How to Compare Coffee Companies That Give Back
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Coffee companies that give back include Three Avocados, Grounds & Hounds, and Peace Coffee, but their commitments use different formulas. To compare them fairly, check what the contribution is based on, which purchases qualify, who receives the money, and what evidence is available. Then choose a coffee you actually enjoy drinking.
Disclosure: This guide is published by Three Avocados, one of the companies discussed. The examples illustrate different giving models; they are not a ranking or an independent audit. Brand policies were checked on October 15, 2026.
Start with the giving formula
A percentage only tells you something useful when you know what it is a percentage of. Sales and profits are different amounts. A commitment tied to every qualifying purchase also works differently from a donation tied to a company's year-end results.
Before comparing coffee companies, look for a plain explanation of the calculation. These are the distinctions that matter most.
| Claim | What to check |
|---|---|
| A percentage of sales or purchases | Which sales qualify, what amount the percentage applies to, and whether taxes, shipping, or discounts are excluded. |
| A percentage of profits | Which expenses are deducted before profit is calculated and what period the commitment covers. |
| A fixed amount per bag or pound | The stated unit, eligible products, and whether the amount changes by sales channel. |
| Proceeds or net proceeds | The company's own definition. Ask whether this means sales receipts or money remaining after specified expenses. |
| A donation | The amount or formula, recipient, and timing. The word alone does not tell you how much a purchase contributes. |
For example, imagine a $20 purchase with $2 left after all business expenses. Giving 100% of that profit would mean $2. Giving 5% of the $20 purchase would mean $1. These are hypothetical numbers, not the economics of any brand in this guide. Change the costs or the contribution rate and the comparison changes.
That is why the biggest printed percentage is not enough to identify the biggest contribution. If the necessary numbers are not public, say that the models differ rather than assuming which gives more.
Coffee companies with different giving models
Here are three examples, listed alphabetically. Each has a public policy you can inspect. Their different causes and calculation bases make them useful examples, not directly comparable donation totals.
Grounds and Hounds supports animal rescue
Grounds & Hounds states that 20% of its profits support rescue organizations around the country. Its mission page also directs readers to rescue partners. For someone who wants coffee purchases to support animal rescue, that is a relevant starting point. The percentage is based on profits, not the retail price of a bag.
Peace Coffee connects online purchases to selected nonprofits
Peace Coffee states that 1% of online purchases benefits a nonprofit the shopper selects at checkout. Its community page describes categories including farmer support, community support, LGBTQ+ mental health, and climate justice. This is an online-purchase commitment, so check the checkout options rather than assuming it applies identically to every retail channel.
Three Avocados directs profits to clean water
We are a nonprofit coffee company founded in 2010. Our commitment is to direct 100% of profits to clean-water projects. That means the money remaining after business expenses, not the full price of a bag. Our Organization page explains the model, and our Water Projects page documents the work it supports.
No percentage here establishes which company gives the most per bag. For that, you would need comparable contribution amounts, eligible sales, and time periods. Choose a cause you care about and read the policy that applies to your purchase.
Look for project evidence beyond the promise
A giving policy describes a commitment. A project report or dated partner update helps show what happened. Look for named locations, the organization doing the work, dates, and a description of what was funded. A cumulative headline total becomes more useful when the company explains how it was calculated.
For a water project, helpful evidence includes the type of installation, the community served, completion status, and who is responsible for ongoing operation. A photo can add context, but a photo alone cannot answer those questions. A project described as planned or in progress should not be presented as completed.
Our Kenya project page, for example, records a 2024 project in Ndarakwa with Compassion International involving a borehole, distribution points, and storage tanks, and links to a final report. Those details give a reader something specific to inspect. They are more informative than a broad statement that coffee helps people.
You do not need to investigate every purchase as if you were auditing a foundation. Start by following one project or partner link. If you cannot tell who received support or when the work happened, ask before treating the claim as verified.
Understand what certifications do and do not establish
Giving to a cause, treating coffee producers fairly, and meeting wider business standards are related concerns, but they answer different questions. A company can describe one without proving the others. Check the specific claim rather than treating every mission or logo as interchangeable.
Certified B Corporations
B Lab describes B Corp Certification as verification against standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. It is a company-level certification, not a statement that a particular percentage of your coffee purchase is donated. If a brand claims certification, check its current listing through B Lab.
Fairtrade coffee
Fairtrade explains that its system includes a Minimum Price and an additional Fairtrade Premium for qualifying sales, with producer organizations deciding democratically how Premium funds are used. Those trading arrangements are different from a roaster donating profits to a separate cause. Verify the certification claimed for the specific coffee; do not infer it from words such as ethical or give back.
A charitable mission does not by itself prove a coffee is Fairtrade certified or a company is a Certified B Corporation. Equally, a certification does not tell you that the company has made a separate clean-water or animal-rescue donation. Both may matter to your decision, but evaluate them separately.
Keep coffee quality in the decision
You are still buying something to drink. Check the roast description, origin information, whole-bean or ground options, and whether the format suits your brewer. A giving policy will not make a roast you dislike taste better.
Start with a sensible amount for your household rather than buying a large supply because of the mission. If you enjoy the coffee and understand the contribution, you can decide whether it belongs in your regular routine. Repeat purchases should follow a good product experience, not a feeling of obligation.
Why this model matters to Three Avocados
Our name comes from a widow in Bulopa, Uganda, who placed three avocados in a church offering so someone else could eat. Her generosity inspired the company. You can read the story behind our name.
We chose coffee as a product people already buy. The purpose is to support clean water through an ordinary purchase, while giving the customer coffee worth coming back for. That purpose is also why we think shoppers should be able to ask direct questions about the money and the projects.
We apply the same comparison rule to ourselves: 100% of profits is not 100% of revenue. It does not specify one universal dollar contribution from every product or sales channel. Read our model alongside the project evidence, and judge the coffee on its own merits.
Questions to ask before choosing a brand
- What is the exact contribution formula, and which purchases qualify?
- Who receives the support, and when is it transferred?
- Where can I see a dated project report or partner update?
- Does any certification apply to the company, the specific coffee, or both?
- Does the roast and format fit the way I drink coffee?
If a claim is unclear, a short question to the company is reasonable. An incomplete webpage is a reason to seek clarification, not proof of dishonesty. Look for an answer with enough detail to help you make the decision.
Common questions about coffee that gives back
Does 100 percent of profits mean the whole purchase price is donated
No. Profits are what remains after business expenses. A company can direct all of that remaining amount to a cause while still paying for coffee, roasting, packaging, and other operating costs.
Is a profit percentage better than a purchase percentage
Neither formula is automatically better. A profit percentage depends on the amount of profit; a purchase-based percentage depends on the qualifying purchase amount. Compare actual contributions only when the company supplies enough information to do so fairly.
Can I choose a brand based on the cause
Yes. Clean water, animal rescue, and community organizations may matter differently to different shoppers. Use the cause to narrow your options, then check the giving terms, evidence, and coffee.
See how Three Avocados works
If clean water is the cause you want your coffee to support, start with how our nonprofit model works. When you are ready to choose a bag, explore our coffees and find a roast that fits your taste.