Quality & Sustainability

For over 40 years, specialty coffee has been crafted in Canada by Zavida with one guiding principle: every cup should be worth it — worth the beans, worth the process, and worth the impact on the people and planet behind it.

This page covers what goes into the coffee, the certifications that back these claims, and the commitments made to the environment and the communities involved.

Coffee Certifications

Halal Certified — Etimad Halal

The full range is certified Halal by Etimad Halal, ensuring that every ingredient and every step of the production process meets the highest Halal standards. This certification is verified across ingredients, processing facilities, and production methods — allowing the products to bear the Etimad Halal seal, one of the most recognised Halal certification bodies in the industry.

Etimad Halal Certified — Zavida Coffee

Kosher Certified — Kashruth Council of Canada (COR)

Production facilities are certified Kosher by the Kashruth Council of Canada (COR) — the largest Kosher certification agency in Canada. Kosher certification is widely recognised as a rigorous quality and purity standard, held to strict rabbinical supervision.

COR Kosher Certified Coffee

FSSC 22000 — Food Safety Management

Production facilities are FSSC 22000 certified — a globally recognised food safety management system standard covering the full production process from raw materials through to finished product. Recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), it is one of the most comprehensive food safety certifications available in the industry.

FSSC 22000 Food Safety Certified — Zavida Coffee

Swiss Water® Process — Chemical-Free Decaffeination

All decaffeinated coffees in the range are made using the Swiss Water® Process — a 100% chemical-free and solvent-free decaffeination method developed in Switzerland and operated in British Columbia, Canada.

How it works:
Green coffee beans are soaked in pure spring water, which draws out the caffeine. The water is then filtered through activated charcoal to remove caffeine molecules while retaining the coffee's natural flavour compounds. This flavour-charged water — called Green Coffee Extract — is reused to decaffeinate the next batch, preserving flavour without any chemicals.

What this means:

  • 100% chemical-free — no methylene chloride, no ethyl acetate, no solvents of any kind
  • 99.9% caffeine-free
  • Full flavour retained — the cup tastes like coffee, not like decaf
  • Suitable for those avoiding chemical processing for health, dietary, or personal reasons

Visit swisswater.com to learn more, or explore the Decaf Coffee range and read the guide: What Is Decaf Coffee? Benefits, Caffeine Content & UAE Guide.

Swiss Water Process Certified — Zavida Coffee

USDA Organic

Organic coffee is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilisers, on specially isolated farms committed to sustainable agriculture techniques. USDA Organic certification covers the full supply chain — from farm to roaster — and is audited by a USDA-accredited certifying body.

USDA Organic Certified — Zavida Coffee

Canada Organic Regime (COR) & QAI Organic

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspects and certifies that farms and processors follow organic methods and adhere to ISO/IEC 17065 standards — an internationally recognised framework for product certification bodies.

Canada Organic Certified — Zavida Coffee

QAI (Quality Assurance International) organic certification preserves natural resources and biodiversity, supports animal health and welfare, requires annual on-site inspections, separates organic from non-organic production, and ensures that no genetically modified ingredients are present.

 QAI Certified Organic — Zavida Coffee

Rainforest Alliance Certified™

A partnership with the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ organisation has been in place since 2006. Over 55% of the coffee sourced is harvested from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms — and this number grows every year.

Rainforest Alliance certification means the supplying farms have been independently audited against rigorous standards covering:

  • Strictly controlled use of agrochemicals
  • Protection of forests, rivers, soils, and wildlife
  • Fair treatment of workers — proper equipment, fair wages, and children's access to education and medical care
  • Farmer training in methods that boost yields and safeguard land health for future generations

Rainforest Alliance certified products include the 100% Colombian, Rainforest Alliance Hazelnut Vanilla, and Organica Espresso Roast.

Rainforest Alliance Certified — Zavida Coffee

Environmental Commitments

Carbon Neutral Initiative — Trees for the Future

Trees are planted to offset carbon emissions on an annual basis. Total carbon output is calculated by including all raw materials, transportation, and energy use — and enough trees are planted to absorb all carbon emitted every year, achieving carbon neutrality.

This is done through a partnership with Trees for the Future — an organisation that plants trees in developing nations, enabling communities to restore their environment, grow more food, and build a sustainable future. Trees for the Future revitalises degraded lands by providing farmers with tree seeds, technical training, and on-site planning assistance to stimulate local economies and promote tree planting globally.

Aluminum Nespresso®-Compatible Capsules

The Nespresso®-compatible capsules are 100% aluminum, and are recyclable through the Nespresso® capsule recycling programme where available. As an infinitely recyclable material, aluminum is one of the most sustainable materials with which to produce single-use coffee capsules.

Aluminum Nespresso®-Compatible Capsules

The Nespresso®-compatible capsules are 100% aluminum, and are recyclable through the Nespresso® capsule recycling programme where available. As an infinitely recyclable material, aluminum is one of the most sustainable materials with which to produce single-use coffee capsules.

What's in the Coffee

100% Arabica — Always

Every product in the range uses 100% Arabica beans. No Robusta blending, no exceptions. Arabica beans are naturally lower in bitterness and caffeine, and develop a more complex, nuanced flavour — making them better suited to flavoured and specialty coffee profiles.

No Added Sugar or Sweeteners

Flavoured coffees contain no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners, and no natural sweeteners. Flavours are applied to roasted Arabica beans after roasting — there are no syrups, no liquid additives, and no dairy ingredients in the coffee itself.

The flavour is aromatic: the cup smells and tastes of the flavour, but does not taste sweet or sugary. Suitable for black coffee drinkers who want flavour without sweetness.

Roasted in Canada

All coffees are roasted and produced in Canada under consistent quality control.

Freshness Guarantee

One of the most common concerns about buying imported specialty coffee in the UAE is whether it will arrive fresh. The freshness approach covers every stage of the journey — from the roastery in Canada to the cup.

  • Premium multi-layer barrier packaging: Coffee bags incorporate oxygen barriers, moisture barriers, and light protection — the full combination required to protect roasted coffee from the three main causes of staleness: oxygen, humidity, and UV exposure.
  • One-way degassing valve: Every bag features a one-way degassing valve that allows CO₂ released by freshly roasted beans to escape without letting oxygen in — preventing the staling that occurs when oxygen contacts roasted coffee.
  • Resealable bags: Once opened, reseal the bag tightly after each use and store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Avoid the fridge or freezer unless the bag is completely airtight, as condensation can accelerate staling.
  • Air freight from Canada to the UAE: Inventory is shipped from Canada to the UAE via air freight — eliminating the prolonged transit times and uncontrolled temperature exposure associated with sea freight, and ensuring the coffee arrives in the UAE in the same condition it left the roastery.
  • Temperature-controlled storage in the UAE: Once in the UAE, all coffee is held in a strictly temperature-controlled storage environment — protecting it from the heat and humidity that can degrade coffee quality over time.
  • Temperature-controlled last-mile delivery: Last-mile delivery partners use temperature-controlled vehicles, ensuring every order is protected from UAE heat throughout the entire journey to the door — not just at the warehouse.