Nespresso, a brand of Nestlé Nespresso SA, Lausanne, Switzerland, announced that it will be bringing back Cuban coffee to the United States for the first time in more than 50 years.
Recent regulatory changes in the United States have allowed Nespresso to move forward with its plans, which include making the new CubanNespresso Grand Cru, Cafecito de Cuba, available in the United States in the fall of 2016, initially as a limited edition. Over the long term, Nespresso and its partner TechnoServe, a nonprofit development organization, will explore how to work with smallholder coffee farmers in Cuba with an ultimate goal of supporting farmers in their production of sustainable coffee and contributing to expanded economic opportunities for them in the long term, the company says.
Nespresso is purchasing Arabica coffee this year that has been produced by Cuban farmers, and the company aims to continue purchasing it in the coming years, it adds.
"At Nespresso, we always aim to delight consumers through exclusive, unique coffee experiences," said Guillaume Le Cunff, president of Nespresso USA, in a statement. "Nespresso is thrilled to be the first to bring this rare coffee to the U.S., allowing consumers to rediscover this distinct coffee profile. Over the long term, we have a view to supporting the development of environmentally sustainable coffee farming practices for smallholder farmers, which benefit the farmers themselves and their communities. Ultimately, we want consumers in the U.S. to experience this incredible coffee and to enjoy it now and for years to come."
The U.S. Department of State in late April updated its list of goods produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs that can be imported into the United States to include coffee. This change paved the way for Nespresso to offer Cuban coffee to the U.S. market, the company states.