Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction
Everything you need to know about Marnka & Co. — our blends, subscriptions, brewing, shipping, accessories, wholesale and our story as a 100% female-led, Indigenous Australian-owned coffee brand.
Our Story & Ownership
What does Marnka mean?
Marnka is the Arabana word for abundance — the idea of having more than enough. It guides everything we do. We take only what we need, share what we create, and give back to Country, community, and every customer who chooses to be part of our story.
Who owns Marnka & Co.?
Marnka & Co. is a 100% Female-led, Indigenous Australian-owned and operated brand, founded by Arabana woman, Christine Sindely. Marnka & Co. are currently Supply Nation registered.
What does Supply Nation registered mean?
Supply Nation is Australia's leading directory of verified Indigenous businesses. Registered means Marnka & Co. is listed on Indigenous Business Direct as an Indigenous Australian business, giving buyers confidence that we are part of the national Indigenous supplier network. We are currently working through Supply Nation certification, the next step, which independently verifies that a business is at least 51% Indigenous owned, managed and controlled. Purchasing from us supports your organisation's commitment to reconciliation and to Indigenous Australian economic self-determination.
Is Marnka & Co. registered anywhere else?
Yes. Marnka & Co. is also registered with ICN (Gateway by ICN) and listed as a Verified Australian Wholesaler with B2B Hub.
What principles guide Marnka & Co.?
Everything we do is guided by three principles — Honour, Share, and Reciprocate. They shape how we source, how we roast, how we sell, and how we give back.
Who created your artwork?
Our artwork is by Wongutha artist and designer Kevin Wilson who also resides in WA and is part of the creative team at Nani Creative. What does the artwork depict: It reflects the movement of the Mound Springs on Arabana Country and appears across the Marnka & Co. range.
The Blends & Tasting Notes
How many blends do you offer?
Marnka & Co. currently have five blends, each named in Arabana language. Maka (Fire), Ukarai (Deadly), Wadhlu (Country), Kutha (Water — our premium decaf), and Waangara (Tomorrow).
What do the blends taste like?
- Maka — milk chocolate, roasted macadamia, toffee
- Ukarai — vanilla, caramel, stone fruit, berries
- Wadhlu — dark chocolate, molasses, burnt orange, hazelnut
- Kutha — brown toffee, cinnamon, citrus, caramel
- Waangara — butterscotch, roasted nuts, malt, blackcurrant
Which blend should I choose?
Maka is our espresso blend and Wadhlu is our plunger blend. Ukarai and Waangara are beautiful across any brew method. Kutha is our decaf. If you are not sure, our Brew Guides walk you through each blend and how to get the best from it — and you are always welcome to get in touch and talk it through with us.
Is Kutha really a decaf?
Hard to believe once you try it but, yes, and it is a blend in its own right rather than an afterthought. Kutha is built to the same specialty standard as every other blend in the range, from beans grown by the Montalvo Association of Farmers in South Tolima, Colombia. Decaf drinkers deserve a proper cup.
What have your blends won?
Four Bronze Medals at the 2026 Golden Bean Australasian Championships, across three of our five blends, on our first entry — Maka in both Espresso (Short Black) and Milk Based (Latte), Ukarai in Milk Based (Latte), and Wadhlu in Super Automatic (Espresso).
What does "specialty coffee" actually mean?
Specialty is a graded standard, not a marketing word. Coffee is scored out of 100 across attributes including flavour, aroma, acidity and aftertaste, and must score 80 or above to be called specialty. Every Marnka & Co. blend is built from specialty-grade coffee.
Sourcing & Roasting
Where do your beans come from?
Our current origins are Papua New Guinea, Guatemala, Ethiopia and Colombia. Origins shift with harvest cycles, availability and market conditions, but what we require does not change: every bean responsibly, ethically and sustainably sourced from smallholder producers, to specialty grade, under our supplier agreement.
Do you roast your own coffee?
We partner for our roasting, and we do it deliberately. Our roasting partner is a fourth-generation Italian-Australian roasting family in Naarm/Melbourne, with more than 45 years roasting in Australia and a Golden Bean Gold Medal to their name. Partnering with some of the most experienced roasters in Australian coffee culture is how we make sure our customers get the best.
Is your coffee Australian made?
Our coffee is made in Australia from imported coffee beans. The beans are grown by smallholder producers overseas and blended, roasted and packed here.
How were the blends developed?
Each blend was developed meticulously in partnership. We brought what every Arabana name should carry in the cup, and our roasting partner brought their blending expertise. We refined until the flavour matched the meaning. Nothing in this range is off the shelf.
Are you bringing out anything new?
We have a few things in the pipeline. Steep and brew bags in some of our blends and coffee pods are next, and we are also exploring a specialty coffee concentrate along with premium hot chocolate and chai. Anything that joins the range has to pass our Guiding Principles test first.
Brewing
Whole bean or ground?
Both. You choose your brew option when you order, and we grind to suit your brew method. You pick.
Do you provide brewing instructions?
Yes. Every blend has its own Brew Guide covering the brew methods it suits and how to get the best from it. You will find them under the Our coffee selection tab on our website.
How should I store my coffee?
Keep it sealed, cool, dry and out of direct sunlight. Buy to the rhythm you drink at rather than stockpiling — our coffee is roasted to order so it reaches you fresh, and it is at its best in the weeks after roasting.
How long does it keep?
Every pouch carries a best-before date.
Subscriptions
Do you offer subscriptions?
Yes. We offer two plans — a 250g plan and a 1kg plan — delivered monthly, so you never run out.
