Exploring the Award-Winning Projects of the 2025 Coffee Design Awards
The 2025 Coffee Design Awards, hosted during the Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston, not only honored outstanding brands in the coffee industry but also celebrated the exceptional creativity, innovation, and sustainability embodied in the winning projects.
From the design of immersive spaces to sustainable packaging and culturally rooted branding, the winning entries of this year’s awards set new benchmarks for design excellence in specialty coffee.
Here’s a closer look at the inspiring projects behind the 2025 Coffee Design Awards winners.
Puelo Coffee Roasters: A Journey into Slow Roasting and Sustainability
Award Category: Spaces | Location: Santiago de Chile
Designed by Estudio Cenit and Cristobal Fell, Puelo Coffee Roasters created a café and roastery that embodies transparency, cultural impact, and respect for the coffee craft.
The space harmonizes rustic materials like reclaimed wood and stainless steel, symbolizing both nature and cleanliness.
The architectural concept connects the spirit of Patagonia with a modern industrial aesthetic, offering an atmosphere where customers can appreciate coffee as a vital nutrient.
The philosophy of “Grain Without Rush” reflects a slower, more mindful approach to roasting and life itself, contrasting today’s fast-paced urban lifestyles.
As the first electric roastery in a residential neighborhood in South America, Puelo stands as a pioneer in sustainable coffee production, using compostable Biotre packaging materials and promoting open, environmentally conscious operations.
Ember Goods: Bringing Campfire Spirit into Coffee Packaging
Award Category: Packaging | Location: Olympia, Washington
Created by designers Logan Smith and Zachary Kiernan, Ember Goods’ winning packaging design draws inspiration from vintage matchboxes and the warm camaraderie of campfires.
The packaging includes a custom coffee box with a compartment containing a fire starter made from recycled coffee grounds, blending functionality, environmental consciousness, and storytelling.
All elements — from eco-friendly coffee bags to wooden shavings used as natural fillers — reinforce a connection to the outdoors and the Pacific Northwest spirit.
Beyond the product, Ember Goods donates 10% of proceeds to wildfire relief efforts, linking their branding to broader environmental stewardship.
Their mission, “Drink good coffee, do good things,” perfectly captures the essence of their design: community, sustainability, and the warmth of shared experiences.
Yettu: Earth to Cup – Bridging Tradition and Modernity through Branding
Award Category: Branding | Location: Tamil Nadu, India
Developed by Tekwani Design Co., Yettu’s branding tells the story of coffee’s journey from earth to cup while honoring India’s rich agricultural heritage.
The logotype, inspired by traditional handmade coffee tools and ancient architectural motifs from Tamil Nadu, reflects authenticity, craftsmanship, and connection to the land.
The branding integrates patterns influenced by the Usgalimal Petroglyphs, creating a visual language where sustainability and cultural legacy meet.
Yettu’s “Earth to Cup” philosophy ensures that every stage of production, from cultivation to packaging, follows environmentally responsible practices, using recyclable papers and soy-based inks.
Through its layered and meaningful visual identity, Yettu bridges Indian coffee culture with global specialty coffee markets, delivering a brand experience as rich and intricate as the coffee it represents.
Redefining Coffee Design for the Future
The 2025 Coffee Design Awards proved that design in the coffee industry goes far beyond aesthetics — it is about values, storytelling, innovation, and responsibility.
These projects reflect the industry’s deepening commitment to sustainability, authenticity, and community engagement.
Each winning project reminds us that specialty coffee is not just a beverage — it is an experience shaped by every detail, from the farm to the final cup.
