My internship at JDE Peet’s
Having a cup of coffee is an essential part of the day for many. But have you ever wondered how long the process is until we can enjoy a fresh cup of coffee in the morning? Over the past five months, I had a wonderful opportunity to be a part of the largest pure-play coffee company in the world – JDE Peet’s.
The beginning of my internship feels far away now, but I can remember my first day with a smile on my face. After picking up my badge with a line saying, “A champion of coffee democracy” and receiving a bag of coffee and tea, I was waiting at the reception, unsure what was waiting ahead. And what was ahead did not only include many delicious cups of coffee but also many more beautiful experiences.
During my internship, I have heard many people say there is never a dull moment while working at JDE Peet’s. I have got to experience this myself – it is a fast-paced environment where the agenda for your day can change many times. That, with many other things, made working at JDE Peet’s exciting, as there could always be some new challenges waiting for me. As a Global Corporate Affairs intern, I was part of a small but very dedicated team from which I could learn much as they shared their knowledge and helpful advice with me. My position involved a broad range of tasks, allowing me to see how corporate affairs and communications work, not from textbook examples but from up close. Hence, I could see the concepts we have learned in class being put into practice and gain more specific insights that can only be learned from the experience.
Besides my day-to-day tasks, I also got a chance to discover the world of coffee and tea more closely while participating in the tour of the Utrecht Factory, where coffee is produced. I could see where coffee bean bags come to and how they are packed into thousands of coffee packs every day after a careful process of blending and roasting to achieve the best taste. Additionally, I also learned about the rich history of the company dating back to 1753, when it started as a small coffee outlet opened by Egbert Douwes in Joure, a city in the North of The Netherlands. All of it has been an inspiring experience which made me feel like I truly work at a coffee company.
Overall, this experience has made me grow personally and professionally. Being able to meet so many people passionate about what they do, has been motivating and inspiring, therefore, I am grateful for this time, and I am eager to see where my professional journey leads to.