What do the plans cost?
Plan A is 250g at $19.00 per month, against an RRP of $21.00. Plan B is 1kg at $59.20 per month, against an RRP of $66.70. Please note that our decaf rate is slightly higher.
What can I choose?
As a valued Marnka & Co. subscriber, you can manage your subscription to modify the following: your plan, blend, brew, weight, quantity and delivery location options.
Do subscriptions include free shipping?
Shipping is free on subscription orders of 5kg and over.
Am I locked into a contract?
No. There are no lock-in contracts, and you can update, pause or cancel your subscription at any time.
Is there a benefit to staying?
Yes. After a full calendar year of continuous subscription, you will receive an invitation to a further discounted plan. Continuous means 365 days without any cancellations, at the discretion of Marnka & Co.
Can I send a subscription as a gift?
You can. Choose your delivery location at sign-up and send it to yourself, or to someone deserving.
Can I subscribe for my workplace?
Absolutely — our plans suit offices, small businesses and short-stay accommodation as well as homes. If your workplace goes through larger volumes, our wholesale partner categories may suit you better. Get in touch, and we will point you to the right one.
Can I change my blend between deliveries?
Yes. Your subscription is not locked to a single blend — you can change your blend between deliveries, so you can work your way through the range or follow whatever you feel like drinking.
Shipping & Delivery
How quickly will my order be dispatched?
Every order is roasted fresh to order in small batches and dispatched within forty-eight (48) to fifty-six (56) hours of a confirmed order.
What does shipping cost?
A flat rate applies to all orders. Shipping is free on retail orders over $300, and free on subscription orders of 6kg and over. Corporate gifting orders are quoted individually with delivery priced into the quote.
Do you ship Australia-wide?
Yes. Orders are dispatched from our Fulfilment Centre based in Melbourne to anywhere in Australia. If you require the order urgently, we can make arrangements for you at an express postage cost.
Is there GST on your coffee?
Roasted coffee is GST-free in Australia, so the price you see is the price you pay. GST applies to accessories such as travel mugs and water bottles, and is shown at checkout.
Can I track my order?
Yes. You will receive tracking details once your order is dispatched, so you can follow it to your door.
What if something isn't right with my order?
Tell us within seven (7) business days and we will make it right. You will find the full detail in our Return & refund policy.
How quickly will you respond if I get in touch?
Within 36 hours, public holidays excepted.
Accessories & Gifts
What else do you sell?
Reusable travel mugs, insulated water bottles and accessories, made to honour the ritual of a good cup.
Do you sell gift boxes?
Yes. You can choose the blends that go in, or we can curate them for you, and every gift can carry a personal note from you to the recipient.
Can you supply coffee for corporate gifting?
We can. Corporate gifting covers far more than Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week — new starters, a thank-you to speakers and visitors, VIP client gifts, launches, project milestones, work anniversaries, promotions and employee reward programs. We can supply our coffee as a gift option in its own right, or for incorporation into your preferred hamper company's offerings. Bespoke arrangements are welcome on request.
Is there a minimum order for corporate gifting?
Yes. Corporate gifting orders start from 25 units.
How much lead time do you need for a NAIDOC Week or end-of-year gifting run?
The more notice you can give us, the better we can serve you. A straightforward order of our standard blends and gift boxes moves quickly. Anything bespoke needs longer, because graphic design, printing and shipping all have to be factored in before your gifts reach their recipients. NAIDOC Week and end-of-year are our busiest periods, so if you know a gifting run is coming, talk to us early — even before the details are settled. We would rather start the conversation and shape it with you than rush the work at the other end.
Wholesale & Stockists
Can I stock Marnka & Co. in my cafe, venue or store?
Yes. We work with cafes, venues, offices, grocers, delicatessens, providores, gift stores and gallery shops. Start at www.marnkaco.com/wholesale or email wholesale@marnkaco.com.
What is the minimum order?
Wholesale orders start from 6kg per order. Any blend can be supplied in 250g or 1kg pouches.
How is wholesale priced?
We have four partner categories, defined by your monthly purchasing volume and reviewed quarterly. Wholesale is priced ex-freight, with freight quoted separately per order. We recommend an RRP of $24 per 250g for stockists.
What are the payment terms?
Your first two orders are prepaid or on 14-day terms, moving to 30-day terms after that. Payment is by direct deposit against a tax invoice, and where purchase orders are used, the PO number is quoted.
How quickly do wholesale orders dispatch?
Within forty-eight (48) to fifty-six (56) hours of a confirmed order.
Are the pouches retail-ready?
Yes. Every pouch carries a best-before date and a barcode.
Can I try before I commit?
Yes. We offer samples, and if you are in Perth, we can bring a tasting of the blends to your team on site.
Do you supply office coffee machines?
We arrange those too. Machines are supplied, installed and serviced by an accredited machine partner, coordinated by us on your behalf. And you already know how the coffee will taste — Wadhlu's Bronze Medal was won in the Super Automatic category, judged blind, so what you taste with us is what your machine will pour.
Are you insured?
Yes. We carry Public and Product Liability cover with a $20,000,000 limit through QBE. A certificate of currency is available on request.
Do I need to sign an agreement?
A Wholesale Supply Agreement records your category, pricing and terms.
Can I order seasonally rather than evenly through the year?
Yes, within your 12-month category totals.
Still have a question?
We would rather hear from you than have you guess. Email us at wholesale@marnkaco.com for wholesale and gifting enquiries, or reach us through the Contact Us page for anything else.