Written by 
Spotted: Coffee is one of the most popular drinks worldwide, with Danes alone going through almost four billion cups of it every year. But, because only about one per cent of the coffee bean is actually used in the brewing process, all this coffee drinking also results in a huge amount of waste, which typically ends up in landfill or incinerators. Danish bioscience company Kaffe Bueno has taken up the challenge to utilise this waste.
The startup has developed an innovative biorefining technology that transforms spent coffee grounds into high-performance, sustainable biochemicals. Through rigorous research and development, Kaffe Bueno has uncovered unique biochemical properties, which are well-suited for applications ranging from personal care and nutrition through to agriculture.
The company’s product KAFFOIL, for example, can be used in place of palm oil to reduce our reliance on non-sustainably sourced oils, with the aim of helping to meet growing global demand for palm oil ingredients while reducing pressure on rainforests. By providing a sustainable alternative derived from existing waste streams, Kaffe Bueno aims to help prevent further deforestation while supporting legitimate palm oil producers who follow sustainable practices.
KAFFOIL, along with the company’s KAFFAGE and KAFFAIR products, is already available for use in personal care formulations as emollients and surfactants (chemicals that soften or soothe the skin and reduce the surface tension of a liquid respectively). These coffee-derived ingredients could well serve as sustainable alternatives to CO2-intensive chemicals, something that our planet is in desperate need of.
Kaffe Bueno has the circular economy at the heart of its business model. The technology maximises the value extracted from wasted coffee grounds, and at competitive costs. Juan Pablo Medina, co-founder and CEO, explains, “By transforming coffee by-products into high-performing ingredients, we’re not just diverting waste from landfills – we’re unlocking coffee’s hidden potential (…) we’ve uncovered coffee’s exceptional biochemical properties that make it ideal for applications far beyond your morning cup. This is about expanding the toolbox of sustainable options with equally (or better) performing alternatives and letting the market decide.”
The company has just launched a demonstration facility in Copenhagen to refine its processes and produce its second-generation range of products. This pilot is a precursor to a planned 50,000-tonne biorefinery, set to launch in 2026, which will scale up production to meet growing market demand. This milestone was enabled by a €6.2 million investment in January 2024, from industry leaders such as Borregaard and the European Innovation Council Fund, signalling confidence in the innovation’s potential to transform global supply chains.
Written By: Oscar Williams