Japan’s Post Coffee receives new investment to scale DTC subscription model

Post Coffee launched its subscription service in April 2022 | Photo credit: Post Coffee

Japan’s Post Coffee has received new investment from venture capital firm Joyance Asia to scale its direct-to-consumer specialty coffee subscription business. 
 

Founded as a roastery in February 2020, Tokyo-based Post Coffee launched its subscription service in April 2022 and today distributes packaged coffee from more than 200 specialty coffee roasters globally to its 90,000 subscribers. 

Partner roasters include 27 Coffee Roasters, Akito Coffee and Nagasawa Coffee from Japan, alongside Germany’s 19 Grams, Denmark’s La Cabra, Canada’s 94 Celsius and the New Zealand’s Coffee Supreme. 

The sum of Joyance Asia’s investment was not disclosed. However, in a press release Post Coffee said the venture capital firm’s funding, expertise and extensive network in Asia will enable it to scale its subscription model to international markets. 

“With this new round of funding, we are taking a big step forward. As a startup, we believe that we have a responsibility to ‘redefine’ coffee by venturing into areas that have been difficult for coffee shops to enter. The feedback from our customers and the passion of our partner roasters have supported us on this journey. From now on, we will take on the challenge of expanding globally and innovating our distribution services, spreading the new value of coffee to the world,” said Ryo Shimomura, CEO, Post Coffee. 

In October 2023, Post Coffee opened a flagship coffee shop in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, where it serves a range of espresso-based and drip coffees, as well as a small selection of its own-brand retail packaged coffee. Post Coffee also regularly launches pop-up cafés in partnership with Japanese department and convenience store chains. 

Singapore-based Joyance Asia invests in startups in the food tech, healthcare and lifestyle sectors across Asia. The venture capital firm is increasing its focus on the coffee and tea industries in a bid to tap into opportunities arising from coffee bean shortages and beverage innovation in the region, according to its website.  

Joyance Asia’s current coffee investments include biotech platform Amatera, which is growing a climate-resistant robusta coffee variety, and Sustainability-focused Vietnamese packaged coffee brand Copper Cow Coffee.