5 reasons why you want to find a frog on your coffee

By Anna Oleksak, Coffee Capability Manager at Coca-Cola HBC Poland, Quality Arabica Grader and World Coffee Events Certified Judge.

I’ve loved great coffee all my professional life! This, of course, shouldn’t come as a surprise from someone who has spent over 20 years in the coffee business, including running a specialty coffee micro roastery. What has really surprised me though is the passion for great coffee that I’ve found in the hearts of my new Coca-Cola HBC colleagues, which I joined a month ago.

Coca-Cola HBC has recently unveiled a new series of Costa Coffee to enjoy at home and away from home in its first European markets, so here I am, helping to build coffee capabilities in the Polish team!

Life may be too short for bad coffee, but what does “a great cup of coffee” really mean today? Multiple trends are driving premiumization in the category including origins, quality of beans & processes, new coffee types and convenience. Consumers and shoppers have become more knowledgeable, more open to experimentation and more demanding towards brands, looking for the ultimate coffee experience.

Quality is the king. That’s a fact. But coffee production also has big environmental and social impacts, that can be both positive or negative to climate, biodiversity and farming communities. Having a top-quality coffee also means having a sustainable coffee. That’s why it matters to us that 100% of the Costa Coffee beans have been carrying the little frog seal on pack since 2008, meaning that they are Rainforest Alliance™ certified.

But what does the frog logo mean?

1. As an international non-profit organization, the Rainforest Alliance™ is working to create a better future for people and nature. By selecting certified coffee, you are supporting the idea of making responsible business the new normal.
2. RFA certified farms are better and safer places to work, where human rights are respected. Working closely with local communities and partners, the RFA improves the wellbeing of farmers, workers and their families enabling education, enhancing health and gender equality.
3. The RFA aims to conserve natural resources and encourage better waste management. Farmers are trained to use land, water and energy more carefully, so that these important resources aren’t wasted.
4. RFA farming methods lead to better and larger crops, with lower production costs. That’s why your coffee tastes great and the farmers can see a better future in it.
5. RFA inhibits the use of harmful pesticides that are used to control major pests and pathogens, potentially having a severe impact on wildlife and ecosystems and being toxic to mammals, birds and fish.

Costa Coffee’s purpose is to inspire the world to love great coffee. We in Coca-Cola HBC are very proud to say to our customers and consumers that we have a great quality coffee that does not compromise on ensuring compliance with rigorous standards for protecting wildlife, natural habitat, workers’ rights and local communities.