Axil Coffee Roasters

What Axil Coffee Roasters does

Axil Coffee Roasters is a Melbourne-based specialty coffee company founded by husband and wife duo Dave Makin and Zoe Delaney. The company operates 16+ company-owned retail cafes across Melbourne plus a first interstate location in Surry Hills (Sydney), with formats ranging from kitchen cafes with table service to espresso bars, airport, university, and shopping center outposts. Coffee is roasted in small batches at the Hawthorn roastery headquarters, with sourcing handled through a direct trade model that pays 25% above Fair Trade and maintains 13+ year farmer relationships. The Hawthorn facility also houses The Espresso Academy, which delivers barista training courses designed by World Barista Champion Anthony Douglas and taught by industry-leading trainers.

The core product line spans roasted coffee (Seasonal, Heavyweight, and Pele blends; single origins from Kenya, Burundi, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Colombia, Panama, and Ethiopia; plus a Signature Series featuring rare varietals like Gesha and Sudan Rume), available as whole bean or ground, Nespresso-compatible aluminum pods, instant coffee, and single-serve drip bags. Adjacent revenue streams include professional barista training ($40-$250 per course), event catering and vintage Citroen H coffee van hire (Brewce), branded merchandise, pantry products via Ratio Cocoa and Fressko partnerships, and Breville/Sunbeam/Moccamaster coffee machines.

The business model is multi-channel and diversified across transaction-fee revenue (retail cafes, e-commerce at axilcoffee.com.au, wholesale B2B, merchandise), recurring subscription revenue via Recharge Payments (coffee 14-30 day cycles, pod subscriptions, machine subscriptions of 12-24 months), and one-time training fees. Wholesale supply targets cafes, restaurants, and businesses globally with no minimum order quantity and includes integrated brewing, training, marketing, operations, and finance support. The company is privately held through Coffee Co-op Pty Ltd as trustee for The Coffee Co-Op Unit Trust, with separate unit trusts (Tin Alley, Axil Richmond, Axil Wesley Place) for specific location entities. Customer acquisition leverages email newsletters (15% first-order incentive), Instagram, championship-driven PR, and free wholesale sample packs.

Name

Axil Coffee Roasters

Legal name

Coffee Co-op Pty Ltd as trustee for The Coffee Co-Op Unit Trust

Website

https://axilcoffee.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Axil Coffee Roasters is a Melbourne-based specialty coffee roaster and multi-venue cafe operator founded by Dave Makin and Zoe Delaney, serving individual consumers, wholesale B2B partners, corporate offices, and aspiring baristas through 16+ cafes, e-commerce subscriptions, and training courses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Roasting

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coffee Roasting & Grinding (AFAFADAB), Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA), Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG), Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing (AFAFADAJ), Coffee, Tea & Cacao Experiences (Roastery Tours, Tastings) (THAJAGAH)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roasting
• Coffee subscription services
• Barista training courses
• Wholesale coffee supply
• Café retail operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Cafe Sales: Revenue from 16+ cafe locations across Melbourne serving specialty coffee, food and beverages. Locations include kitchen cafes with table service and espresso bar formats.
2. E-commerce Coffee Sales: Online sales of coffee beans, pods, instant coffee, and brewing equipment through axilcoffee.com.au. Free shipping over $75.
3. Coffee Subscriptions: Recurring subscription revenue from coffee deliveries (14-day to 30-day options), coffee pod subscriptions, and machine subscriptions. 10% discount for subscribers. Powered by Recharge Payments.
4. Barista Training Courses: Professional barista training courses in Melbourne at The Espresso Academy. Courses include Barista Standards ($116-$150), Advanced Barista ($180-$250), Latte Art ($116-$150), Filter Coffee ($72-$90), Farm to Cup ($36-$40).
5. Wholesale Coffee Supply: B2B wholesale supply of specialty coffee to cafes, restaurants and businesses. Includes operational support, training, marketing assistance and equipment advisory.
6. Catering & Events: Event catering services and vintage 1961 Citroen H Coffee Van (Brewce) hire for events. Corporate functions, social events, fundraising and community events.
7. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including t-shirts ($36-$72), caps ($18), tote bags ($22-$29), reusable cups ($33), and mugs.
8. Pantry Products: Ancillary products including Ratio cocoa drinking chocolate ($20-$21), dark chocolate ($15), and Tea & Spice Fresh Chai ($15).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Axil Coffee Roasters is a Melbourne-based specialty coffee roaster that roasts coffee in small batches at its Hawthorn roastery using direct-trade sourcing at 25% above Fair Trade prices. The company sells its coffee through 16+ company-owned cafés across Melbourne and Sydney, an e-commerce storefront at axilcoffee.com.au, wholesale supply to cafes and restaurants, recurring coffee and machine subscriptions, barista training courses at The Espresso Academy, event catering with the Brewce vintage coffee van, and branded merchandise.

