By partnering with two of the most respected names in the coffee industry, we’re helping Irish businesses serve barista-quality coffee with reliability, consistency, and style.

Why Choose a La Marzocco Commercial Coffee Machine?

La Marzocco is synonymous with craftsmanship and innovation. Founded in Florence in 1927, the brand is globally recognised for producing some of the finest commercial espresso machines in the world.

Key Benefits of La Marzocco Machines:

• Dual boiler technology for maximum temperature stability

• Precision engineering for consistent espresso extraction

• Iconic design that enhances the look of any coffee bar

• Built for high-volume environments

Popular models such as the Linea range are trusted by specialty cafés worldwide. If your goal is to deliver exceptional espresso with consistency during busy service periods, a La Marzocco machine is an investment in quality and performance.

For cafés focused on specialty coffee, high-end hospitality venues, or businesses looking to position themselves as premium coffee destinations, La Marzocco offers unmatched reliability and prestige.

Rancilio Commercial Coffee Machines: Performance Meets Practicality

Coffee That Plants Trees in Ireland

Every case of Woodland Coffee funds the planting of native trees in our woodland in Pallasgreen, Co Limerick. These trees help restore natural habitats, improve biodiversity, and capture carbon—creating long-term benefits for the environment. It’s a tangible, local climate action story that your employees and visitors can connect with every day.

By choosing Woodland Coffee, your office coffee break becomes more than just a moment of enjoyment—it becomes part of Ireland’s reforestation movement.

Why Partner with Watermark Coffee for Your Office

When you choose Woodland Coffee with Watermark Coffee’s machine rental service, you get far more than beans and a machine—you get a complete, supported solution trusted by businesses nationwide:

• Exceptional Customer Service – Friendly, responsive, and personalised, with account managers who know your business.

• Dedicated Account Support – No call centres; you deal directly with someone who understands your coffee needs.

• Premium Coffee Equipment – Choose from trusted brands like La Marzocco, Rancilio, La Cimbali, and Gaggia.

• Flexible Office Coffee Solutions – From small teams to large corporate offices, we tailor machine rental plans to suit you.

• Nationwide Coverage – Serving Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, and everywhere in between.

• Reliable Technical Support – Our nationwide team of technicians keep your coffee flowing with expert maintenance and repairs.

• Award-Winning Coffee – Speciality-grade Arabica blends that have earned recognition from Great Taste and Blas na hÉireann.

• Barista Training & Consultation – We train your team to make the perfect cup, every time.

• Authentic Irish Sustainability – Proudly BCorp Certified, Guaranteed Irish, and winners of the 2025 Guaranteed Irish Sustainability Champion Award.

• Responsibly Sourced – All coffees are sustainably sourced directly from farmers and carry Rainforest Alliance Certification.

• Proven & Trusted – 5-star ratings from businesses nationwide.

The Complete Office Coffee Package

We make it simple to get started: choose your Woodland Coffee blend, select the ideal coffee machine for your office, and let our team take care of delivery, installation, and ongoing support. From a compact bean-to-cup machine for small offices to a high-capacity espresso setup for busy workplaces, we have the perfect fit.

Make Every Cup Count

Serving Woodland Coffee in your office is more than a daily perk—it’s a statement of your company’s commitment to sustainability and community impact.

Ready to combine great coffee with a greener future?
Contact Watermark Coffee today to arrange your office coffee machine rental and start serving Woodland Coffee that grows Ireland’s forests with every cup.

Despite these challenges, the industry is rising to the occasion. Through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable practices, the future of coffee is being reshaped for the better. Here’s how.

1. Climate-Smart Agriculture Is Leading the Way

One of the most important responses to climate change in coffee production is the adoption of climate-smart agriculture. As temperatures rise and weather becomes more erratic, traditional coffee-growing zones are becoming less viable. Producers are now shifting cultivation to higher altitudes and experimenting with regions once considered unsuitable for coffee.

Agroforestry is also gaining ground, particularly among our producer partners in Kenya. By growing coffee under the natural shade of forest canopies, they not only shield the plants from heat stress and heavy rainfall but also help preserve native ecosystems. This method creates a mutually beneficial balance between agriculture and the environment.

