Be a Responsible Coffee Drinker

Coffee, along with water and tea, is one of the most popular beverages in the world. Many people enjoy their morning coffee before starting their day. If you enjoy coffee and care about the environment, being a responsible coffee drinker can improve your quality of life.

Let’s take a look at how we can change our coffee drinking habits to be more environmentally friendly. A small change made every day can add up over time.

1. At all costs, Avoid Single-Serve

Coffee consumers generate a significant amount of waste. Single-serve cups and pods are the most common types of coffee waste in our neighbourhood. The majority of these are not recyclable. The convenience of K-Cups and coffee pods is a nightmare for the environment.

According to research by Halo, approximately 39,000 single-serve pods are produced every minute worldwide. Approximately 29,000 of these were disposed of in landfills.

Some coffee companies have decided to make compostable pods for their customers. Keurig has introduced biodegradable pods, but they still take many years to degrade. Meanwhile, Wolfgang Puck Coffee introduced compostable pods that would be composted after use.

Please stay away from them at all costs.

2. Get a Reusable Filter

The fact that most paper filters are chlorine-bleached is the most compelling reason to avoid them. These filters seep trace amounts of dioxins into waterways via landfills.

There are filters that you can reuse over and over again. Choose filters made of biodegradable materials, such as cotton. Reusable filters reduce paper waste.

3. Bring Your Own Mug

When you’re on the go or heading to the office, disposable coffee cups can come in handy. Using your mug is the simplest way to reduce paper waste. Starbucks promised to create a recyclable cup but never did. A standard Starbucks cup takes approximately twenty years to decompose.

Start bringing your mugs and tumblers to your favourite coffee shop if you need a morning boost. When travelling, a travel mug is ideal. Avoid using disposable coffee cups, especially those made of plastic. Did you know that today’s generation generates 300 million tonnes of plastic waste each year?

4. Prepare Your Coffee

Our urban lifestyle has conditioned people to prioritise their own needs over the impact on the environment. Coffee shops can make your coffee in a matter of minutes. A cup of coffee brewed by an automatic coffee machine, on the other hand, emits 60.27g of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Manual coffee brewers are well-made and long-lasting. They rarely need to be replaced and can last for generations. Begin by brewing your coffee at home. It not only saves money, but it also protects the environment.

5. Start Composting

Make mulch out of organic waste, such as coffee grounds, and use it to fertilise your garden.

Simple composting steps:

• Get yourself a compost bin. You do not need to purchase a new box. Simply make one out of household items.
• Layer materials on top of each other. Place twigs at the bottom of the pile to allow air circulation. Then, alternate moist and dry materials to aid in waste breakdown.
• Maintain the moisture in your compost. When the rain is scarce, water your compost pile on a regular basis.
• Cover your compost pile to keep the heat inside.
• Every few weeks, aerate the pile. It is critical to introduce oxygen for decomposition.

If you don’t want to compost, there are numerous ways to reuse coffee grounds. You can use them as a deodorizer in the shoe cabinet or as a scrub to remove grime.

Remember to support companies that strive for environmentally friendly products. Huskee, an Australian startup, creates reusable cups out of the husk.

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Our daily activities have a significant impact on the environment. Coffee consumption is no exception. Our carbon footprint is entirely our responsibility. It makes no difference how many cups we drink per day. We have an important role to play. Every journey is made up of small steps. By doing what was said above, you can help the environment and still drink your favourite cup.