With more than 25 years in the coffee industry, Piazza D’Oro has always prioritised quality and community. They’ve built a reputation for serving quality coffee that goes beyond the cup. From bustling cafes to office kitchens, they believe coffee should be enjoyed without compromise and create meaningful connections. It’s this view of not just quality but also experience that continues to shape the way they source, serve, and support the coffee community.
Roasting a Rich History
Piazza D’Oro started its journey in 1991, roasting coffee locally in Kingsgrove, New South Wales. They are a household name, serving over 58 million cups of coffee each year and have since perfected their 5 premium blends of Mezzo, Organic, Colombian, Forza, and Dolce.
Along with their premium coffee blends, Piazza D’oro is also dedicated to enriching the coffee culture in Australia through their Barista Workshops. These workshops offer hands-on training for coffee enthusiasts, from beginners to professionals, teaching them the skills they need to make the perfect cup of coffee. Whether it’s learning the art of espresso making, latte art, or just understanding the difference between each blend or bean, Piazza D’Oro helps coffee lovers grow their skills and confidence in making great coffee.
A Brewing Problem
Australia’s love for coffee runs deep, but so does its takeaway waste problem. Around 1.8 billion single-use coffee cups are thrown away each year, and 54% of people say reducing landfill waste is important to them, while 81% believe recycling helps conserve biodiversity and reduce habitat destruction (source). Piazza D’Oro knew it was time to do something to contribute.
With hundreds of stores serving takeaway coffee and so many cups ending up in landfills, the team needed a better option that didn’t compromise on quality or experience. The challenge wasn’t just about finding any compostable cup, it had to retain heat well, be durable, and offer the same convenience customers expect. But finding the right cup isn’t easy, and finding one that ticks all the boxes and fits their sustainability goals is even harder.
Steaming Towards Sustainability
Piazza D’Oro is building on their sustainability efforts. Their hands-on approach includes working closely with small-scale farmers, helping them adopt sustainable practices through farmer initiatives and third-party verification to help ensure that their coffee is sourced ethically from bean to cup.
With their “Common Grounds” approach, Piazza D’Oro focuses on three key pillars that guide their every decision:
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Responsible Sourcing: They partner with farmers and communities to adopt sustainable practices for long-term sustainability, making sure their coffee is grown with care.
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Minimising Their Footprint: They make thoughtful choices, like switching to certified home compostable takeaway cups, to help reduce waste and cut down on their overall environmental impact.
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Connecting People: They build meaningful connections within the coffee community and support positive change across the industry.
And with their switch to certified home compostable takeaway cups, Piazza D’oro shows their continued effort to help create a better future for people and the environment.
The Switch Worth Brewing
On 1st of April 2025, Piazza D’Oro took a major step towards sustainability by transitioning all their industrially compostable (AS4736) takeaway cups across their 100 stores nationwide to a certified home compostable (AS5810) coffee cup. It’s a better fit for Piazza D’Oro’s values and supports the increasing number of Australians now composting at home.
The Secret Ingredient
So, what makes these cups stand out? It’s all about the lining. These cups use a water-based aqueous coating instead of traditional plastic or bioplastic lining. It’s applied like paint, allowing the coating to absorb into the cup’s paper fibres instead of sitting on top as a separate layer. Aqueous uses only a third of the material in comparison to other technologies while providing the same leak and grease-proof benefits. It’s a smart and more sustainable product design choice that performs just as well in-store as it does in the compost bin.
Cupgraded to Break Down at Home
What truly sets Piazza D’Oro’s new aqueous cup apart is its end-of-life capability. This cup breaks down in a home compost in less than 6 months, allowing coffee lovers to take care of their waste at home responsibly. Unlike traditional takeaway cups that often end up in landfills due to a lack of viable disposal pathways, these cups offer Piazza D’Oro and their customers a sustainable alternative, combining practicality and a long-term solution to packaging waste.
Stirring What’s Next
Piazza D’Oro’s switch to BioPak’s certified home compostable cup isn’t just changing packaging, it’s another step forward in sustainability and a clear reflection that aligns with their values and the experience they want every customer to enjoy. Because for Piazza D’Oro, great coffee isn’t just in a cup, it’s about the care that goes into every part of the journey.
