For regularly serving cold coffee in a canteen, choosing labelled Fairtrade/Max Havelaar whole-bean or ground coffee lets you control the coffee itself, provided you organise preparation and service. Ready-to-drink beverages and concentrates can reduce some of the handling, but you’ll need to check the recipe, what the label covers, allergens and storage instructions for the specific product you choose.
To describe your cold coffee as Fairtrade, you need to identify the label on the product you’ve bought and understand what it covers. Max Havelaar France recommends paying particular attention to the information on the packaging of composite products.
You need to serve the same preparation across multiple sittings. Choosing between whole beans, ground coffee and a ready-to-serve format will depend on your equipment, preparation time and storage arrangements.
Before introducing a blended cold drink, check its ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and storage instructions, then organise your service accordingly.
Consider it if: your canteen can grind the beans and prepare the coffee on site before serving it cold.
Bear in mind: grinding and following a consistent preparation method require equipment and time.
Consider it if: your team prepares coffee on site but doesn’t have a grinder.
Bear in mind: the grind you buy needs to suit your brewing method, and you’ll have less flexibility to adjust it later.
Consider it if: minimising preparation just before service is a priority.
Bear in mind: concentrate still needs diluting. You’ll need to check the recipe, label and storage instructions for each product individually.
| Criteria | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of Fairtrade credentials | Check the label on the exact product and read the details on the back of any blended drink. | To justify offering Fairtrade coffee in a canteen, I want to know exactly what the label covers. Around 33% of consumers would put this proof first. |
| Preparation and equipment | Match the coffee format to the grinder and brewing method available, and plan how much you’ll need to prepare. | If I need to cover several sittings, I need a preparation method that suits our equipment and is easy to repeat. This would be a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Speed of service | Distinguish between ready-to-drink coffee and concentrate that needs diluting, and check the instructions for use after opening. | When the counter needs to serve customers quickly, I want to keep the number of steps at service time to a minimum. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Recipe and storage | Check the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and dates, and follow the product’s storage instructions. | To offer a blended drink, I need to be able to inform diners and store the product as directed. This would be the main criterion for around 17% of consumers. |
The name of a drink or concentrate doesn’t prove it’s certified. According to Max Havelaar France, it’s particularly important to check the label and packaging details for blended products.
Ask to see the packaging or a clear technical data sheet for the exact product you’ll be serving before describing it as Fairtrade/Max Havelaar.
The grind needs to suit your brewing method. Without a grinder or a set recipe, your team can’t simply swap ground coffee for whole beans.
Check your equipment and the dose, and decide who’ll be responsible for preparation. Otherwise, consider ground coffee that suits your chosen method.
Grinding, adjusting the equipment and training your team all add tasks before service.
A blended cold drink may contain ingredients that need to be declared to diners. The Anses notes that keeping food that requires it chilled helps limit the growth of micro-organisms.
For every product you choose, check the allergens, applicable date and storage and usage instructions after opening.
Auchan describes its 500 g Ecuadorian whole-bean coffee as organic and Fairtrade. It can be used as a base for coffee prepared on site.
Auchan describes its 500 g whole-bean product as being made from certified Fairtrade Arabica coffee.
Auchan describes the 500 g La Tierra product as organic Fairtrade whole-bean coffee.
Lobodis describes its Café Solidaire range as being aimed in particular at the out-of-home catering sector.
These products can be considered as coffee to prepare and serve cold, rather than as ready-to-drink beverages. Before adding them to a Fairtrade range, check the label on the product you choose and adapt the preparation to your canteen’s needs.
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Worth considering if your team prepares coffee on site without grinding beans, before serving it cold.
The stated pack size is 250 g. If you plan to describe it as Fairtrade, check the label on this product’s packaging. You’ll also need a recipe and storage instructions for the prepared drink.
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Worth considering as coffee to prepare before serving cold, once you’ve confirmed its format and the equipment needed.
The stated pack size is 500 g. The title describes ground coffee, while the instructions refer to beans that need grinding. Check the pack before planning your preparation. Also check the label before describing this product as Fairtrade.
Check the label on the product you’ve bought and read the details on its packaging. Max Havelaar France distinguishes between coffee with a single ingredient and composite products, where the information on the back helps explain what the label covers.
No. The format and brand name don’t prove that a product carries a label. Check the certification and ingredients of the concentrate or drink your canteen plans to serve.
Read the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information, date and storage instructions. If the product needs to be refrigerated, follow the instructions on its packaging, including after opening.
Not necessarily. For the ETHIQUABLE Ecuadorian whole-bean coffee featured by Auchan, the instructions are to keep the pack in a cool, dry place, away from light and air. Follow the instructions for the product you actually buy.