In Brazil, our partners at 3 Porteiras exemplify the benefits of improved irrigation and soil management. Their use of agroecological techniques such as intercropping and soil carbon retention is enhancing soil fertility while conserving water. These practices play a vital role in ensuring long-term productivity and reducing environmental impact.

2. Investing in the Future Through Resilient Coffee Varieties

Another promising strategy is the development of climate-resilient coffee varieties. Traditional Arabica coffee, though beloved for its flavour, is particularly sensitive to climate shifts. In response, breeding programmes are focusing on creating varieties that are more resistant to heat, disease, and pests like coffee leaf rust.

F1 hybrids—first-generation cross-bred plants—are emerging as a reliable solution. These hybrids offer both yield stability and improved resilience, helping to safeguard farmers’ livelihoods against unpredictable weather and disease outbreaks.

3. Supporting Farmers Through Diversification

For many farmers, climate change is not only a threat to coffee crops but also to income stability. Diversifying sources of income is a key adaptation strategy. Our farming communities in Kenya are already practising intercropping—growing coffee alongside other crops like cocoa, spices, or fruits. This not only cushions financial risk but also enhances biodiversity and soil health.

Furthermore, organisations across the supply chain are offering support programmes that help farmers transition to diversified, sustainable farming systems. These initiatives foster greater resilience in farming communities and reduce the risks associated with climate volatility.

4. The Growing Importance of Sustainable Sourcing

Today’s coffee drinkers are increasingly conscious of how their coffee is produced. Sustainability certifications such as Rainforest Alliance include climate-related criteria which are key to gaining certification, ensuring that certified coffee adheres to strict environmental standards.

In recent times more coffee is being sourced directly from the coffee farmers like our Green Ocean ‘Direct from Farm’ model and establishing direct trade relationships. These relationships build stronger connections between growers and buyers, enhance transparency, and create incentives for long-term sustainability investments.

5. Industry Collaboration and Policy Reform

On a global scale, initiatives such as the Sustainable Coffee Challenge and the Coffee & Climate Initiative are bringing together stakeholders from across the coffee world. These collaborations focus on research, training, and implementation of sustainable practices.

However, widespread change also requires political support. Governments in coffee-producing countries play a crucial role in enabling sustainable agriculture by reforming policies, offering incentives, and investing in farmer education. However a balance needs to be arrived at between regulations introduced by consumer counties (such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) coming into force in 2026) and producer counties.  We have to move in lockstep to create a regulatory environment that works for all stakeholders in order to deliver meaningful change.

Looking Ahead

While the challenges posed by climate change are formidable, the coffee industry is not sitting still. From the farm to the cup, every part of the supply chain is evolving. Through climate-smart farming, innovation in plant science, farmer support, and international collaboration, we can protect the future of coffee—and the communities that depend on it.

Because when coffee grows sustainably, we all benefit.

The data presented in the table above refers to our 12.79-hectare woodland in Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick, and is based on a model developed by Teagasc, which tracks the net carbon exchange of the woodland. Trees sequester—or capture—carbon primarily in their trunks, branches, roots, and surrounding soil. Through photosynthesis, trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to produce sugars for growth. However, they also release some carbon back into the atmosphere through natural decomposition. Carbon—and other gases—move through forests in a continuous cycle of capture and release. The term carbon exchange refers to the net amount of carbon sequestered during this process.

Of the 12.79 hectares, 10.98 hectares have been planted with trees, while the remaining 2.15 hectares have been left to rewild. This rewilded area provides a haven for insects, birds, and animals, promoting biodiversity.

The graph above shows how carbon is expected to be sequestered over a 40-year lifecycle. Peak sequestration is projected at 26 tonnes of carbon per hectare in year 17 of growth, which, in our case, will be in 2038. By 2025, we expect to sequester approximately 5 tonnes of carbon per hectare—equivalent to just under 55 tonnes for the year.

Interestingly, the model predicts negative carbon figures in years 18, 23, 29, and 33. These dips occur during planned thinning—an essential woodland management practice that removes smaller trees and lower branches to improve overall forest health and optimise long-term carbon capture.

The Teagasc model also assumes the entire woodland will be harvested after 40 years, releasing around 92 tonnes of carbon per hectare. However, this does not reflect our intention—we do not plan to clear the woodland.

