BIRMINGHAM – Seattle’s Best Coffee, part of Nestlé Professional, has launched a fully branded café at the University of Birmingham in partnership with Food Fellows, strengthening the brand’s presence in the education sector and bringing a value-led, high quality coffee offer to one of the UK’s largest university communities. Serving more than 40,000 students and 10,000 staff, the launch responds to growing demand for accessible campus coffee that delivers on taste, choice and everyday value. This reflects findings from Nestlé Professional’s 2025 Behind the Beans: Coffee on Campus, Colleges & Universities Report1, which found that 94% of UK students regularly buy coffee on campus, with 96% saying a varied menu is important when choosing coffee on campus.

The launch responds directly to this demand, serving the full Seattle’s Best Coffee range, including hot and iced coffee, collagen coffee and Aero Hot Chocolate. This broader offer reflects changing student preferences, with the report showing that 37% of students want iced coffee options, 34% want speciality hot chocolate and 28% are interested in functional coffees, such as those with protein, collagen or vitamins.

Seattle’s Best Coffee’s uncommonly smooth taste, consistent quality and a competitive £3 RRP price point make it well suited to busy campus environments, where students and staff want great coffee that feels accessible every day.

With 9 in 10 students saying sustainability influences their coffee purchasing decisions, the launch reflects Seattle’s Best Coffee’s ambition to help universities drive footfall and repeat visits, while delivering the choice, value and responsible sourcing credentials today’s students expect. Seattle’s Best Coffee Henry’s Signature Blend is made with 100% Fairtrade Arabica coffee beans and is supported by Nestlé’s wider work across the coffee value chain, giving campus operators a credible sustainability story without compromising on taste, quality or accessibility.

Peter Kellend, Head of Retail & Brands at the University of Birmingham, said: “Introducing Seattle’s Best Coffee has allowed us to strengthen our campus food and drink offer with a more affordable, everyday coffee option that feels fair, accessible and still delivers on quality. 

“The partnership has helped us fill an important gap in our drinks portfolio with a recognisable, fully branded offer that is easy for students and staff to engage with. Alongside our new in-house bakery range, it gives us a stronger all-day café proposition, creating more choice, driving footfall and encouraging people to stay on campus for their coffee occasions.”

Isabelle Fournier, Head of Beverages at Nestlé Professional UK&I, said: “Coffee plays a central role in student life, with increasing demand for a broad range of options that fit both routine and budget — from classic hot coffee to iced, speciality and functional choices.”

“The University of Birmingham demonstrates how Seattle’s Best Coffee can support operators in busy campus environments through a branded offer that delivers quality, consistency and accessibility. With smooth 100% Arabica coffee alongside innovative options such as collagen coffee and Aero Hot Chocolate, we are helping to create a modern, engaging café experience that resonates with everyday student needs.”

Seattle’s Best Coffee supports operators with easy-to-use equipment, clear menus, team training, launch materials and promotional mechanics designed to drive trial and repeat purchase. This makes the brand well suited to education environments, where speed of service, operational simplicity and strong value are essential. 

The University of Birmingham launch builds on Seattle’s Best Coffee’s wider UK expansion under Nestlé Professional, as the brand continues to grow across education, workplace, healthcare, high street and other out of home channels.

To find out more about Seatle’s Best Coffee please visit: https://www.nestleprofessional.co.uk/coffee/commercial-coffee-machines/seattles-best-coffee  

To discover how UK students engage with coffee on campus, and what drives their purchasing decisions, download Nestlé Professional’s Behind the Beans: Coffee on Campus, Colleges & Universities Report 2025: https://www.nestleprofessional.co.uk/coffee/insights/coffee-campus-report