The Story
Coffee Supreme has its origins in a Wellington cafe called Reds, which opened its doors onto Willis Street in 1993.
With perhaps a dose of Antipodean naivety, Chris Dillon and Maggie Wells believed they could do better than what other cafés were able to offer at the time.
With an inner-city location secured, the pair enlisted the help of Chris’ good friend Dean Cato, with whom Chris had worked in the film and television business, to design their better vision of a café.
He created a theatrical space – somewhat like a stage set – with slanting walls, a sweeping curved bar and angled header, hidden filmic lighting and piles of moody atmosphere.
Eleven months in, Reds’ had built a solid and beloved community of regulars and was trading successfully. Although Chris and Maggie never intended to set up a coffee roasting business, through the fortuitous conversations with the taxman, they were presented with the opportunity to acquire one. A mere three days later, Coffee Supreme was born. The catalyst came when their coffee supplier, Belaroma, faced liquidation, forcing the duo to either find a new roaster or roast their own. In the years to come, Chris hit the streets as our sales guy, introducing Coffee Supreme to cafes across the capital, armed only with a brand, a grinder and a bag of coffee.
What began as a necessity evolved into a transformative force in New Zealand’s coffee culture. Coffee Supreme has been the most influential pioneer of the lighter roast movement in New Zealand. The company expanded steadily from Wellington to Auckland, then internationally to Australia, and eventually Japan. In recognition of his industry impact, Coffee Supreme founder Chris Dillon was awarded the New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sourcing & Relationships
Coffee Supreme sources coffee through long-term producer relationships, trusted exporters and direct trade partnerships built on consistency and transparency.
We believe sustainability in coffee is built through long-term relationships. The producers we work with know what we are looking for. Rather than relying on commodity markets or opportunistic purchasing, the company’s sourcing philosophy centers on enduring partnerships that benefit both parties.
We pay premiums for Supreme quality and consistency because that is what it takes to secure exceptional specialty coffee year after year. The company doesn’t simply buy from warehouses or brokers; securing the coffees we love involves months of communication, logistics and coordination to bring exceptional green coffee from origin to our roasteries in New Zealand, Australia and Japan. This approach requires significant investment in travel, relationship building, and direct engagement with farming communities.
The specialty coffee operator sources coffee from Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya, Nicaragua and Peru.
The Wellington-based specialty coffee roaster and café chain said the achievement was testament to its sustainability commitments, which include paying above-market prices to coffee farmers, promoting sustainable farming practices, community development at origin and using paper-based coffee packaging. The company achieved B Corp certification with a B Impact Score of 85.4, above the 80-point threshold required , reflecting measurable commitments to social and environmental responsibility.
Roasting Philosophy
Coffee Supreme’s roasting approach focuses on expressing the inherent character of each coffee rather than imposing a house style. Coffee has come a long way since 1993; the rise of manual brewing methods like pour-over filters, as well as the increasing popularity of single origin beans, has led to a trend for lighter roasts, allowing the flavour inherent to the bean to shine. Coffee Supreme has been the most influential pioneer of that movement in New Zealand. This philosophy positions roasting as a tool for revelation rather than transformation.
We began roasting to control quality and to better understand the coffees we were serving. From there, we grew steadily, driven by a belief that coffee should be reliable, expressive and enjoyable every day. The company views roasting as part of a larger quality control system that begins with sourcing exceptional green coffee. Great coffee starts with great green coffee. The flavour in your cup is directly linked to the quality of the coffee we source. That’s why coffee sourcing has always been the foundation of what we do as a specialty coffee roaster.
The company still roasts many of its Single Origin beans on a 1950s Probat 22kg roaster , demonstrating a commitment to traditional equipment combined with modern understanding of coffee development. The goal isn’t to chase trends but to consistently deliver coffees that showcase their origins while remaining accessible to a broad audience. This balance between innovation and reliability has made Supreme a trusted name across New Zealand and Australia’s specialty coffee landscape.
What to Try
Supreme’s signature offerings demonstrate their range across different brewing methods and flavor preferences. Supreme Blend remains their flagship, described with notes of “Milk Chocolate, Orange & Caramel | Sweet & Moreish,” designed for espresso applications. Big Joe Filter Blend offers “Stone Fruit, Citrus & Milk Chocolate | Smooth & Juicy” for manual brewing methods, while Boxer Blend provides “Dark Cocoa, Malt Biscuits & Maple” for those preferring bolder flavors.
The single origin selection rotates seasonally but consistently features African and Central American coffees. Recent offerings include Rwanda Nyamyumba Washed with “Black Tea, Star Fruit & Cherry Plum | Crisp & Fruity” and Rwanda Nyamyumba Natural featuring “Black Cherry, Blood Orange & Loquat | Sweet & Syrupy.” At any one time, you can try coffee from a number of different countries. We usually have about ten different Singles on the menu at any one time.
For those seeking accessible entry points, Supreme also produces specialty instant coffee sachets, made from Colombian beans, and marketed as “The best coffee when you can’t have the best coffee.”
Ethiopia Drip Bags offer “Milk Chocolate, Berries & Blossom” for convenient brewing without equipment. The diversity of offerings reflects Supreme’s commitment to meeting coffee drinkers wherever they are, from espresso enthusiasts to filter purists to those simply seeking better daily coffee.