There is no silver bullet when it comes to removing carbon from the atmosphere. However, trees remain one of the most effective and reliable solutions we have. In addition to their carbon capture potential, they also play a crucial role in enhancing biodiversity and creating more resilient ecosystems.

Our thanks go to you, who choose Woodland Coffee.  Choosing Woodland coffee is a small choice today that delivers a lasting legacy for generations to come! Lets continue making a difference together.

What is B Corp Certification?

For those new to the concept, B Corp Certification is awarded by the non-profit B Lab to companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. B Corps are recognised globally for their commitment to using business as a force for good, balancing profit with purpose to deliver long-term benefits for society, the environment, and their stakeholders. This certification requires a rigorous assessment across five key areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers.

Our certification journey pushed us to scrutinise and improve our practices, ensuring we meet B Lab’s high standards in all areas of our business. We’re incredibly proud to now join a global community of over 4,000 businesses that share a similar mission to prioritise purpose and impact.

Why B Corp Certification Matters to Us

From the beginning, Watermark Coffee has operated with a strong sense of responsibility towards sustainability and social impact. This certification formalises our commitment to these values, holding us accountable and inspiring us to continuously improve. For us, it’s not just about the coffee – it’s about how we can contribute to a fairer and more sustainable world.

Our dedication to environmental responsibility includes a range of high-impact projects funded through our coffee sales, each of which drives meaningful change. These projects range from community-led climate initiatives to educational outreach, helping to foster awareness and action across Ireland. Our Woodland Coffee and Green Ocean Coffee brands exemplify our belief in collaboration to expand our impact and support projects that benefit both people and the planet.

How Our Certification Impacts Our Clients and Community

Becoming a B Corp strengthens our commitment to delivering value and impact for our clients and community. As a B2B company serving corporate and hospitality clients across Ireland, our clients can be assured that their choice to work with us supports a business that upholds high ethical and sustainable standards while contributing to high-impact environmental projects here in Ireland. For our community, this certification reaffirms our dedication to our local environmental projects in Limerick, Dublin, and Mayo.

We’ve always believed in taking an active role in our community, offering educational programmes and participating in community-led environmental actions. B Corp Certification only intensifies our dedication to these initiatives and our drive to create a more inclusive and environmentally sustainable future.

What’s Next for Watermark Coffee as a B Corp?

With our B Corp Certification, Watermark Coffee is more energised than ever to amplify our impact. As we expand our Green Ocean and Woodland Projects each year, we’re committed to increasing our transparent, positive climate actions that create tangible local environmental impacts. Moving forward, a primary focus for Watermark Coffee will be to enhance our efforts in nature-positive business practices—aligning our growth with the principles of environmental regeneration and biodiversity protection.

Our journey to reduce our carbon footprint by lowering emissions is ongoing. While we’ve already achieved a significant 55% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions over the past six years, we remain committed to further reductions, recognising that every step counts in building a more sustainable future. This focus is essential to our long-term environmental goals and aligns with our dedication to responsible business practices under our B Corp values.

Becoming a certified B Corp is more than a milestone; it is a pledge to continuously improve—for our clients, our community, and the planet. At Watermark Coffee, we are excited about this new chapter as a B Corp and look forward to deepening our role in purpose-driven business for years to come.

Our Alder trees have once again surprised us with their growth, reaching almost 18ft and higher. They are starting to make our young woodland look much more than just a field. Our conifer trees are also thriving, nestled among grass teeming with biodiversity. Bees, various insects, wildflowers, and other wildlife can also be seen flourishing this summer, making our woodland a vibrant and dynamic ecosystem.

Having a variety of plants, animals, and insects in our young woodland is very important for us. Different species work together to help the woodland grow healthier supporting pollination and enriching the soil. A biodiverse woodland allows the trees and plants to improve their resilience to disease and extreme weather, making it more successful as it develops.

In our 30-acre woodland, we’ve set aside several pockets for nature to re-wild itself, letting natural processes take over without human interference. We believe this approach is important for the success of our woodland as it allows native plants and animals to flourish, preserving local biodiversity. Rewilding also reconnects fragmented habitats, giving animals the freedom to move and thrive, supporting a balanced and sustainable environment. We’ve already seen the benefits in our woodland: foxes and badgers leaving their trails, birds building nests, frogs finding wet patches to spawn, and much more.

