Taste, cost, and environmental sustainability are the top three factors business owners and decision-makers consider when buying coffee, according to new data from Nespresso.
When asked which factors were most important to business decision-makers when choosing coffee 90% said taste, 62% said cost, and 54% said environmental sustainability.
The research, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Nespresso Professional UK, surveyed 2,000 business leaders across the UK in October 2024.
In Greater London, respondents were more likely to choose environmental sustainability than cost as a key factor in their coffee purchases.
Nearly 90% of business leaders said it was important for coffee brands to address the threat of climate change.
Gen Z business owners and decision-makers were most conscious of sustainability, with nearly 90% preferring coffee brands that actively promote their sustainability efforts, compared to 70% of respondents overall.
Only 7% of respondents said they would not consider swapping their usual coffee bean or roast for a more sustainable option.
We know from past research that consumers are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of their food and drink.
Almost 50% indicated they only buy coffee products with packaging that they can easily recycle. While over 90% of business leaders said they recycle the packaging of their coffee solution at least sometimes.
Third-party certifications like B-Corp, Fairtrade, and Organic were seen as important for 80% of respondents in their choice of coffee overall and particularly for larger businesses with between 100 and 500 employees.
Commenting on the survey, Nick Stevens, Commercial Director B2B at Nespresso Professional, said: “We know from past research that consumers are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of their food and drink, but this research demonstrates that businesses are acting in response.
“At Nespresso Professional, we are committed to meeting these expectations by offering high-quality coffee solutions that align with our customers’ sustainability priorities, in offices and hospitality venues across the UK.”
Nespresso Professional provides specialised recycling bags and collection services to its office and hospitality partners for free.
The aluminium capsules are recycled and the coffee grounds are repurposed for compost or energy production.
