Turn your daily grind into a little cup of wildlife conservation with Coffee for Wildlife.
Zoos Victoria has launched Coffee for Wildlife, an initiative that transforms your daily caffeine fix into a conservation effort. The programme supports shade-grown coffee farming in three biodiversity hotspots while protecting critical habitats for endangered species.
Coffee for Wildlife partners with conservation projects across Sumatra, Papua New Guinea and Ethiopia. Each region produces distinctive arabica beans while supporting local communities and wildlife protection efforts. The coffee is expertly roasted by Melbourne-based Genovese Coffee, a family-owned roastery committed to sustainability practices.
Coffee for Wildlife
- Available online and at Zoos Victoria locations
- Four varieties: Sumatra, Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia and Survival Blend
- 250g bags priced at $16.95 each
- All varieties are 100% arabica and carbon neutral
- Compostable packaging available for home composting
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“Rainforests are rich in biodiversity – that is where you get all kinds of amazing animals living,” Zoos Victoria CEO Dr Jenny Gray said. “That is why we have looked for farmers with the same ethic we have, the same ethic of protecting biodiversity into the future.
“What we can do with every purchase is think carefully about its impact. We have done some of that thinking for you through Coffee for Wildlife products. So, we have sourced coffee that is good for wildlife and good for you.”
The Sumatran variety comes from the Orang Utan Coffee Project, working with 350 smallholder farmers in seven villages bordering the Leuser Ecosystem. This million-hectare area represents the last place on Earth where rhinos, tigers, elephants and orangutans coexist. The coffee offers sweet spice and cocoa nib flavours with a round, juicy body.
Papua New Guinea beans grow in the cloud forests of the YUS Conservation Area through the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program. More than 1,000 families cultivate these beans while pledging to protect portions of their land as wildlife habitat. The coffee delivers pear, mandarin and lemongrass notes with honey sweetness.
Ethiopian beans grow wild beneath tree canopy in the Bench-Sheko Zone through the Community Conservation of Wild Coffee and Natural Forest Management Project. This minimal-intervention approach supports over 6,000 families involved in forest management groups. The coffee features complex floral flavours of jasmine, bergamot and blueberry.
The Survival Blend combines beans from all three origins, creating an easy-drinking coffee that supports growers across multiple projects. This blend is served at zoo cafes and offers bergamot and blueberry notes with a light body.
Since launching in 2022, Coffee for Wildlife has purchased more than 11,000 kilograms of shade-grown beans from international conservation partners. The programme provides sustainable income to farmers while protecting habitat from deforestation.
Low-impact farming works
In Papua New Guinea, funds have supported trail camera installation and maintenance to monitor wildlife activity within coffee plantations. As of 2025, cameras recorded 1,108 animals including the Raffray’s Bandicoot and New Guinea Harpy Eagle. Both species are highly sensitive to habitat disturbance, making their presence a strong indicator of successful low-impact farming practices.
The Sumatran project invests in training and infrastructure for farmers while paying premiums for commitment to strict organic and environmental standards. Wildlife monitoring has shown several bird species breeding within coffee farms, highlighting how well-managed shade-grown operations support biodiversity alongside quality bean production.
Ethiopian operations focus on empowering local communities to manage forest resources profitably. The project develops sustainable uses for non-timber forest products including coffee, cardamom and honey to increase household income. At least 30% of core positions in forest management groups and cooperatives are occupied by women.
The shade-grown method
Coffee for Wildlife packaging uses compostable materials that break down in home compost systems. Customers without home composting can dispose of bags in general waste bins, where they degrade like organic matter. Zoos Victoria retail shops also feature special compost bins for used coffee bags, which are processed through Melbourne Zoo’s industrial composting system.
The shade-grown method employed across all Coffee for Wildlife origins enhances bean flavour and quality while preserving critical habitat. This approach maintains established tree cover that provides homes for wildlife while supporting sustainable farming practices.
Zoo members receive 15% discount on all Coffee for Wildlife purchases through the online shop. Subscription services are available for regular deliveries, ensuring consistent support for conservation projects while maintaining fresh coffee supplies.
Coffee for Wildlife products can be purchased at Zoos Victoria shops, the online Zoo store and Genovese.
This article was made in partnership with Zoos Victoria.
