Kiss the Hippo Coffee: Pays Farmers 50% More Than Fair Trade

Kiss the Hippo coffee

London-based roastery Kiss the Hippo is a brand that places these values at the heart of its business, combining speciality coffee with a strong commitment to farmers, employees and the planet.

Kiss the Hippo specialises in high-quality organic coffee, with beans roasted using one of the world’s most eco-friendly coffee roasting systems. The company focuses on reducing environmental impact throughout the coffee journey, from sourcing and roasting through to packaging.

Before reaching customers, every batch of coffee is carefully quality-checked to ensure it meets the roastery’s standards. This attention to detail helps create a consistent cup while supporting a more transparent approach.

Caffeine and pregnancy

The NHS advises limiting caffeine during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Tea, coffee, cola and energy drinks all contain caffeine. If you choose to drink caffeine, only one cup of either each day, know that many café coffees contain more caffeine than instant coffee. Or none to be safe. 

Disposal of Coffee Grounds

Avoid washing used coffee grounds down the sink, as they can contribute to blocked drains. A sink strainer, such as a SinkShield, can help catch any stray grounds before they enter the plumbing.

Although coffee grounds are often promoted as compostable, they should be binned or placed in food waste bins. Due to caffeine that could harm compost creatures (same with tea leaves).

The same for acidic food scraps (peppers, citrus, rhubarb, tomato and allium scraps – onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives).

Supporting Coffee Farmers With Fairer Prices

Coffee farmers are often at the beginning of a long supply chain, yet they can face some of the greatest challenges, including unstable prices, difficult growing conditions and limited resources. Kiss the Hippo aims to address this by building long-term relationships with coffee producers.

The company visits farms each year to check that farmers and workers are being treated fairly and that ethical practices are being maintained. Rather than relying only on certifications, these visits allow the business to better understand the people and communities behind each coffee bean.

Interestingly, Kiss the Hippo pays farmers at least 50% above normal Fair Trade prices. This additional investment helps support growers by providing a more sustainable income.

An Environmentally Responsible Coffee Roaster

Sustainability is a major part of Kiss the Hippo’s approach. The coffee beans are roasted using energy-efficient methods designed to reduce emissions, helping make the roasting process kinder to the environment.

The company also considers what happens after coffee has been enjoyed. Used coffee grounds are collected and transformed into biofuel rather than simply being sent to landfill. This gives coffee waste a second purpose and reduces unnecessary environmental impact.

The roastery also ensures all employees receive a proper living wage, recognising that sustainability is not only about protecting the planet but also about supporting people.

Explore Coffee by Country of Origin

For coffee drinkers who enjoy discovering different flavours, Kiss the Hippo offers beans from a variety of growing regions around the world. Each country produces coffee with its own unique characteristics, influenced by climate, soil and farming methods.

Available origins include:

  • Brazil
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Ethiopia
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Mexico
  • Peru
  • Rwanda

Coffee Flavours and Seasonal Choices

Kiss the Hippo’s range includes coffees with a wide variety of flavour profiles, from sweet and chocolatey blends to brighter fruit-led options.

Some examples include:

  • Christmas Coffee – featuring notes of cinnamon, strawberry and chocolate, making it a festive choice for the winter season.
  • Low Caf – with flavours of white sugar, cranberry and hazelnut, offering a lower-caffeine option without losing the speciality coffee experience.
  • Honduras – with tasting notes of orange, nectarine and fudge, creating a balanced and naturally sweet cup.
  • Colombia – offering flavours of plum, raisin and shortbread.
  • George Street Blend – a popular blend combining chocolate, berries and butterscotch notes.

For those who prefer pods, the Decaf Pods offer flavours of dark chocolate, toffee and Brazil nut. These pods are not compatible with Nespresso® Vertuo machines, so it is worth checking your coffee machine before purchasing. Likewise, bin (don’t compost) coffee in pods.

Recycling Cold Brew Cans Carefully

Kiss the Hippo also offers ready-to-drink (some are vegan) canned cold brew coffee. When recycling cans, small actions can help protect wildlife.

Before putting a can into recycling, push the ring-pull back over the opening. Then step on top of cans to pinch inner rims together, to stop wildlife getting trapped at landfills.

A Coffee Brand With a Bigger Purpose

Kiss the Hippo demonstrates that speciality coffee can be about more than flavour. By paying farmers above Fair Trade prices, supporting employees with a living wage, reducing waste and investing in environmentally responsible roasting, the company takes a wider approach to coffee production.

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