The sweetener will help the consumer packaged goods giant incorporate more regenerative agriculture practices into its business and capitalise on the growing use of honey in a cup of coffee.
Nestlé’s Nespresso is venturing beyond its signature coffee platform for the first time in its nearly 40-year history with the introduction of honey.
The global food and beverage giant is launching honey and honey syrup under the Nespresso Bloom line. The product is made by the same bees that pollinate coffee plants in Colombia, where Nespresso sources some of its beans. The honey allows the brand to reinforce its commitment to sustainability by incorporating more regenerative agriculture practices into its business.
“Supporting sustainable practices in coffee farming has always been part of Nespresso’s DNA, and this pilot is a result of sustainability fueling innovation beyond the capsule,” Alfonso Gonzalez Loeschen, CEO of Nespresso North America, said in a statement. “Our job is to protect the future of coffee while delivering a differentiated and superior coffee experience.”
The product will not only assist Nespresso with its sustainability efforts but also enable it to tap into a growing consumer trend in coffee: using honey as a sweetener. Despite a decline in the last two years, honey use has been rising due to its association as a superfood. The average person consumed a record 1.9 pounds in 2021, according to USDA data.
In addition to coffee, Nestlé said the Nespresso Bloom honey could be used with pastries, yoghurt, and whipped ricotta, while the honey syrup is seen as ideal for macchiatos, espresso martinis, and waffles. The products reportedly have a floral flavour with caramel and vanilla notes.
The product will first be available on 7 August in two Nespresso Boutiques, one store in New York City and another in San Francisco. Two weeks later, the honey and the honey syrup will be available nationwide on Nespresso’s website. One bottle will cost $18. For now, these products are only available in the US.
So far this year, Nestlé said 50 Colombian farmers have been caring for more than 43 million bees that have produced nearly 2,000 pounds of honey.
Nespresso has sourced coffee from AAA farms in Colombia for two decades. In 2003, Nespresso and The Rainforest Alliance launched the AAA Sustainable Quality Program to ensure the continued supply of high-quality coffee while improving the livelihoods of farmers and their communities and protecting the environment.
Nespresso was created by Nestlé in 1986 and spread through Europe before debuting in the US four years later. Last year, Nespresso posted double-digit growth in North America and gained market share from its competitors, with the momentum continuing into 2024.