A first-of-its-kind frozen espresso shot company in New Zealand was the result of a desire to escape the “sole parent benefit cycle”.

Vague Hippo owner Haydee DeKlerk, 32, from Ōmokoroa, had been unemployed for six years, relying on MSD to provide for her young family.

Haydee DeKlerk an avid iced coffee drinker, solved her own problem by creating a New Zealand first frozen espresso pod company. Photo /Tom Eley

“It’s hard to get out of that cycle.”

The struggle to move forward was almost impossible for DeKlerk, who would find employment but would often need time away to care for her sick children.

“It’s a hard thing to do as a single parent, to get forward in life in any way.”

It was a light bulb moment when DeKlerk discovered Sharesies, a wealth development platform that connects over 800,000 investors between Aotearoa and Australia.

“I was putting away $20 a week into Sharesies and I started investing.”

Eventually, DeKlerk was able to build an investment portfolio of $1700, which she would use to invest in packaging for her frozen espresso company.

DeKlerk had little knowledge of investing and stock markets, but she began exploring all the options available to her as she tried to dig herself out of that six-year hole.

The idea for the frozen espresso shots originated from DeKlerk, who was solving her own problem as a prolific iced coffee drinker.

Each morning, she would heat honey for her drink, which would in turn heat up her milk and then her coffee, ruining the whole process.

“It was just horrible. And the whole process in the morning was annoying, and I thought, ‘I wonder what I could do to make this easier and faster’.”

Vague Hippo espresso shots. Photo/ Tom Eley

While reluctant to reveal any secrets behind exactly how she creates the frozen espresso pods, DeKlerk did outline the basics.

“They are pure-brewed espresso ice blocks. They get brewed, they get snap frozen, and they are put into sachets.”

Currently, three varieties of shots are available on the market: frozen espresso with manuka honey, frozen espresso with brown sugar, and regular frozen espresso.

The ingredients are sourced from South America, India, Peru and Manuka honey from New Zealand, DeKlerk said.

More varieties are on their way as well, with three new flavours coming out next month: vanilla, hazelnut and caramel.

Vague Hippo is a ‘one-mum’ band, with DeKlerk taking on quality control, marketing, sourcing and ‘dreaded’ admin.

“That was the biggest thing, learning to be comfortable with admin.”

Once she had the packaging sorted, she tried her luck and contacted Foodstuffs, applying to the grocery giant to see if they would be interested in stocking her product.

“I thought, ‘You know what, I’ve got nothing to lose’.”

Two weeks later, she was in.

DeKlerk is a one-mum band.

DeKlerk made the three-hour journey to Food Stuff North Island head office, at The Landing in Mangere, Auckland.

“I handed them my bags and ran away.”

When DeKlerk first began her journey, she had no idea things would work out. At the same time, it’s been the result of hard work and determination.

She knows all too well the trap many on the benefit are in, but change all comes down to a choice, DeKlerk said.

“You have got to choose for yourself and have the strength to change your circumstances.”

Instead of using that extra money on cigarettes, vaping or alcohol, DeKlerk said that people can instead choose to spend it on something that changes their life.

“Ultimately, that’s what it does. It’s getting out of that depressive mindset.”

It was a scary process, DeKlerk said.

“You have got to be absolutely fearless and slightly delusional because you genuinely have to convince yourself that it’s going to work.”

The espresso pods are available at Pak ’n Save Cameron Road, Tauriko and New World The Sands. You can also purchase them via her website: Vaguehippo.com.