We've been brewing up something special...
It's no secret that we believe coffee should do more than just taste good. That's why for UCL200 the Union's Café team decided to create a delicious new coffee blend that looks forward to the future whilst celebrating our past.
Working in partnership with our expert coffee suppliers, Volcano Coffee Works, we're proud to introduce The Bicentenary Blend which is now being exclusively served in all our Union cafés throughout our 200th year. However, this blend is doing more than simply tasting great - with every cup helping to:
- Support our student community - every penny of profit made in our Union cafés and shops is reinvested back into the Union so that we can continue to deliver funding, support and services for our student community at UCL.
- Contribute to The Sombra Agroforestry Project. 60% of the Bicentenary Blend uses coffee from Fazenda Mio, Volcano Coffee Works’ partner farm in Brazil. Volcano Coffee Works are directly funding The Sombra Project in partnership with Fazenda Mio – an ambitious agroforestry initiative that aims to reforest 15 hectares with more than 60,000 trees and coffee plants to protect biodiversity, restore soil health and help farmers adapt and build climate‑resilient coffee farms.
With rich tasting notes of cacao, dark chocolate, walnut and orange rind, this expertly balanced coffee has been designed to be enjoyed by everyone – whether you’re grabbing a quick cup between lectures or settling in for a longer study break. The beans are ethically sourced and responsibly roasted, showing that great coffee and responsible practices go hand in hand.
For UCL's anniversary year the Bicentenary Blend will be served in Gordon's Café, Print Room Café, Grab n Go and Bloomsbury Café from Wednesday 4th February. The blend will also be available to purchase as 200g whole‑bean bags in our cafés, so you can enjoy your new favourite brew at home or gift it to a friend.
A new blend for a new chapter
Watch the behind the scenes of our Bicentenary Blend being made
This has been a great project to be involved with. It's really reinforced to me not only how little actions, such as choosing which coffee to drink, can make a positive difference but also that sustainability must remain a core decision-making factor for our Union as we continue to place planet before profit.
Anam Choudhary, Students' Union President
About Volcano Coffee Works
Students' Union UCL selected Volcano Coffee Works to be our new coffee provider at the start of 2025 due to our shared sustainability values. As well as being a local company based in West Norwood, they are also a certified B-Corp, meaning they are dedicated to using business as a force for good. This can be seen throughout their supply chain and practices; from consistently paying their farmers above Fairtrade pricing, to taking ownership through carbon insetting projects to reduce emissions where they are created, creating zero-waste products and supporting social and environmental charity initiatives in their farmers' communities.
