Dukes Coffee Roasters
Self-reported* Self-reported. Dukes Coffee Roasters is a small, independent business that says it buys directly from named farms. That usually means better prices for farmers, but it hasn't published what it pays or any independent checks, and there's no way yet to confirm that pay reaches the farm workers who pick the crop. If a labour problem is confirmed, its grade drops to Poor. Why we allow this
Dukes Coffee Roasters is a small, independent business built around buying directly from named farms, which usually means better prices for farmers. It hasn't published what it pays or any independent checks, so this rests on its own word.
Last researched 8 October 2026
Heading in the right direction. Workers are paid enough to live on, or the company is certified as working towards it, and there are no serious warning signs. One piece is still unproven. What this grade means
Good: 1 of 5
- Pays a living wage
- Respects worker rights
- Full supply chain audit, or made only in countries with rigorous labour standards
- No child or forced labour findings
- Publishes where its products are made (supplier list, named farms or its own factories)
Great: 0 of 3
- Pays beyond a living wage
- Finds and fixes problems, or invests directly in workers' communities
- Actively empowers workers
Needs all Good requirements plus two of these.
Red flags: 1
- Hidden or unaudited supply chain (no certification or documentation, or major production in countries with poor worker rights without independent audits)
Where it's made
| Country | Worker rights | Legal wages | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethiopia 25% | Regular violations | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Guatemala 25% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Colombia 25% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Honduras 25% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Country conditions from the ITUC Global Rights Index, Global Slavery Index and living wage benchmarks. Certifications and audits can raise a company above its countries' baseline.
Why this grade
- Coffee is on the US Department of Labor child or forced labour list for over a dozen countries, and farm-gate prices often fall below a living income. (partly offset by certification or direct sourcing)
- Certified organic: Organic certification has no labour criteria beyond basics.
- Direct trade (self-reported)
- Built around direct trade with named farms or producers
- Small, independent business built around direct trade with named farms. Graded Almost good on its own word, as it hasn't published prices or independent checks. Any confirmed labour problem would move it to Poor.
Dukes is an independent Melbourne roaster founded in 2008 and owned by Peter and Diane Frangoulis, with a café at Ross House on Flinders Lane. It sells only certified organic coffee, some of it Regenerative Organic Certified, and says it works directly with growers, cooperatives and producer groups, but it publishes no prices paid, no transparency report and no importer list (a 2013 report said it bought through several green coffee importers). Product names point to producers and farms in Ethiopia, Guatemala, Colombia and Honduras, but the company does not explain its relationship with them, and it holds no Fairtrade or labour-specific certification.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade (incl. FLOCERT and Fairtrade ANZ) | Not listed | No Fairtrade licence found; the company's coffee is certified organic, not Fairtrade. View ↗ |
| B Corp directory | Not listed | Not a Certified B Corp. View ↗ |
| US Department of Labor goods lists | Found | Coffee from Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia, three of its current origins, is on the US DOL child labour list; Ethiopia is not listed for coffee. View ↗ |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Not listed | A small business well below the A$100m threshold, so it is not required to lodge a modern slavery statement and none is listed. View ↗ |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Not listed | No allegations against Dukes Coffee Roasters are recorded. View ↗ |
Sources (8)
- Dukes Coffee Roasters - home page · archived copy · Works exclusively with certified organic and regenerative organic farmers; directly sourced microlots; certified organic mark; Fairtrade not mentioned; café at 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
- About - Dukes Coffee · archived copy · First store opened in Melbourne in 2008; relationships with growers, cooperatives and producer groups; Organic and Regenerative Organic Certified coffees; no prices, importers or farms named.
- Coffee - Dukes Coffee · archived copy · Current coffees from Ethiopia, Guatemala, Colombia and Honduras, with producer or farm names in titles (e.g. Desta Ware, El Mirador, Yuver Andres, Marcala); described as 100% organic; no farmgate pric
- Microlot Program - Dukes Coffee · archived copy · Microlots 'sourced directly from our producer partners' who farm organically; no importers or prices disclosed.
- Melbourne: Put Dukes On It - Sprudge (2013) · archived copy · Owner Peter Frangoulis; flagship opened 2008 in Windsor; green coffee bought from importers including Silo, Café Imports, MTC, Melbourne Coffee Merchants and Bennetts.
- Dukes Moves into Ross House - Broadsheet (2013) · archived copy · Owned by Peter and Diane Frangoulis; pledges 1% of sales to environmental causes through 1% for the Planet.
- List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor - US DOL · archived copy · Coffee from Guatemala and Honduras is listed for child labour.
- List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor - US DOL · archived copy · Coffee from Colombia is listed for child labour.
Last researched 8 October 2026 · details still being verified. Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Represent this company and think something is wrong? A right-of-reply form is coming soon.