
Flight Coffee is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Flight Coffee make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Direct E-commerce Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale Supply, café Operations, equipment Partnerships and retail Distribution.
Who are Flight Coffee's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Allpress Coffee, Kokako Organic Coffee, Veneziano Coffee Roasters, Coffee Supreme, Campos Coffee, St Ali Coffee Roasters, Supreme Coffee and Atomic Coffee Roasters. Cafés de Córdoba is listed as an others. Lavazza is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Flight Coffee have an API?
No public API is recorded for Flight Coffee.
What industry is Flight Coffee in?
Flight Coffee's product category is Specialty Coffee Roasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFADAB, Coffee Roasting & Grinding, with a secondary code of CRADAHAG, Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean). Its NAICS code is 311920 and its SIC code is 2080.