Foodtech Innovators Spill the Beans on Climate-Proofing Coffee

Coffee is a popular beverage that contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation, with approximately one square inch of rainforest destroyed for every cup consumed. As a result, coffee lovers must adapt to ensure its sustainability in a climate-changing world. Starbucks has been working on developing climate-resistant coffee tree varietals, while researchers at VTT have added the brew to the growing list of foods that could pivot from land-grown to lab-grown cultivation.

Sustainable Brands® (SB) and HowGood are revolutionizing event menus with climate-labeled foods, driving sustainable behavior change and helping align brand values with ingredient choices. Two companies are fundamentally changing how coffee is produced — by eliminating the need for beans altogether and repurposing food waste along the way. Singapore-based bean-free coffee startup Prefer makes coffee without coffee beans to future-proof coffee from climate change.

Prefer ferments bread, soy, and barley to create coffee flavors, creating an affordable, delicious, and sustainable alternative. By early estimates, Prefer generates ~10x less CO2-eq in greenhouse gas emissions than 1 kg of coffee. They also upcycle food manufacturing byproducts, thus reducing food waste. Prefer products, including its bottled Oat Milk Latte, can be found at over 20 cafes across Singapore. In February, the startup landed a $2M boost in investment funding, which the company says it will use to increase the capacity of its production facility and expand throughout the Asia-Pacific region, initially focusing on Singapore and the Philippines.

Seattle-based Atomo Coffee has also gone the bean-less route, developing a sustainable alternative that is sourced from widely available, upcycled ingredients and farm-grown superfoods. The company validated the environmental benefits of its bean-less coffee over conventional through a partnership with HowGood, an independent research company and SaaS platform that provides sustainability intelligence for food companies. In late 2023, Atomo received a multimillion-dollar investment from Japanese beverage giant Suntory, so expect to see more from the brand soon.

One of the greatest challenges to alternative coffee production goes beyond the technicalities of producing it at scale: consumer acceptance could prove an even bigger hurdle. Educating consumers and industry stakeholders about the benefits and unique qualities of bean-less coffee requires considerable effort, and the industry must navigate these challenges carefully to continue achieving widespread acceptance and integration of bean-less coffee into the market.

The future of coffee remains to be seen, but considering the ever-increasing incidences of massive crop shortages and deaths (including coffee beans), it seems that the coffee industry has no choice but to adapt. The coffee industry is deeply rooted in tradition, yet increasingly influenced by sustainability and innovation. This dual identity can sometimes create friction as revolutionary products like Prefer are introduced, but it also presents a unique opportunity to preserve the future of coffee in a way that honors its rich history while embracing necessary change.

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