Drinking coffee certified as Bird Friendly by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center can be challenging.
The Smithsonian awards its "Bird Friendly" certification only to coffee products that adhere to their rigorous growing requirements. To qualify, coffee beans must be cultivated in shade-grown environments featuring diverse foliage cover, varying tree heights, and rich biodiversity—creating ideal habitats for birds and other wildlife.
Below you will find 5 coffee brands certified as "Bird-Friendly."
In addition to supporting wildlife conservation, the coffee listed below is DELICIOUS to drink. The reason for the outstanding taste is that Bird Friendly coffee is grown in the shade, allowing the beans to grow and mature naturally. While it takes longer than sun-grown coffee to harvest, the bean develops more evenly and becomes more saturated with oils and sugars, leading to an incredibly flavorful coffee.
To ensure a coffee product is bird-friendly, look for this label.
Unfortunately, you may see phrases such as "bird friendly" or "shade-grown" used as marketing terms. But only coffee brands with the above label have actually been certified!
Here are 5 of the BEST Bird Friendly coffee brands:
#1. Beautiful Beast Coffee Company
I'm certainly a bit biased, but I think the best place to purchase Smithsonian Bird Friendly coffee is right here. Almost all of the coffee we offer carries this incredible certification, with more coming soon. :)
In fact, the entire reason that I started this company was to promote coffee that is grown in harmony with nature. Preserving biodiversity and wildlife conservation is incredibly important to me. Drinking coffee from Beautiful Beast Coffee Company easily helps both of these causes by fighting deforestation, along with keeping harmful chemicals out of the environment.
My hope has always been to offer coffee that is a true "Win-Win."
- Delicious coffee for you.
- Coffee that supports, rather than interferes, with wildlife and habitat conservation.
And as we like to say around here:
Drink coffee. Save our beautiful beasts. :)
#2. Caffe Ibis
Caffe Ibis is a purpose-driven coffee company specializing in Triple Certified, Organic, Fair Trade, and Smithsonian Shade Grown "Bird Friendly" coffee from around the globe.
Known for its exceptional flavor, the brand reflects the passion of its husband-and-wife founders, who started Caffe Ibis in 1985 to take greater control over coffee quality—long before specialty organic coffee became mainstream.
While not all of their products are "Bird Friendly" certified, Caffe Ibis offers a unique feature: a list of bird species supported by each purchase, organized by the coffee's country of origin.
#3. Java Planet
Java Planet Organic Coffee Roasters is a family-owned coffee company committed to providing the highest quality, ethically sourced, and environmentally sustainable coffee. With a passion for protecting biodiversity and supporting eco-conscious farming, Java Planet takes pride in offering Bird Friendly certified coffee.
#4. Birds and Beans Coffee
Founded in 2009, Birds and Beans is a coffee brand dedicated to supporting bird conservation and reversing population declines. All of their coffee products are 100% Bird-Friendly, Fair Trade, and organic.
Their mission is truly inspiring, and with every purchase, Birds and Beans donates 5% of the proceeds to their conservation partners, helping protect birds and their habitats.
#5. Birds and Beans (Canada)
First, it’s important to note that this Birds and Beans is a completely separate company from the one mentioned earlier—they simply share the same name! What sets them apart is their focus on serving Canada exclusively.
For over 20 years, this Birds and Beans has been dedicated to offering only organic, shade-grown, bird-friendly coffee. Their commitment to continuously improving taste and flavor makes their products truly exceptional.
Here’s a little secret for U.S. coffee lovers: if you’re eager to try their amazing coffee, there’s a way!
Birds and Beans supplies the beans for the National Audubon Society's Bird-Friendly Coffee! Take a look at the different roasts here.
Your dollars make a difference—help save birds and protect forests!
Today, about 37,000 acres of coffee farms across 11 countries are certified as bird-friendly. While this is a positive step, it’s sobering to consider that 2.5 million acres have been cleared for other coffee farms in Central America alone. By choosing one of the bird-friendly coffee options listed above, you can show your support and help make a lasting impact.
Looking at the two pictures below, it's easy to see which coffee farm can support more birds and wildlife!
The best way to encourage more farms to pursue bird-friendly certification is by increasing demand. While the bird-friendly program is excellent, it remains under the radar for many. As bird lovers, we have the power to make a difference—starting with every sip of coffee we enjoy.