Turn your daily coffee into someone’s second shot at life.
Every bag of Second Shot Coffee helps fund Life101 programmes supporting people to rebuild their lives.
How it works
You buy Second Shot Coffee
Order online for home or work — just like you would any other quality coffee.
Profits fund programmes
$20 from every 1kg bag goes directly towards delivering Life101 programmes.
People get a second shot at life
Participants learn how to find work, manage and invest their money, and build confidence as they set goals for a more positive future.
Founders Nick and Phil met in 2004 while studying together at university.
Humble beginnings
Nick and Phil decided to create a school holiday programme for teens. Life101 Ltd was formed, a website was built, and countless hours were spent writing the first manual — all while they were both working full-time jobs.
First School Holiday Programme
Life101 ran its first three-day School Holiday Programme in Auckland. It was small, hands-on, slightly scrappy, and deeply encouraging — the story making it into the NZ Herald, where it was read by two lovely ladies (Jackie and Jayne) from Paremoremo Prison...
NZ Herald Article
First prison pilot
Life101 delivered a pilot with 12 men in the pre-release unit at Paremoremo Prison. The experience was challenging, humbling, and deeply impactful for the men involved, and it led to early Department of Corrections work across several Northern Region sites.
NZ Herald Article
Scaling the impact
Life101 expanded into more prisons and Community Corrections centres, responding to growing demand for practical life and financial skills. This marked the beginning of scaling our impact nationwide.
Rebuilding after COVID
Prisons and probation centres finally reopened after 18 months, and Life101 worked flat out to restart delivery. COVID came very close to ending Life101, but the team dug in and kept it alive.
Inviting the community in
Life101 committed to two new initiatives: ‘Second Shot Coffee’ and ‘Turning the Page’ in 2026. For the first time, these initiatives will enable everyday New Zealanders to directly support Life101’s work — and, in doing so, support people rebuilding their lives after prison.
More about 'Turning the Page'
Second Shot Coffee FAQs
Second Shot is a social-impact coffee brand created by Life101. We roast premium beans and use the profits to fund life and financial skills programmes for young people, adults, and people in prison and serving community-based sentences.
All profits go directly towards running life and financial skills programmes in prisons and community corrections centres in New Zealand.
Every bag helps someone learn real-world skills like budgeting, CV writing, job readiness, communication, saving, and investing.
More programmes = more people prepared for employment and reintegration, meaning reduced re-offending and safer communities. Your coffee literally gives someone a second shot at life.
Because too many people in New Zealand are stuck in a cycle that hurts them, their whānau, and their communities - and it doesn’t need to be this way.
Nearly 50% of people released from prison reoffend within two years*, and reimprisonment costs taxpayers more than $150,000** per person, per year. The impact goes far beyond the individual: children lose stability, whānau are stretched, and communities carry the strain.
Our programmes give people direction, motivation and skills to make positive changes in their lives.
(*https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/research/reconviction-patterns-of-released-prisoners-a-48-months-follow-up-analysis/re-imprisonment-rates-first-timers-and-recidivists)
(**https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/strategic_reports/annual-reports/annual_report_202425)
Yes. Our beans are roasted in New Zealand by expert roasters to ensure freshness, quality, and a premium taste profile.
Yes! You can set up a subscription so you never run out. You choose the frequency, and we deliver fresh beans straight to your door.
We do, and we can include an impact card explaining how your coffee order supports life and financial skills programmes. This helps your team or clients understand the real difference their coffee is making. Contact us for more information.
Absolutely - we can create branded stickers or bags for events, gifts, or corporate packs. Contact us for more information.
We currently only offer beans however we will be expanding our range in the near future.
Yes - we ship across New Zealand and offer free shipping on orders over a set amount. We don't currently offer international shipping.