It’s amazing to see how the work of our Woodland Coffee is helping this natural habitat thrive. Thank you to our customers who keep supporting sustainability, biodiversity and positive change!

In the clip below you can also have a look at our woodland from the drone view that was captured during the recent visit.

]]> https://www.woodlandcoffee.ie/pallasgreen-woodland-update/ Fri, 12 Apr 2024 12:21:51 +0000 https://www.woodlandcoffee.ie/?p=1876 The wet weather over the past year or so has played havoc with so many hospitality businesses and farmers across Ireland but it has really suited our woods in Pallasgreen, Co Limerick.  The ‘soft’ underfoot conditions (marshy!!) have created an ideal growing environment for our trees.  What were small knee height ‘whips’ planted in November 2021 have now shot up to almost 15ft in the case of the Alder.  Alder particularly like wet soil conditions making them an ideal native Irish species for rewilding as they produce nuts and seeds in the Autumn, they also play a valuable role in preventing soil erosion and reducing the instance of flooding.

The 30 acre area has been fairly untouched since 2021 and it is very evident that nature is taking back what was once theirs, Fox and badger trails can be followed all the along the hedgerows, bull rush beds are springing up which give great cover for ground nesting birds, the stream and drains are a haven of insect life. In spite of the roaring traffic of the N24, there is tranquillity and balance returning to the site.  Nature is getting on with its business.

On the crisp frosty January morning that I visited the site, the magical winter scene felt as if it was frozen in time, the year could have been 1824 just as easily as 2024.  The sun slowly rising from the East brought an air of optimism with the predominate yellow and blue colours sparkling and reflecting from the frost covered vegetation,  the spectacle was evocative, joyful and stunningly beautiful.  I felt lucky to have been there.

The Woodland Coffee project has and continues to be a real success and has really captured the minds and hearts of our customers.  When you see the trees towering over your head, it is very evident how small choices and decisions manifest themselves into ideas and action that deliver real meaningful authentic change in a local Irish context.  For everybody who has been apart of this journey, thank you and for those who are not yet involved….please get in touch.  It would be great to have you on board!!

Below is a short (?) social media clip with some drone footage taken in March 2024 that might be of interest.

!!CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO!!

However, planning for the future involves a combination of strategic planning, adaptability, and a customer-centric approach. Here are some specific steps and considerations:

Market Research with your customers

• • Regularly conduct market research with your customer base to stay informed about their changing consumer preferences, emerging trends, and competitive landscape. These can change considerably from one year to another so it’s definitely worth validating your understanding and looking to your customer for ideas that you can implement.

Diversify Your Menu with ‘In Season’ produce:

• • Keep your menu dynamic and responsive to changing tastes. This can be a simple as offering seasonal coffees or focusing on ‘in season’ food as part of the menu. This will also underpin your sustainability ethos and reduce food miles.  For example late spring is an ideal time to serve Nettle soup.

Sustainability Practices:

• • Embrace sustainable practices in your cafe operations. Consumers are increasingly drawn to businesses that prioritise environmental responsibility. Using Woodland Coffee is a great start to communicating your commitment to sustainability but make sure you are getting the most out of it.  Are you displaying how many trees you and your customers are responsible for?  Do you know how much carbon has been sequestered?  If you would like to know more, just ask, we have lots of marketing collateral designed to help you communicate your achievements.

Community Engagement:

• • Build a sense of community around your cafe. Host events, partner with local organizations, and actively engage with your customers both online and offline. Creating a strong community connection can foster customer loyalty.

Staff Training and Development:

• • Invest in ongoing training for your staff. Ensure that they are knowledgeable about all your products, can provide excellent customer service, and are equipped to handle various situations. Well-trained staff can positively impact the overall customer experience.

Financial Planning:

• • Maintain a strong focus on financial planning and budgeting. Regularly review your financial performance, monitor operational costs, and adjust pricing strategies as needed. A solid financial foundation is crucial for long-term sustainability.

Adaptability and Flexibility:

• • Cultivate an adaptable mindset. Be open to adjusting your business strategies based on customer feedback, market trends, and external factors. Flexibility is key to navigating changes in the industry.

Brand Building:

• • Develop a strong and memorable brand identity. Consider the overall ambiance, decor, and customer service in addition to the products you offer. A distinctive brand can help you stand out in a competitive market.

