Father and daughter duo Dasha Skye and George Vesna created Epic Coffee over their shared passion for great-quality coffee and the great outdoors.
“The idea of serving outdoor enthusiasts with high-quality, convenient coffee came about when we realised there was a gap in the New Zealand market,” said Skye.
Skye said that the pair wanted to create a product that could be enjoyed anywhere from mountain peaks to campfires, without the hassle of traditional brewing gear or sacrifice in taste and quality. This resulted in the Epic Coffee Drip Filters, single-use drip coffee packs that bring a coffee shop experience to the wilderness.
Using only single-origin, specialty coffee beans and delivering a convenient, light-weight solution to brewing coffee no matter where consumers are, Epic Coffee is tried, tested, and roasted in-house at Epic Coffee’s roastery in Waipu, New Zealand. Epic Coffee is meticulous about the origins of its beans and strives to obtain as much ‘seed to cup’ information as possible.
“We prioritise sustainable packaging anywhere possible within our business and shipping practises.”
Partnered with ONETREEPLANTED, proceeds from sales contribute to reforestation and enable website customers to plant trees with their purchases. Skye continued that Epic Coffee was also a proud supporter of LANDSAR, providing coffee to fuel their vital training and rescues.
In 2022, Epic Coffee invested in in-house automated packaging equipment, a decision that set the stage for its expansion into on-sellers and stockists. By doing this, Epic Coffee transformed from a passion project into a fully-fledged business operation, allowing it to connect with a broader audience and rapidly grow.
Vesna and Skye place enormous value on customer input, attributing this feedback as a driving force behind Epic Coffee’s product development, branding choices, marketing strategies, partnerships, and community initiatives.
Skye said that nearly every aspect of the brand and its product offerings has been shaped by the preferences and insights of customers.
“We remain dedicated to constant improvement, expanding our offerings, and supporting community initiatives that align with their suggestions.”
Epic Coffee began the year by participating in exciting and successful expos, leaving a significant impression and impact on the outdoor enthusiast community, including the 4X4 Outdoor Expo, SIKA Show, and more. Each event has played a critical role in expanding brand awareness, with partnerships such as these providing a significant opportunity to spread the word about Epic Coffee among outdoor enthusiasts.
Moving forward, Skye and Vesna said they were onto something sweet, introducing Hot Chocolate to the lineup and an organic fair-trade roast aligned with their sustainability and ethical sourcing values.
Plans for an Epic Roastery 2.0 in an exciting new location are underway.
“Our big goal? Fuel as many Kiwi adventures as possible.”
Read more featured stories from the November issue of Supermarket News below:
