For many of us, sipping a cup of coffee while watching the birds is the perfect way to start the day. But what if your morning coffee could actually help protect those birds? 

Meet Morning Chorus Coffee, a new Smithsonian Bird Friendly® certified coffee crafted through a collaboration between Warnell, Jittery Joe’s Coffee, and the Smithsonian. Roasted in Athens by Jittery Joe’s and sourced from Smithsonian certified Bird Friendly® farms, Morning Chorus Coffee offers coffee and conservation lovers a flavorful brew with an impact.  

What makes it different? Morning Chorus Coffee carries the Smithsonian Bird Friendly® certification, considered the gold standard for bird-friendly coffee. Unlike conventional coffee production, Bird Friendly® certified farms foster a diverse canopy of native trees that preserve critical habitat for migratory and resident birds. The coffee must also be shade grown and organic, which supports biodiversity, healthy soils, and sustainable farming practices. 

Not only does the coffee support bird habitat, but it also tastes great. When hot, the coffee opens with a delicate candied apple note, supported by a full body and exceptionally smooth finish. As it cools, the fruit softens, giving way to rich, chocolate pudding-like sweetness. That’ll get you chirpin’. 

Warnellians were also central in bringing Morning Chorus Coffee to your mugs. Wildlife faculty Richard Chandler and Clark Rushing, alongside graduate student Katherine Araúz Ponce, established this project with their research and collaboration on bird conservation in coffee landscapes.  

The collaboration extended and became a hands-on learning opportunity for other Warnell students. A team of senior undergraduates—Sarah Meriaux, Kendal Collins, and Abigaile Eberhardt—conducted audience research and developed early promotional materials to ensure the science resonates with local coffee drinkers. Diane Klement, a Warnell Ph.D. student, brought the project to life with the artwork featured on the can. The project provided a unique opportunity for students to be involved in an emerging product at the ground level, tying together research, industry collaboration, and science communication.  

Whether you’re a devoted birder, a coffee enthusiast, or looking for a purchase that supports conservation, every cup of Morning Chorus Coffee makes an impact. Morning Chorus Coffee is available now at participating Jittery Joe’s locations and online.