Product overview

Axil Coffee Roasters is a Melbourne-based specialty coffee company offering a comprehensive portfolio centered on premium roasted coffee products. The core offering spans whole bean and ground coffees across three signature blends (Seasonal, Heavyweight, Pele), single origins from eight countries, and a premium Signature Series featuring rare varietals from award-winning farms. Coffee is sold through multiple formats: traditional whole bean/ground bags, Nespresso-compatible pods, instant coffee, and drip bags. The subscription model provides recurring deliveries of coffee, pods, or bundled with equipment (Sunbeam, Opal, Moccamaster machines). Adjacent revenue streams include barista training courses (Espresso Standards, Advanced Barista, Latte Art, Filter Brewing, Farm To Cup) at The Espresso Academy, event catering with the vintage Brewce coffee van, wholesale supply for commercial partners, and branded merchandise. The company operates 16+ cafe locations across Melbourne and one interstate location in Sydney, with the roastery headquartered in Hawthorn.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coffee (Beans and Ground) Whole bean and ground coffee in three signature blends (Seasonal, Heavyweight, Pele) and single origins from Kenya, Burundi, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Colombia, Panama, and Ethiopia; priced $15-$65 depending on origin and format.
• Signature Series Single-Origin Coffee Premium single-origin coffees sourced from award-winning farms including Finca Deborah (Panama) and Finca Zarza (Colombia), featuring rare varietals such as Gesha and Sudan Rume, priced $19-$65.
• Coffee Pods Nespresso-compatible aluminum coffee pods in Colombia, Seasonal Blend, Heavyweight, Decaf Espresso, and Ethiopia varieties; available in 10-packs from $9, 60/120/180-pack subscription options. 100% recyclable aluminum.
• Instant Coffee Premium instant coffees including Seasonal Espresso Blend (Brazil/El Salvador/Colombia) at $18 and Cherry Pie Blend (Colombia/Costa Rica) at $20; created by Australian Barista Champions.
• Drip Bags Single-serve drip coffee bags with pre-portioned ground coffee in sealed filter sachets for on-the-go brewing.
• Coffee Subscriptions Recurring coffee delivery subscriptions with 14-day to 30-day intervals for whole bean or ground coffee, including single-origin, seasonal, filter roast, and decaf options; 10% discount for subscribers, powered by Recharge Payments.
• Coffee Machine Subscriptions Bundled 12-24 month subscriptions pairing coffee machines (Sunbeam Barista Max, Opal pod machine, Breville, or Moccamaster for filter) with monthly 1kg premium coffee deliveries; Moccamaster subscription from $17.93/week.
• Coffee Pod Subscriptions Automatic delivery of Nespresso-compatible pods in 60, 120, or 180 packs delivered every 2-4 weeks; choose from Seasonal, Heavyweight, Colombia, Ethiopia, Decaf, or Mixed roasters choice options; from $47 per 60-pack.
• Gift Subscriptions Prepaid gift subscriptions for coffee deliveries available in 3-month ($44), 6-month ($87), and 12-month ($173) terms; recipients can customize grind preferences and delivery frequency.
• Barista Standards Training Introductory 2.5-hour barista course covering dosing, tamping, espresso extraction, milk texturing, and grind adjustments; $116-$150, capped at 4-5 students per class.
• Advanced Barista Training 2-hour advanced course for experienced baristas covering manual dosing, grind distribution, espresso extraction factors, coffee varieties, and espresso machine/grinder features; $180-$250, limited to 4 students per class.
• Latte Art Standards Training 2-hour course teaching milk texturing and free-pour latte art designs including heart, rosetta, and tulip patterns; $116-$150, maximum 4 students per class.
• Advanced Latte Art Training 2.5-hour advanced course covering complex free-pour designs including swans, triple rosetta, and rose patterns; $180-$250, capped at 4 students per class.
• Filter Coffee Standards Training 2-hour pour-over and manual brewing course covering water temperature, grind size, extraction time, and coffee-to-water ratios; $72-$90, limited to 6 participants.
• Farm to Cup Workshop 2-hour workshop exploring coffee cultivation, harvesting, processing, and roasting fundamentals with hands-on cupping and tasting sessions; $36-$40, maximum 15 participants.
• Event Catering and Brewce Coffee Van Hire Professional coffee catering services and vintage 1961 Citroen H coffee van (Brewce) hire for corporate functions, private events, fundraising, and community events; staffed by professional baristas.