Customer Feedback:

1. • Actively seek and listen to customer feedback. Use surveys, online reviews, and direct interactions to understand customer preferences and address any issues promptly. Positive customer relationships are essential for long-term success.

We would like to wish all of our customers a very happy Christmas and we look forward to working with you over 2024.

Blas na hEireann is often described as the Oscars for the Irish Food Industry and included over 3000 submissions from a wide range of artisanal and specialist food producers.

Of the two categories for coffee (multi-origin and single origin categories), our Green Ocean Carrickwee won the Gold with a 1^st place win for the multi origin coffee. The Green Ocean Dorinish, which is a single origin from the Mutwiri coffee plantation in Kenya, won the silver medal with a second place win, and our Woodland Tibradden, which is also a single origin from Kenya came in with a 3^rd place win.

Speaking about the result, David Lawlor of Watermark Coffee said “We are really delighted that these wonderful coffees have performed so well.  In a very competitive market, with a lot of contenders in the competition, winning 3 out of 6 possible coffee awards is a fantastic result.”

The Green Ocean Carrickwee blend is a medium roast of speciality grade arabica beans sourced from Central America, Brazil and Kenya.  We designed this coffee recipe to reflect the increasing sophistication of Irish consumers but also to ensure it has maximum appeal.  It is not a huge surprise that it received the coveted first place win.

The Dorinish single origin from the coffee estate of Charles Mutwiri is a medium light roast but the earthiness of the Kenyan coffee gives more body with a nuanced sophisticated citrus and herbal flavour.

The Woodland Tibradden single origin coffee from Mt Kenya is roasted to medium light.  This speciality grade coffee has been a huge success since it was launched in 2022.

Producing fantastic coffee with a meaningful environmental purpose is the essence of what Green Ocean Coffee and Woodland Coffee stand for.

If you would like to find out more about these excellent coffees, or to arrange a coffee tasting for your business or office, then please let us know by calling 01 4666 000or dropping us an email on info@watermark.ie

Know you numbers

A good handle on how your profit and loss account works is a key component of success.  As ingredient prices are in a state of flux it is more important than ever to understand your gross margin percentage and how its changing.  Keeping a basic accounting system up to date will spit these numbers out, so that you can arm yourself with the information to make properly informed decisions.  Keeping on top of this, particularly after working in the café all day is not easy.  Information that is 3 months old is interesting at best and does not help in making good quality decisions that are critical in understanding the direction and challenges the business faces.

Staffing

Easily the biggest challenge café owners face is rostering staff.  Engaged, motivated staff make life in the café a much more worthwhile experience for customers and staff. The key here is to understand the workflow of your business and what staff are needed to meet the demand, for example, is the café busier for just takeaway coffee before 9, or does breakfast really start to get going at 10?  The trick then is to set up your shifts to get the right mix of staff serving the demand, with plenty of back up for plan B if plan A is undermined by sickness, resignations etc.  It’s also worth looking at the blend of staff working the shift, pair up experienced with less experienced staff for informal mentoring and experiment with the different personality types within your team to see who gels well.  Ultimately if the staff don’t enjoy the work or are too pressurised they won’t stay. Closing the café due to a lack of available staff has a disastrous impact on profitability in terms of food waste, customer loyalty and paying overheads that are still due whether the business is open or not.

Efficiency

Understanding workflow at the different times of the day and trying to work out the pressure points is the first port of call here.  Getting customers served quickly and efficiently improves customer experience and reduces pressure on staff. Using technology such as use of QR codes for menu downloads, POS systems that send orders to the kitchen / barista really help.  But simple changes to the menu or furniture layout can have a dramatic impact on efficiency.

Increasing capacity

Getting customers served quickly is the key here and this point is tied in closely with understanding efficiency, but it can also be enabled by changing the shift roster to increase flexibility for staff and can give the café the opportunity to open earlier or close later and matching the food and beverage offering to the capability at that time of day, for example coffee only before 8am.

Growing sales

Good use of social media, offers, discounts are important but delivering a great customer experience is key; this means serving a quality product that is value for money in a pleasant way and doing it consistently.  If the customers enjoy the experience of coming into the business, then they’ll be back!

At Watermark Coffee, we have years of experience advising clients, if you would like to have a chat, then please drop us a line.