Swiss Water® Process
When Coffee Science Meets Coffee Culture
Swiss Water® Process has quietly perfected chemical-free decaffeination for over 30 years. What makes them different isn’t just what they remove; it's what they leave behind. Every origin’s distinct character. Every nuanced flavor note. The coffee’s authentic voice, intact. But for boutique coffee roasters who prioritize traceable coffees and their stories, technical excellence alone wasn’t creating the emotional connection the brand deserved. Enter a complete brand transformation that would finally match their outside expression to their inner obsession.
Services
Client
Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Inc.
Finding the Story in the Science
Through workshops, roaster questionnaires, and consumer research, we discovered a fascinating disconnect. Inside Swiss Water® Process's facility, coffee obsessives practiced their craft through daily cuppings, origin trips, and deep conversations about terroir. Yet their brand presence felt clinical, corporate. Meanwhile, roasters craved partners who understood coffee as culture, not just chemistry. And decaf drinkers found themselves on the margins of specialty coffee, forever explaining rather than celebrating their choice.
The opportunity emerged like steam: bring Swiss Water® Process’s inner passion to the surface. Their new positioning captures both sides of their identity as the most trusted chemical-free process because scientists and craftspeople pour their passion into protecting every nuanced fladvor note. That "because" changed everything, opening doors to reimagine how they expressed their craft.
“Our new brand expression is a source of pride to our team, and is much more representative of the passionate coffee people we are.
”
A Visual System as Vibrant as Coffee Itself
The new palette traces the complete coffee journey from red coffee cherries through green mountains to the brand's distinctive blue, now warmed and woven into this richer tapestry. The Wave emerged as their signature gesture, a flowing element that speaks to both the water in their process and the rolling hills where coffee grows. It creates instant recognition while adding movement and life to every touchpoint.
We developed a geometric masking system where photography lives within purposeful shapes. Diamonds frame coffee cherries like precious gems, organic forms embrace processing equipment, triangles elevate mountain vistas. This visual language balances coffee's natural origins with scientific precision, creating a system that feels both grounded and elevated.
Four Distinct Offering Tiers Emerged, Each With Its Own Visual Personality While Remaining Unmistakably Swiss Water® Process
Emerald Micro Lots: These rare and brilliant coffees represent our finest offerings. Each micro lot delivers exceptional cup quality and is available seasonally for those seeking truly extraordinary coffee.
Verdant Reserves: These coffees offer excellent quality with solid traceability. Carefully curated offerings showcase vibrant flavor profiles from diverse origins, sourced throughout the year.
Evergreens: These selections deliver consistent quality with unwavering reliability. Core coffees that form the backbone of our portfolio, always available to provide roasters with a dependable foundation for year-round offerings.
Ferns: This line unfurls a range of accessible options that complement our broader portfolio. These adaptable coffees provide excellent value, available on request for roasters seeking entry-level specialty selections.
Each tier received its own color story and geometric expression, creating a system that guides without overwhelming. The hierarchy speaks coffee's language while maintaining clear differentiation between quality levels.
“By reimagining their range under these categories, Swiss Water® Process is making it easier for roasters to navigate their offerings and find the right decaf – whether you're after something bold and limited or consistent and versatile.
”
Voice That Builds Trust
Four voice pillars anchor every communication: Warm & Clever, Clear & Knowledgeable, Honest & Reassuring, Passionate & Refined. This framework transformed their technical language into something more poetic, more human.
Beans no longer simply processed; they embarked on transformation journeys. GCE evolved from technical acronym to symphony of water and coffee's essential compounds. The drying process became a carefully orchestrated climate, tailored to each origin's character. Every phrase honors both the science and soul of their work, proving that precision and poetry aren't mutually exclusive.
The Impact
The new brand identity made its debut at the 2025 SCA Expo, where The Wave literally came to life in three dimensions, transforming their booth into an immersive expression of the coffee journey. The response was immediate and visceral. Roasters discovered a partner who finally spoke their language. Trade customers engaged with renewed interest. The brand that once felt clinical now radiated warmth and expertise in equal measure.
This rebrand revealed a fundamental truth: even the most technical brands contain human stories waiting to be told. By uncovering Swiss Water® Process’s authentic character and crafting language to express it, we helped them forge deeper connections with roasters who share their values of transparency, craft, and an almost obsessive dedication to coffee.
