Nestlé Professional asked independent consulting agency Quantis to analyse the environmental impacts of a cup of coffee, starting with the coffee beans and ending with the ready-to-drink cup of coffee. They looked at the product life cycle, and the impact of cultivation, processing, distribution, packaging material, energy expenditure, and choice of cup and coffee machine on the environment and climate.

The study found that the environmental impact of instant coffee is lower than for roast and ground coffee. Although the instant coffee production process is complex and requires more energy, the extraction process is more efficient, meaning fewer coffee beans per cup of coffee. Instant coffee was also found to give more cups of coffee per volume and weight.

Operating a machine consumes a significant amount of electricity, especially when used below its full capacity. An efficient stand-by function, however, can save approximately 15%–25% of total energy consumption. Using a paper or plastic single-use cup can actually have a lower impact on the environment than washing a ceramic cup, if the latter is washed inefficiently and with warm water.

Following the study's suggestion, the best solution depends on the customer's needs and application conditions. Therefore, Nestlé Professional created a leaflet to inform customers and help them to make better choices. To improve the support provided to the customers, an online “Footprinter” tool has been developed. It uses the outcomes of the study to model the needs of the customer and help them to make the choice with the best environmental footprint.