JDE Peet’s opens advanced coffee innovation lab in Utrecht to accelerate product development 

NETHERLANDS – JDE Peet’s, the world’s largest pure-play coffee company, has inaugurated a newly upgraded innovation laboratory in Utrecht, the Netherlands, designed to fast-track the development of future coffee products and technologies. 

The new facility underscores the company’s commitment to customer-focused innovation and strengthens the strategic role of Utrecht as JDE Peet’s global research and development hub.  

Featuring a modular layout, the lab enables teams to swiftly design, test, and scale new coffee products, processes, and packaging solutions. 

The opening of the Utrecht lab follows the recent establishment of a complementary innovation centre in Joure, dedicated to extraction and freeze-drying technologies. Together, these investments total approximately US$9.8 million, according to JDE Peet’s. 

The launch also coincides with significant corporate changes, as Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) moves forward with its planned US$18 billion acquisition of JDE Peet’s. Once completed, the merger is expected to form a new entity known as Global Coffee Co., managing over 50 brands across various segments including soluble, single-serve, cold brew, and specialty coffee. 

According to the company, the Utrecht lab’s modular setup supports “rapid-scale” innovation across formats such as single-serve capsules, ready-to-drink beverages, and instant coffee, while also facilitating packaging advancements.  

The lab features energy-efficient processing technologies aligned with JDE Peet’s Common Grounds sustainability commitments. 

Carolyn Adams, chief R&D officer at JDE Peet’s, said the facility reflects the company’s long-standing heritage and forward-thinking approach. “We’re proud that our next generation of coffee innovations will be developed in the home of our oldest and most beloved brands – Douwe Egberts,” Adams stated. 

She added that the modular setup allows the company to swiftly adapt to emerging consumer preferences and scale new formats—from hot and cold to wet and dry—into factory production. 

The lab is equipped with high-precision grinders, capsule fillers for espresso, and advanced freeze-drying systems, including a -40°C freezer for next-generation instant coffee development. Recent achievements from JDE Peet’s R&D efforts include the creation of non-dairy creamers with enhanced nutritional profiles, energy-efficient roasting techniques, and recyclable paper packaging for freeze-dried coffee. 

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