TL;DR: Sample Coffee may contain gluten (both beans and cafe drinks). We can’t rule out cross-contact at different stages of the coffee journey, so we can’t label it as gluten-free. If gluten is a health concern, please get medical advice before consuming our coffee.
Back in 2021, a customer asked whether our coffee was gluten-free. We didn’t know for sure, so we did some research and shared a journal post with our findings.
Now, it’s October 2026 – a long time since then! Some of our suppliers have changed, and new information is available, so here is an updated version.
Coffee (beans and brewed in our shops)
Status (as of October 2026): not gluten-free certified
Coeliac Australia’s general advice for coffee (as per their email reply in 2021) was that it’s gluten-free and suitable for those on a gluten-free diet, except for sachet-format products, which may occasionally contain wheat starch.
However, if we take a more conservative approach and have a closer look at the typical stages of the coffees we buy and serve here at Sample Coffee, there are many stages where we can’t rule out cross-contact with gluten-containing ingredients:
Coffee cherries/seeds. They are naturally gluten-free, as coffee beans are the seeds of the coffee fruit/cherry.
Harvest, fermentation, processing, packing, and importing to our roastery in Sydney. To our knowledge, most coffee harvesting and fermentation processes (i.e. washed, natural, honey) do not generally involve the use of gluten-containing ingredients. However, some farms/facilities may handle them at different times as part of their work with different harvests/products; they may also use them for experimental coffee fermentation processes.
Roasting and packing. In our roastery, we only roast and pack coffee and, very rarely, cacao beans. We handle other packaged products, like brewing gear, merchandise, and packaged food products (tea, chocolate bars, etc.).
Brewing at our cafes. In our coffee shops, we work with coffee, milk, alternative milks, chocolate powders, teas, and pastries altogether. Sometimes, other foods as well. Many systems stay separate and get cleaned between uses, though we haven’t validated this against allergen standards and there may be a risk of cross-contact with gluten-containing ingredients.
Our advice to people with coeliac disease and those concerned about gluten is that Sample Coffee (both beans and cafe drinks) is not gluten-free, so it’s best to get medical advice before consuming it.
Cow milk by Sungold Milk
Sungold Jersey cow milk (full cream and light) is our main option for our milk coffee offerings at the cafes.
We couldn’t find a gluten-free certification on their website/product page (as of October 2026).
Oat m*lk by Boring
One of our alternative milk options in our cafes.
Products containing oats can’t be labelled “gluten free” in Australia; plus, Boring confirms on their FAQ page on their website (as of October 2026) that their oat milk is “not gluten free”.
Soy m*lk by Bonsoy
One of our alternative milk options in our cafes.
We couldn’t find a gluten-free certification on their product page (as of October 2026).
Almond m*lk by Milklab
One of our alternative milk options in our cafes.
We couldn’t find a gluten-free certification on their product page (as of October 2026).
Raw sugar by CSR
Sometimes added to cafe drinks on request.
We couldn’t find a gluten-free certification on their product page (as of October 2026).
Cacao powder by Black Gold Cacao
We use it for dusting some drinks at the cafe, like cappuccinos.
We couldn’t find a gluten-free certification on their product page (as of October 2026).
Chocolate (cocoa) powder by Silver Street
We use it for our mocha and drinking chocolate drinks.
We couldn’t find a gluten-free certification on their product page (as of October 2026).
Final thoughts
The term “gluten free” or “gluten-free” is tightly regulated in Australia.
We haven’t had our products tested or certified, and we can’t rule out cross-contact with gluten-containing ingredients through the coffee journey – from farm to cup. So, we can’t guarantee they’re safe for people with coeliac disease (or concerned with gluten).
The information we’ve shared with you here is general and reflects what our suppliers and we know and have published at the time of writing (October 2026).
This is not medical advice. If you have coeliac disease or another medical reason to avoid gluten, please check with your doctor or dietitian. Get in touch via [email protected] if you’d like us to confirm what’s in a specific coffee or product we work with.