Juan Valdez Cups: How Coffee Kreis Turned Waste Into Purpose

Juan Valdez cups have become a powerful symbol of how sustainability and coffee culture can come together. 

When Coffee Kreis was born in 2022, its founders had one clear goal: to turn coffee waste into something meaningful. What started as a small idea to give used coffee grounds a second life has now evolved into a story of circular innovation and collaboration.

And in 2025, that purpose materialized through a remarkable partnership with Juan Valdez USA, one of the most iconic names in coffee.

A Partnership Brewed Over Time

In the early days of Coffee Kreis, few could imagine that recycled coffee waste could become something beautiful, like the elegant Juan Valdez coffee cups now sold across several U.S. stores.

From the beginning, Juan Valdez believed in Coffee Kreis mission. They opened their doors, shared their waste, and joined forces to rethink sustainability in coffee culture.

“Since day one, Juan Valdez has trusted our vision,” says the Coffee Kreis team. “Together, we’ve recycled over 9 tons of coffee residue from their stores, materials that we’ve transformed into reusable cups, tumblers, and other sustainable products that close the circular loop.”

After more than three years of conversations and collaboration, that shared dream took shape in August 2025, when Juan Valdez USA officially launched the first collection of Juan Valdez mugs made from their own coffee waste across their nine stores in Florida.

The Circular Model in Action

This collaboration goes beyond design: it’s a working model of the circular economy.

Each Juan Valdez cup created by Coffee Kreis is made using coffee residue directly collected from Juan Valdez stores. That means every cup literally comes from the same coffee their customers drink daily, returning to its origin and completing the sustainability cycle.

Moreover, Juan Valdez USA has introduced a reusable cup discount program: every customer who brings back their Coffee Kreis mug for their next coffee gets 5% off their purchase.

It’s a simple gesture with a big environmental impact:

• Reducing single-use cup waste

• Encouraging responsible habits

• Raising awareness about the coffee lifecycle

“This partnership shows that sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated,” says a Coffee Kreis co-founder. “It’s about turning everyday actions, like drinking coffee, into opportunities for change.”

A Shared Vision for Sustainability

As a Certified B Corporation, Juan Valdez has long been a leader in ethical coffee production and sustainable retail. Partnering with Coffee Kreis aligns perfectly with their values, from supporting coffee growers to implementing eco-friendly business practices.

Both brands share a common purpose: to redefine what it means to enjoy coffee sustainably. Together, they are demonstrating how innovation can blend with tradition to create tangible change in the coffee industry.

“This isn’t just a commercial partnership,” explains Coffee Kreis. “It’s a symbolic milestone for Colombia’s coffee ecosystem, proof that sustainability and culture can go hand in hand.”

What Comes Next

The alliance between Coffee Kreis and Juan Valdez USA is only the beginning. The plan is to expand the initiative to other international markets where Juan Valdez operates, taking the circular model global.

From Colombia to the U.S., the message is clear: coffee waste has value. It can be transformed, reused, and reborn as products that tell a story of care for the planet and the people behind every cup.

What started as a dream is now a real movement, and the Juan Valdez mugs are its proud ambassadors.

A Cup That Closes the Loop

The Juan Valdez cup collection by Coffee Kreis is more than just a product — it’s a proof of concept.

By reusing coffee waste, applying circular design principles, and promoting consumer awareness, these cups redefine sustainability in the coffee world. They’re not just eco-friendly accessories; they’re a statement of purpose.

Each cup tells the story of how two Colombian brands are working together to change consumption habits and reduce the industry’s footprint: one brew at a time.

So next time you visit Juan Valdez USA, look beyond the coffee aroma. The cup in your hands might just be made from yesterday’s brew, transformed through creativity, collaboration, and circular innovation.

Did You Know?

Here are three real facts that highlight the importance of initiatives like this one:

The world generates about 6 million tons of coffee waste every year, most of it ends up in landfills, releasing harmful greenhouse gases. (Source: National Library of Medicine (PMC)

The global coffee industry produces around 40 million tons of organic waste annually, from husks to spent grounds, a huge opportunity for circular economy innovation. (Source: Slow Food International)

In the U.S. alone, over 50 billion disposable coffee cups are used every year, and most aren’t recycled, highlighting the urgent need for reusable alternatives. (Source: Cornell University – SC Johnson College of Business)