How do certifications work for private label coffee capsules?

It’s no secret how valuable private label coffee capsules are for hospitality businesses. If you want to start selling your own branded capsules but don’t have the infrastructure to do so, they’re the perfect option. 

While we’ve spoken about how a private label partner makes sourcing coffee capsules easy, there are several other advantages. One of these is the ability to use certifications. 

Manufacturers generally prepare private label coffee capsules with a signature blend designed exclusively for your brand. When designing this blend, some private label partners – such as Metropolis – will be able to source coffees that benefit from several certifications.

This is important for several reasons. However, the most significant is that consumers are more discerning than ever about the social, economic, and environmental impact of their purchases. Communicating the right values and understanding that demand is becoming more important with every day.

Keep reading to find out more about how certifications work for private label coffee capsules.

What are coffee certifications used for? 

Coffee can be certified for many different reasons. Certifications can show a commitment to certain farming practices, environmental responsibility in your supply chain, or buying coffee from the producer at a fair price, for instance.

In the US, two of the most prominent coffee certifications are USDA Organic and Fairtrade America. At Metropolis, we offer a range of Fairtrade & Organic (FTO) coffees to both retail and wholesale customers. These include our light roast Granville Blend and the medium-dark Skyway Blend (named for the bridge where you can find the best view of Chicago).

So, where is the value for hospitality businesses?

As we mentioned before, sustainability, traceability, and quality are all front-of-mind for modern coffee consumers. People want more to see that hospitality businesses are using ethically sourced coffee grown in an environmentally responsible manner. Many certifications allow you to communicate that to consumers.

Alongside this, certifications can also reduce regulatory risk, help you meet wider environmental, social, or sustainability goals, and demonstrate that your supply chain delivers meaningful impact at origin. Some external partners can also require your products to hold specific certifications before you work together.

USDA Organic & Fairtrade America

As mentioned, USDA Organic and Fairtrade America are two of the most important coffee certifications in the US.

USDA Organic certification requires that your product complies with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. This means it needs to contain at least 95% organic ingredients. Much like other organic products, organic coffee is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. 

Fairtrade America, meanwhile, certifies that a fair price has been paid for the coffee in line with its economic, social, and environmental standards. 

This is why we announced our brand partnership with Fairtrade America in December 2023. We understand that great coffee is incomplete without an equitable coffee supply chain, and this partnership confirms our commitment to fair farm gate prices in line with the Fairtrade Minimum Price framework.

So – that explains what these certifications are, and what they’re used for. But how do you certify blends for coffee capsules specifically?

Certifications for private label coffee capsules

Private label coffee capsules are created by a third-party roaster – like Metropolis – and sold under another business’ brand name.

Working with a private label partner allows you to outsource every step of the capsule creation process. This includes designing a signature blend to perfectly represent your business. 

The signature blend is where certifications come into the picture. At Metropolis, when we create blends for coffee capsules, we can use coffees that are certified USDA Organic and Fairtrade. 

This means that once the blend is confirmed, you can then display the certifications on the finished capsules – along with your branding and logo.

As well as offering USDA Organic and Fairtrade America coffees to our private label partners, our capsule shells are also certified commercially compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) and the Composter Manufacturing Alliance (CMA). 

This means they meet the strictest composting standards in the US and can be disposed of easily at any industrial composting facility in the country.

Metropolis Coffee private label coffee capsules

At Metropolis, we have a long history of supplying high-quality private label coffee products to hospitality businesses. As part of this, we’re able to offer our clients both Fairtrade America and USDA Organic coffees for their capsule blends.

Once we’ve designed a signature blend that you’re happy with, we’re able to start production quickly – with low minimum order quantities (MOQs) and minimal development times. We grind using an industrial roller mill, before filling, sealing, and nitrogen-flushing each private label coffee capsule. This guarantees that they stay fresh for 12 to 24 months.

Once that’s done, the capsules are packed with your branding and logo, and shipped to your business. From there, it’s simple – your staff can begin serving high-quality espresso-style coffee without the need for any training.

Interested in learning more? Check out our wholesale private label and private-label espresso capsule solutions today.

Certified compostable facilities may not exist in your area. To find a composter near you, visit www.findacomposter.com or www.compostnow.org on all packaging and marketing materials.

Metropolis Coffee is not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by Nespresso. Nespresso is a registered trademark of Société des Produits Nestlé.

Metropolis Coffee

Want to keep up to date with our latest blog posts, news, and products? Sign up for our newsletter here.