When choosing Fairtrade coffee for espresso through a grocery collection service, check that the Fairtrade claim applies to the specific product, then choose a format your machine can use: whole beans to grind, ground coffee or compatible soft pods. A Fairtrade label tells you nothing about the grind or flavour, so also check that the product is available at your selected store before placing your order.
You want to see a clear indication on the specific product you choose, rather than assume it is Fairtrade because of the brand name. Then check the format and whether it is available through your collection service.
You make coffee from whole beans and are looking for a product labelled as suitable for espresso machines. Ethiquable lists some of its whole-bean coffees as suitable for espresso machines and percolators.
You want to find Fairtrade coffee at the store where you collect your shopping. Checking that it works with your machine comes first; then confirm that the product can be added to your local order.
Consider three separate questions: does the product carry a Fairtrade claim, is its format right for your machine, and can you order it through your chosen collection service?
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade credentials | Look for a Fairtrade or ‘Fairtrade-sourced’ claim on the specific coffee; check separately for any organic claim. | I want to be able to identify the Fairtrade credentials of my coffee, rather than infer them from its packaging or brand. Around 42% of shoppers put this proof at the top of their list of concerns. |
| Format and machine | Choose between whole beans, ground coffee and soft pods, and check which formats your appliance is designed to use. | If my machine only takes a particular format, I need to avoid buying a pack I won’t be able to use. Compatibility is the priority for around 33% of shoppers. |
| Grocery collection order | Select your store, then check the pack format and make sure the product is available to add to your order. | I shop through a specific collection service and want to be able to pick up the coffee I’ve chosen there. For around 25% of shoppers, being able to order locally comes before the other criteria. |
An organic claim alone does not show that the coffee is Fairtrade, although some products have both credentials.
Check each claim on the product page or packaging for the specific coffee you choose.
Whole beans, ground coffee and soft pods are used in different ways. A soft pod compatible with Senseo machines is not automatically suitable for a machine that takes rigid capsules.
Check which system your machine uses before adding coffee to your order.
A product listed in a catalogue may not be available at your selected store. E.Leclerc, for example, asks customers to check local availability for its Bio Village Pérou ground coffee.
Choose your collection point and make sure the product appears in your order before checking out.
Ethiquable lists Fairtrade and organic whole-bean coffees for espresso machines and percolators; Carrefour also stocks a ground coffee from the brand.
Carrefour describes a soft-pod coffee from its Bio range as meeting Fairtrade standards and compatible with the machines listed on its product page.
E.Leclerc lists a 250 g pack of organic Fairtrade Bio Village Pérou ground coffee, worth considering if your equipment takes ground coffee.
This ground coffee is an option if your espresso machine takes this format. If you use whole beans or soft pods, make sure your machine’s format remains your main consideration.
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This ground coffee is for people whose espresso machine takes ground coffee.
250 g pack. If Fairtrade certification is important to you, check for the Fairtrade claim on the product page for this coffee.
Look for a Fairtrade claim on the product page for the specific coffee, or for the label on its packaging. Fairtrade International recommends looking for its label; Carrefour says that the coffee in the relevant Carrefour Bio pods is sold to Fairtrade standards.
No. Organic and Fairtrade are separate claims, and you should check both for each coffee. A product may carry both, but one does not mean it has the other.
No. Whole beans need to be ground before brewing, using a built-in grinder or a separate grinder suited to your preparation. A machine designed only for capsules or soft pods requires the format it is made to take.
Not necessarily. Check availability after selecting your store. E.Leclerc, for example, asks customers to check local availability for the Bio Village Pérou coffee listed on its product page.