Prefer

Prefer is a Singapore-based food technology company established in 2022 that is addressing the sustainability and affordability challenges within the food and beverage industry, starting with coffee. The company was founded by CEO Jake Berber, a former neuroscientist with a background in the investment sector, and CTO Tan Ding Jie, a food scientist known for his expertise in fermentation. The duo connected at an Entrepreneur First accelerator program with a shared vision of applying fermentation technology to create sustainable food solutions. Their focus on coffee was driven by the crop's significant carbon footprint and its vulnerability to climate change, which is projected to reduce arable coffee farmland by 2050.

Prefer has developed a proprietary technology that uses fermentation to create bean-free coffee and cocoa. The company primarily operates on a business-to-business (B2B) model, supplying its products as ingredients to food and beverage manufacturers, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands, and private label retailers. A key part of its strategy involves licensing its intellectual property, allowing partners to manufacture the products locally. This approach aims to reduce costs for clients and enhance supply chain resilience. Prefer's bean-free coffee is positioned as a coffee extender, which can be blended with traditional coffee by up to 40% without impacting flavor, offering a more affordable and sustainable final product.

The company's core product is a bean-free coffee alternative made from upcycled food manufacturing by-products. Initially, this included day-old bread, soy pulp (okara), and spent barley grains from local Singaporean companies like Gardenia and Mr Bean. More recent formulations utilize broken rice and soy pulp. These raw materials undergo a proprietary fermentation process with specific microbes, followed by roasting and grinding, which replicates the aroma and flavor profiles of traditional coffee. The resulting product is naturally caffeine-free, but caffeine can be added to meet customer specifications. Prefer has expanded its product line to include soluble coffee and cocoa powders for use in instant and ready-to-drink beverages. The company has secured US$6.2 million in total funding and has established commercial partnerships with companies like Ajinomoto in Thailand and The Coffee Ferm in Australia and New Zealand to scale production and distribution.

Keywords: bean-free coffee, sustainable ingredients, food technology, fermentation, upcycled food, coffee alternative, B2B ingredients, food manufacturing, sustainable coffee, alternative protein, climate tech, food waste valorization, cocoa alternative, flavor technology, licensing IP, Ajinomoto partnership, Singapore startup, food science, supply chain resilience, cost-effective ingredients