
Membership
Your Support
The challenges facing coffee are bigger than any one company can solve. Through collaborative investment in agricultural R&D, we create the foundation for a vibrant and sustainable coffee sector in diverse coffee origins.

Improve coffee’s goodness.
Through research, we improve how good coffee tastes, how good it is for the planet, and how good it is for people who grow it.

Sustain origin diversity and global supply.
Working in strategic geographies, we ensure the long-term supply of quality coffee from diverse origins.
Address the climate crisis.
R&D creates tools, technology and knowledge to reduce the risk that farmers and companies face from climate change.
Testimonials

From when we started Driftaway, we have been looking for more ways to contribute to better the lives of coffee growers. We realized that the biggest challenge for farmers was unpredictability. Things like climate change, weather patterns, and coffee plant diseases. And that's where the critical work of World Coffee Research fits perfectly—by helping farmers live more sustainable lives by growing better coffee.
—Suyog Mody, CEO, Driftaway Coffee

Coffee farming is at risk from multiple directions. WCR brings together the global coffee industry to utilize science-based solutions to help ensure the long-term and diverse supply of coffee that is critical to the future of the industry.
—Mark Howell, Director of Green Coffee & Tea, Community Coffee

Some problems are so big that they can nearly extinguish hope. Supporting WCR's work, even in a small way, helps us remain hopeful and feel connected to a larger mission.
—David Yake, Director of Sustainability, Tony's Coffee

WCR is science to save coffee. It’s that simple, that vital. No single country, no single company can do this; that is why our basis is collaborative, our successes open source. The beneficiary, by charter, is the coffee farmer, who contends with commerce and nature, to our good fortune.
—Doug Welsh, Vice President of Coffee, JDE Peet's

Lavazza and WCR share the same concerns about origin diversity in the face of the climate crisis, and we believe that the acceleration of innovations in coffee agriculture is possible. [WCR's] objectives truly resonate with companies like ours, not just from an economic sustainability point of view, but also as a supply chain risk management strategy.
—Mario Cerutti, Chief Institutional Relations & Sustainability Officer, Lavazza Group

If we want to secure a long-term supply of good quality coffee at reasonable prices and quantities, we need the support of science to help us develop the varieties of the future. We are super convinced that engaging together with other companies in World Coffee Research is the right thing to do.
—Pablo von Waldenfels, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Tchibo Coffee

We are long-time supporters of WCR because this battle for sustainability must be a pre-competitive one. We need to share resources, efforts, and knowledge collectively to make the overall coffee industry more sustainable and continue to compete for the taste of our coffee rather for than the title of 'most sustainable.'
—Andrea Illy, Chairman, illycaffè

WCR ensures the future of coffee by bringing the industry together to address critical long-term global coffee supply risks. We need new varieties of coffee to support smallholder coffee farmers, preserve our origin diversity, and ensure consumers can enjoy the spectrum of tastes the expect from their favorite brands.
—Jim Trout, Vice President, Research & Development, The J.M. Smucker Co.

Allegro is proud to support WCR and their important work in selecting the best-performing coffee varieties that meet the criteria needed for farmers, buyers, and our ever-changing environment.
—Kelly Amoroso, Senior Coffee & Tea Buyer, Allegro Coffee

We believe in supporting the future of specialty coffee for generations to come through science and data-driven research...there’s a huge potential to directly support producers—that’s why we’re excited to be even more involved now than ever before.
—Andrew Miller, Cafe Imports

Along with WCR, we aim to invest in the future of coffee to help provide sustainability for the whole coffee industry from the producer to the consumer.
—Chris Miller, Director of Coffee, La Colombe

