How Nespresso’s unique relationship with the Rainforest Alliance offers you quality coffee that helps improve the livelihood of coffee farmers and the environment.

There’s much more to Nespresso than initially meets the eye. A happy consequence of Nespresso’s early success was the realization that for us to continue our business growth, we had to assure the future of our raw material: coffee. That is why in 2003 we have partnered with the Rainforest Alliance and coffee farmers to produce exceptional coffee while protecting the environment, which also helps ensure the farmers’ livelihoods and the welfare of their families and communities.

In the beginning, there were around 300 farmers in the program. It has grown so much, that there are now about 70,000 from 12 countries with the goal of creating Sustainable Quality.

How does it work? Through an unparalleled network of over 350 agronomists who work and live in the field, embedding the AAA standards into farmers’ ways of operating. Our future is tied to the future of the farmers, so we partner with them in a journey of continuous improvement, the reach and likes of which is absolutely best-in-class.

What do farmers say? “We have invested the additional income we have gained through the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program in our farm, in our children’s education, and in the livelihood of our family and that of our workers.” Olga Lucía Otero, AAA farmer in Colombia since 2006.

After all their hard work, farmers have started to envision the possibility of being able to reach Rainforest Alliance certification in addition to participating in the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program.

This combination empowers coffee farmers by investing in community infrastructures, paying premiums for superior coffee, and encouraging best agricultural practices.

In addition, it provides farmer training, financing, and technical assistance to continuously improve quality, sustainability, and productivity.

That is why today we source 80% of our permanent coffees from the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program and more than 40% of all our coffee comes from farms that have achieved Rainforest Alliance certification.

So whenever you enjoy great coffee, think about Sustainable Quality and how these two words help ensure that the beans have been produced with the greatest of care for the environment, farm workers, their families and farming communities.