NESPRESSO AND CAFÉ JOYEUX LAUNCH INCLUSIVE COFFEE INITIATIVE TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
July 24 - 2025
Coffee Geography Magazine
Nespresso is joining forces with Café Joyeux, a pioneering café-restaurant chain dedicated to fostering inclusivity by empowering individuals with mental and cognitive disabilities. Together, they are introducing a special coffee capsule that embodies coffee’s potential as a force for good—spreading happiness while creating meaningful work opportunities. To support this mission, Nespresso has committed a minimum contribution of $500,000 to Café Joyeux as it expands its efforts to integrate people with intellectual and developmental disorders (IDD) into the workforce.
Founded in France in 2017 by Yann and Lydwine Bucaille, Café Joyeux was established with a clear purpose: to promote inclusion through employment, vocational training, and meaningful social connections. Over half of its staff consists of individuals with IDD, all hired under permanent contracts. What began as a single café has since grown into an international movement, with 30 locations across France, Portugal, Belgium, and now the United States.
On March 21, 2024—World Down Syndrome Day—Café Joyeux opened its first U.S. outpost in New York City at 599 Lexington Avenue. The café employs 15 American crew members with disabilities, offering coffee, fresh meals, catering, and private events six days a week—all delivered with warmth and exceptional hospitality. In the U.S., Café Joyeux is fully owned by the Joyeux Foundation US, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ensuring all profits are reinvested into training and employment programs for individuals with IDD.
The collaboration between Nespresso and Café Joyeux comes at a critical time. In the U.S., over 8 million people live with IDD, and 78% face unemployment. Café Joyeux stands out as one of the few restaurant concepts specifically designed to train and employ this community. According to the organization’s research, 91% of crew members have developed valuable professional skills, while 93% report increased autonomy—a testament to the program’s transformative impact.
"After our success in Europe, we are thrilled to share the Nespresso <3 Café Joyeux initiative with our U.S. friends, knowing the profound difference it has made for the IDD community," said Yann Bucaille, co-founder of Café Joyeux. "In America—a nation built on inclusion and the freedom to work—this partnership can play a vital role in empowering those who have been excluded from the economy due to their differences."
Yann Bucaille co-founder of Café Joyeux
Nespresso has been a proud partner of Café Joyeux since 2022, supplying high-quality coffee while raising awareness for its mission. To celebrate the U.S. collaboration, Nespresso is launching the Nespresso <3 Café Joyeux Vertuo coffee capsule on July 23, 2025—a well-balanced Arabica blend with notes of sweet caramel and cereal. An Original Line version, featuring a smooth profile with biscuit and cereal notes, will follow in February 2026.
Alfonso Gonzalez Loeschen, CEO, Nespresso North America
"At Nespresso, we believe in coffee’s power to drive positive change," said Alfonso Gonzalez Loeschen, CEO of Nespresso North America. "Our partnership with Café Joyeux reflects our commitment to joy, inclusivity, and authenticity—while creating real opportunities for individuals with IDD."
Beyond this initiative, Nespresso continues to champion sustainability through its AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program, working with 157,000 farmers across 18 countries to promote ethical farming practices. In 2022, Nespresso earned B Corp™ certification, reinforcing its dedication to social and environmental responsibility.