Through WCR, we join a larger coffee community to support science for a sustainable coffee supply, and more importantly, support all the humans that depend on that supply chain from beginning to end.
—Skip Fay, Chief Coffee Officer, Dunn Brothers Coffee
Become a Member
Membership is open to any company whose business depends on or involves coffee and whose membership is consistent with WCR’s mission. Membership fees support all of WCR’s vital research activities.”
Checkoff Program
Contribution tied to coffee purchasing volumes.
For companies that purchase or trade coffee and want their WCR contribution built into the cost of coffee.
Annual Contribution
A fixed contribution amount each year.
Works for any kind of company (roasters, retailers, allied, etc.) funding across departments (R&D, marketing, sustainability).
Not sure which membership is right for your business? Use our support calculator to best determine your investment and impact. New membership provides for a three-year period of increasing investment. Please contact us to discuss in more detail, and ways we can help build internal stakeholder support.
FAQ
World Coffee Research is a 501(c)(5) nonprofit agricultural organization. As such, WCR is exempt from U.S. federal income tax. In the U.S., contributions to WCR may be tax-deductible as trade or business expenses. WCR is not a 501c3, therefore contributions are not tax deductible for individuals. Please consult your tax advisor to determine whether and to the extent to which your donation may be deductible.
In 2022, WCR transitioned to a new membership model that links contribution amount to coffee purchase volumes or annual revenue. The transition provides greater equity and transparency among member companies and is more appropriate for securing the kind of long-term, sustainable funding required for agricultural research. Membership fees are unrestricted contributions that provide critical funding for all of WCR’s research activities.
We adopted a simple, straight-forward membership fee structure with four (4) primary categories for industry stakeholders to partner with us: brand roasters/manufacturers/retailers, business-to-business roasters/manufacturers, green coffee suppliers/traders/decaffeinators, and allied companies in the coffee value chain (including equipment, flavoring, food, producers, consulting). If you don't see that your business fits into these categories but are keen to become a member, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss options with you.
Placement in volume/revenue bands is made using current-year figures, to determine membership rate for the following year. WCR membership will be on a calendar year basis. If a member company’s green coffee volume or volume-equivalent increases such that the company would move into a higher membership band, the member will have two years to reach the new target level. At the time of annual renewal, members can also change between the Fixed Rate annual contributions and Checkoff options.
Companies are encouraged to become members of WCR at their appropriate level, and new membership provides for a three-year period of increasing investment to reach the target level. Making a financial contribution to WCR at a lower amount is possible, but does not come with member benefits. Please contact us to discuss further.
World Coffee Research unites the global coffee industry to drive science-based agricultural solutions to urgently secure a diverse and sustainable supply of quality coffee today and for generations to come.
In support of engaging companies in WCR’s work, we offer additional benefits proportionate to contribution and customize each membership. Please see our Member Benefits document above.

