To choose fair-trade iced coffee for brunch, check the product for details of its fair-trade credentials, then choose a preparation method to suit your schedule: hot coffee poured over ice is ready to serve quickly, while cold brew takes several hours. Have a decaffeinated option ready for any guests who want to limit their caffeine intake, and check that the coffee format is suitable for your coffee maker.
You want to be able to identify a label, standard or information about the supply chain before choosing your coffee. The DGCCRF notes that some fair-trade supply chains do not carry a label, so the absence of a particular logo is no reason to skip reading the product information.
You’re looking for a cold drink that doesn’t need to have been brewing since the night before. Espresso or filter coffee poured over ice fits the bill, though you’ll need to bear dilution in mind.
You’d like to offer black coffee or coffee with milk, as well as a decaffeinated option for guests who prefer to limit their caffeine intake. In that case, the format and information on each pack matter just as much as the flavour profile.
For this brunch, first check the coffee’s fair-trade credentials, then consider the preparation time, how you plan to serve it and whether you need a decaffeinated option.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fair-trade credentials | The named label or standard, or traceability information. An organic claim alone does not prove that the coffee is fair trade. | I want to understand the approach behind the coffee before choosing its flavour; around 36% of consumers would put this check first. |
| Preparation time | The equipment and grind you’ll need: iced coffee can be made quickly, while cold brew takes several hours and needs to be filtered. | I need to serve several cups without having started the day before; speed would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Flavour and serving style | The stated profile of the specific coffee and how you plan to serve it: black over ice or with milk. | I want to choose a coffee to suit the drinks my guests will have at brunch; around 21% of consumers would put this pairing first. |
| Decaffeinated option | The ‘decaffeinated’ claim on the product and a format that works with your preparation method. | Some guests prefer to limit their caffeine intake, and I want to give them the choice; decaffeinated coffee would be the priority for around 14% of consumers. |
These two claims describe different approaches. Organic coffee does not necessarily meet the fair-trade standards you’re looking for.
Look for the fair-trade label or standard on the pack, or check the information provided about the supply chain.
Cold brew is made by leaving ground coffee in water for several hours, then filtering it. It isn’t a substitute for iced coffee made just before serving.
Start brewing it before brunch day. Otherwise, make espresso or filter coffee and cool it over ice.
For the Bio Village coffees listed by E.Leclerc, an online product page doesn’t confirm availability at your local store or for Click & Collect.
Check with your chosen store before planning to serve this coffee at brunch, especially if you’re looking for decaffeinated coffee.
Serving coffee cold doesn’t tell you how much caffeine it contains. Anses notes that the effects of caffeine vary from person to person and can, in particular, disrupt sleep.
If any guests want to limit their caffeine intake, offer a caffeine-free drink or a product explicitly labelled as decaffeinated too.
Carrefour lists a 250 g pack of organic, fair-trade ground Arabica coffee from Ecuador.
Auchan lists organic, fair-trade ground coffees from Guatemala and Peru, certified to the Fair for Life standard.
Malongo offers fair-trade coffee beans, ground coffee and coffee pods, as well as an iced coffee recipe.
E.Leclerc lists 250 g packs of organic, Fairtrade Bio Village ground coffee, including a Peruvian option and a decaffeinated one.
The retailer lists fair-trade coffees, including an Ethiquable option, as well as its own fair-trade range.
This ground coffee could be used to make iced coffee for brunch. If fair-trade credentials are important to you, check the information on the pack before buying.
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Worth considering if you’d like to make your coffee and serve it cold over ice. This pack contains 250 g of ground coffee. Check the fair-trade information on the packaging and make sure the grind is suitable for your coffee maker.
No. The DGCCRF also describes fair-trade supply chains that do not carry a label. If you want to check the credentials of a particular coffee, read about its standard or supply chain rather than relying on the organic claim alone.
You could use large ice cubes or ice cubes made from coffee. Nespresso suggests both options to limit dilution when serving coffee over ice.
No. In the method described by Nespresso, ground coffee is steeped in room-temperature water for several hours before being filtered. Iced coffee, on the other hand, can be made by pouring hot coffee over ice.
Have some ready if any guests want to limit their caffeine intake, but don’t assume that coffee served cold contains less caffeine. Anses says that the effects of caffeine vary from person to person and can, in particular, disrupt sleep.
No. For the Bio Village products listed, E.Leclerc advises customers to check availability with their local store. Check Click & Collect or contact your chosen store before relying on a particular coffee for brunch.