To choose Fairtrade espresso for the office, first check that the specific product you’re buying carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label, then choose a format that works with your coffee machine. Beans may suit a machine that accepts them, while capsules require precise compatibility. If your team would also like decaf, check its labelling and format separately.
You want to be able to check the certification on the coffee you order, rather than infer it from the brand name alone. For a single-ingredient product, Fairtrade/Max Havelaar France says its full label means the ingredient meets its standards.
You use a machine that accepts coffee beans and are looking for a product suited to the way it brews coffee. Ethiquable, for example, offers 500 g of whole-bean Expresso coffee for espresso machines and percolators, as well as 1 kg of whole-bean Ecuadorian coffee for automatic machines.
You want to add a decaffeinated option for a machine that accepts Nespresso-compatible capsules. Carrefour describes a decaffeinated Carrefour Bio product carrying Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certification; you’ll still need to check it works with your office machine.
For an office espresso break, start with the certification you’re looking for and the machine you already have. Caffeine preferences and pack size can then help you choose between compatible products.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Certification | Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label on the specific product. If the label has an arrow, check the details on the back of the pack. | When Fairtrade certification is essential, I want to see it on the coffee I order, not just in the brand’s marketing. Around 39% of consumers would put this proof first. |
| Machine and format | Check whether your machine accepts beans, ground coffee or the capsule system specified for the product. | If the office machine requires a particular format, I need to avoid ordering something we can’t use for our coffee break. Compatibility would be the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Caffeine and flavour | Check the ‘decaffeinated’ label and certification for each option. Treat the stated intensity as specific to that product. | To cater for colleagues who want to limit their caffeine, I’m looking for a decaffeinated option that works with our equipment. Around 15% of consumers would put this choice first. |
| Pack size | Compare the amount in each pack and the space needed to store different products separately. | When I’m managing replenishment, I want a pack size that suits the office’s consumption without creating lots of packs to identify. Around 15% of consumers would prioritise this. |
General information about a product range isn’t enough to confirm that every coffee is certified. Fairtrade/Max Havelaar France explains what its full label means for a single-ingredient product such as coffee.
Check the label on the packaging or product listing for the specific coffee you’re planning to order.
Ethiquable’s whole-bean coffees are intended for machines that accept this format, while Carrefour Bio’s decaffeinated capsules are described as Nespresso-compatible. These formats aren’t interchangeable.
Check the exact type of machine in your office before choosing beans, ground coffee or capsules.
An incompatible format could leave you with packs of coffee that your office machine can’t use.
Coffee and a snack made with several ingredients need to be assessed differently. Fairtrade/Max Havelaar France says that when the label has an arrow, you should check the back of the pack to see which ingredients are covered and how they’re traced.
If you’re adding snacks to your coffee break, check their labelling separately from the espresso.
A range to consider if your office is choosing between beans, ground coffee and coffee pods.
Whole-bean coffees to consider for an espresso machine, percolator or automatic coffee machine.
An option to consider if your office is looking for decaffeinated capsules for a Nespresso-compatible machine.
A brand to consider if supply-chain traceability is one of your office’s priorities.
This product is worth considering for an office espresso break, provided you confirm its certification and find out whether the coffee supplied is ground or whole bean before checking that it works with your machine.
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For Fairtrade espresso at the office, check that this product carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label. It comes in a 500 g pack. Confirm whether the coffee supplied is ground or whole bean so you can choose a format your machine accepts.
Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label on the packaging of the specific product. For a single-ingredient product such as coffee, Fairtrade/Max Havelaar France says its full label means the ingredient meets its standards.
According to Fairtrade/Max Havelaar France, it directs you to the back of the pack to find out which ingredients in a multi-ingredient product are covered and what type of traceability applies. So check a chocolate snack separately from the coffee served with it.
No. The machine must accept beans or have the equipment needed to prepare them. Ethiquable’s whole-bean products are intended for certain espresso machines, percolators or automatic machines. For a capsule machine, look for a product declared compatible with its system.
Yes. Carrefour describes a Carrefour Bio decaffeinated Arabica coffee capsule product that is Fairtrade/Max Havelaar-certified and Nespresso-compatible. Before ordering, check that the product works with your machine model.
No. These terms refer to different criteria. Even if a coffee carries both labels, check each claim on the product you choose rather than assuming one means the other.