Enhance Your Contribution

We are part of 1% for the Planet!
WCR is an approved Nonprofit Partner of 1% for the Planet. Participating coffee businesses that participate can count their contributions to WCR toward their 1% for the Planet commitments.
Our Members
Our members—companies large and small—come together precompetitively to set a shared global agenda for coffee research. Their participation is a critical foundation for a vibrant and sustainable coffee sector.
Members
Thank you to all the companies who generously support our work and make it possible.
Coffee blossom ($$$$$)
Coffee tree ($$$$)
Seedling ($$$)
Sprout ($$)
- Asahi Quality & Innovations
- Atlas Coffee Importers
- Barrie House Coffee
- Beck Flavors
- Bewley's North America/Java City
- Black Oak Coffee Roasters
- Blossom Coffee Roasters
- Blue Bottle Coffee
- Boomtown Coffee
- Cafcom Trading
- Cafe Imports Fullfilment
- Cafe Virtuoso
- Camber Coffee
- Caravela Coffee USA
- Coffee Circle Foundation e.V.
- Coffee Libre
- Counter Culture Coffee
- Covoya Specialty Coffee Americas
- Crankhouse Coffee
- Curve Coffee Roasters
- Dark Woods Coffee
- De'Longhi
- Descamex
- Driftaway Coffee
- DRWakefield
- Dunn Brothers Coffee Franchising
- Dutch Bros Coffee
- ECRE
- Equator Coffees
- Excelco Trading
- Fulcrum Coffee
- Huckleberry Roasters
- Intelligentsia Coffee
- InterAmerican Coffee/Neumann Gruppe USA
- Intercontinental Coffee Trading
- Irving Farm New York
- Kaldi Coffee Farm
- Kaldi's Coffee
- La Colombe Coffee Roasters
- Lincoln & York Ltd.
- List + Beisler
- Little Waves Coffee Roasters
- Marubeni Foods-Specialty
- Melbourne Coffee Merchants
- Mercon Coffee Group
- Mr. Espresso
- Origin Coffee Roasters
- Ozo Coffee Roasters
- Philz Coffee
- Rave Coffee
- Roast House Coffee
- S. Ishimitsu & Co.
- Sarutahiko Coffee, Inc.
- Solberg & Hansen
- Sucden Coffee
- Sustainable Harvest
- Sweet Maria's Coffee Inc.
- Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company
- Temple Coffee Roasters
- TERAROSA (Haksan Co.Ltd)
- The Coffee Source
- Tony's Coffee
- Trabocca
- Union Hand-Roasted Coffee
- Walker Coffee Trading
Seed ($)
- 7000 Coffee Trees
- Alpaca Coffee Roasters
- Bäckerei Happ GmbH & Co.
- Bagavathi Coffee
- Bell Lane Coffee
- Bodum Roasting
- Boon Boona Coffee
- Brewpoint Coffee
- Bridge Coffee Co.
- Bulavity
- Bun Coffee Byron Bay
- BUNA
- CafeTracker
- Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire
- Coastal Coffee Traders
- Coffee Bros.
- Coffee Nexus
- Coffee Unified
- Coffeebar
- Coffein Compagnie
- Covoya Ltd.
- CuBa BIOTEC
- Cultivar Coffee South Africa
- Cup north
- CUPRIMA
- Dancing Goats Coffee
- Dear Green Coffee Roasters
- Dispatch Coffee
- Espanola Coffee Roasters
- Established Coffee
- Exhale Coffee
- Falcon Coffees Peru
- Firsthand Coffee
- FiXX Coffee
- Fort Findlay Coffee & Doughnut Shoppe
- Fortitude Coffee Roasters
- Friday Coffee Roasters
- Fuglen Coffee Roasters Oslo
- Fuglen Coffee Roasters Tokyo
- Gaia Artisan Coffee
- Good Good Coffee
- Honey Coffee
- Horiguchi Coffee Institute
- Imbibe Coffee Roasters
- IRC (Instituto Regional del Café)
- Jones Coffee Roasters
- Kerchanshe
- Kiss the Hippo Coffee
- Kua
- Kyokuto Fadie Corp.
- La Baia Coffee Supply
- Limini Coffee
- Madcap Coffee Company
- Market Lane Coffee
- Metric Coffee Co.
- Moplaco Trading PLC
- Mount Sunzu Coffee Ltd
- Murnauer Kaffeerösterei
- Myracle Kitchen
- Nemesis Coffee
- Nylon Coffee
- Pacific Espresso
- Peak Coffee Co
- Peekskill Coffee
- Philippine Coffee and Barista Insitute
- Prometheus Coffee Roasters
- Raw Bean Limited
- Red Cedar Coffee Co.
- RGC Coffee
- Ringtons Ltd.
- Rio Coffee
- Riposo Coffee Roasters
- Ross Street Roasting
- Roundtable Coffee Works
- Rumble Coffee Roasters
- Samadool Coffee
- Sample Coffee Roasters
- Satoru Coffee
- SCS Global Services
- SEY
- Small Planes Coffee
- South India Coffee Company
- South Texas Coffee Initiative
- Stitch Coffee
- Sucafina N.V.
- Sucafina NA
- Taf Coffee
- Tata Coffee
- TBD Coffee Co
- Temecula Coffee Roasters
- This Side Up Coffee
- True Stone Coffee Roasters
- Vides58Coffees
- Workshop Coffee
- Your Coffee Counts
Checkoff Program Participants
Thank you to all the roasters, retailers and suppliers that make this program possible
Participating Suppliers, Matching
These suppliers provide matching and/or additional financial contributions to WCR.
- Atlas Coffee Importers
- Cafe Imports Fullfilment
- Caravela Australia Pacific
- Caravela Coffee Europe
- Caravela Coffee USA
- Coffee Unified
- Condesa Co. Lab
- Covoya Ltd.
- Covoya Specialty Coffee Americas
- Crop to Cup Coffee
- CUPRIMA
- Descamex
- DRWakefield
- Excelco Trading
- Hacienda La Minita
- InterAmerican Coffee/Neumann Gruppe USA
- Intercontinental Coffee Trading
- List + Beisler
- Melbourne Coffee Merchants
- Ofi International
- Primavera Coffee LLC
- Sucafina N.V.
- Sucafina NA
- Sustainable Harvest
- Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company
- The Coffee Source
- Trabocca
- Walker Coffee Trading
Participating Suppliers
- American Coffee Corporation
- Atlantic Specialty Coffee
- Be Green Trading SA
- Bourbon Specialty Coffee
- Cape Horn Coffee Company
- Collaborative Coffee Source
- Coopfam
- East Africa Coffee Co.
- Expocaccer Cooperativa dos Cafeicultores do Cerrado
- Falcon Coffees Ltd.
- Gollücke & Rothfos
- Greencof
- InterAmerican Coffee/Neumann Gruppe
- Kawacom - ECOM
- La Bastilla Coffee Estates
- Mercon Specialty
- Paragon Coffee Trading Company
- Racafe
- RGC Coffee
- Royal Coffee
- Volcafe Specialty Coffee
Participating Roasters & Retailers
- Allegro Coffee Company
- Bäckerei Happ GmbH & Co.
- Barrie House Coffee
- Bewley's North America/Java City
- Black Oak Coffee Roasters
- Bodum Roasting
- Brewpoint Coffee
- Cafe Virtuoso
- Covenant Coffee
- Curve Coffee Roasters
- Dancing Goats Coffee
- Dark Woods Coffee
- Dear Green Coffee Roasters
- Dunn Brothers Coffee Franchising
- ECRE
- Equator Coffees
- Fortitude Coffee Roasters
- Huckleberry Roasters
- Intelligentsia Coffee
- Irving Farm New York
- Kaldi's Coffee
- La Colombe Coffee Roasters
- Limini Coffee
- Market Lane Coffee
- Mr. Espresso
- Origin Coffee Roasters
- Ozo Coffee Roasters
- Philz Coffee
- Rave Coffee
- Ringtons Ltd.
- Roast House Coffee
- Roundtable Coffee Works
- Small Planes Coffee
- Stitch Coffee
- Taylors of Harrogate
- Temecula Coffee Roasters
- Temple Coffee Roasters
- True Stone Coffee Roasters