• Coffee Machines and Grinders Breville espresso machines sold through e-commerce, including Barista Express Impress at $683 and Barista Touch Impress at $1,545, with warranty support.
• Pantry Products Ancillary partner products including Ratio cocoa drinking chocolate (40%, 60%, Chilli) at $20-$21, dark chocolate with almonds and coffee beans at $15, and Tea & Spice Fresh Chai at $15.
• Branded Merchandise Branded apparel and accessories including t-shirts (Rise N Grind, Serving The Good Stuff, World Barista Championship, and ERNIOLD collaboration), caps ($18), tote bags ($22-$29), reusable Fressko cups ($33), and mugs.
• World Barista Championship Milan 2025 Tee Limited-edition fitted t-shirt released in 2025 to celebrate Jack Simpson's 2025 World Barista Championship win in Milan, available in sizes S-XL and colors Pink, Purple, and Green; sold exclusively online through Axil Coffee Roasters' e-commerce store.
• Gift Cards In-store and web-store gift vouchers redeemable at Axil cafe locations or online at axilcoffee.com.au; purchasing and management powered by Square.
• Wholesale Coffee Supply B2B specialty coffee supply for cafes, restaurants, and businesses globally, with no minimum order quantity; includes equipment advisory, barista training, operational support, and marketing assistance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pay 25% more than Fair Trade rates to ensure sustainable producer relationships
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ERNIOLDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Axil Coffee Run t-shirt merchandise. ERNIOLD x Axil Coffee Run Tee - Men ($72) and Women ($72) sold through Axil's e-commerce.
• BrevillecoreTechnology or IntegrationBreville espresso machines (Barista Express Impress $683, Barista Touch Impress $1,545) sold through Axil. Machines also featured in subscription packages.
• MoccamastercoreTechnology or IntegrationMoccamaster filter coffee machine subscription offered through Axil. 12-month subscription starting from $17.93/week with monthly coffee deliveries.
• SunbeamcoreTechnology or IntegrationSunbeam Barista Max Coffee machine included in coffee machine subscriptions. 24-month subscription with monthly premium coffee deliveries.
• Recharge PaymentscoreTechnology or IntegrationSubscription management platform powering Axil's coffee subscriptions, coffee pod subscriptions, and coffee machine subscriptions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Allpress Espresso: New Zealand-founded specialty coffee roaster with Australian locations and global wholesale. Direct competitor in wholesale supply to cafes, with similar cafe and DTC subscription channels in Australia.
• St Ali Coffee Roasters: Pioneering Melbourne specialty coffee roaster with cafe locations and a strong wholesale program. Direct competitor in the same Melbourne specialty coffee segment, with similar cafe and DTC channels.
• Ona Coffee: Canberra-origin Australian specialty roaster with cafes, wholesale, and barista training. Compares as a multi-channel specialty competitor with championship pedigree and roastery-cafe format.
• Code Black Coffee: Melbourne specialty roaster and cafe operator with roastery tours and wholesale. Direct competitor in the Melbourne specialty coffee space with overlapping cafe and wholesale channels.
• Padre Coffee: Melbourne specialty roaster with multiple cafes and direct trade sourcing. Competes with Axil in Melbourne cafe locations, wholesale supply to hospitality venues, and DTC e-commerce.
• Campos Coffee: Australian specialty coffee roaster with cafes, wholesale, and barista training. Comparable integrated model with roastery-cafe, B2B wholesale, and direct trade positioning across Australia.
• Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters: Melbourne specialty coffee roaster with cafe, wholesale, and direct trade sourcing. Comparable to Axil in roastery-cafe integration, single-origin philosophy, and B2B wholesale model.
• Market Lane Coffee: Melbourne-based specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator with multiple locations across the city. Closest direct peer to Axil in terms of integrated roastery-cafe model, single-origin focus, and Melbourne CBD/suburban footprint.
• Proud Mary Coffee Roasters: Melbourne-origin specialty coffee roaster with cafes, wholesale, and strong US presence. Comparable integrated roastery-cafe-wholesale model with similar direct trade and single-origin positioning.
• Toby's Estate: Australian specialty coffee roaster with flagship cafes, wholesale, and subscription. Comparable in scale, channel mix, and direct trade philosophy; competes for similar wholesale and DTC customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Axil Coffee Roasters