From its appearance in Europe in the 17th century, coffee has never lost its popularity, and its consumption is expected to rise globally even more. This will mean that coffee production volume will have to double by 2050.
The current production already puts enormous pressure on natural resources and a vast amount of energy is used in the process. That’s why it’s even more important to make a conscious decision and genuine effort to minimize the effects of your own coffee routine.
This is how you can make your coffee more eco-friendly.
Brew Your Own Coffee
Convenience is the leverage of capitalists today. A busy urban lifestyle has forced people to prioritize their needs first without considering the environmental impact of their actions. Coffee chains use this very successfully by making your coffee in just a few minutes. However, the carbon emissions that are released in the process behind it are taking a toll on Mother Nature.
Become more environmentally conscious by brewing your coffee at home. It may sound challenging at first, but in this way, you’ll be brewing a beverage that perfectly suits your taste. You have absolute control over the process, and you’re saving money and nature simultaneously.
The pour-over method has recently gained a lot of popularity. This is a straightforward coffee-brewing process in which you need a manual grinder, a specialized cup that contains the beans which they get drenched in hot water and release the magic liquid through the bottom holes, and a reusable filter that you can wash and use again.
Go for Composting
Composting is a natural process that recycles organic waste and it can be used for ground coffee beans as well. All the waste generated from your manual coffee-brewing process can be turned into mulch and used as garden fertilizer. The easiest way to do this is to get a suitable composting container and fill it with some soil and worms that will aid the decomposition process. Add layers of various organic materials such as twigs and straw and water it regularly as moisture is a crucial factor for decomposition. So is the heat, so make sure your container stays covered. Also, you’ll need to aerate it every few weeks so it has sufficient oxygen.
If you don’t want to grind your coffee manually but prefer coffee pods, opt for compostable coffee pods that are made of plant-based materials and are completely aluminium free. Using sustainable coffee products will only aid your efforts to regenerate the earth instead of polluting it.
Drink from Reusable Cups
Single-use coffee cups are another convenience that has a detrimental impact on the environment, particularly plastic ones. If you deeply enjoy going to your favourite coffee shop, make an effort to, at least, bring your own reusable, travel cup so you don’t have to take a disposable container.
Single-use plastics are one of the most harmful products to our environment and today’s society produces 300 million tons of plastic waste each year. This is a staggering number so as an eco-conscious consumer, give your contribution to the preservation of nature by using a reusable cup when you go to your favourite coffee shop.
The choice today is quite broad, and there’s something for everyone’s taste, from ceramic mugs to tumblers or glasses. Whenever you’re out and about, pack your tumbler in your bag and ask the barista to pour your magic beverage there instead of giving you a paper cup.
Buy Fair Trade Products
Socially responsible and eco-friendly local companies that put the planet and people before profits are the ones that care both about the craft as well as the environment. Support their efforts and focus your purchases on their fair trade products. Do the research to find ethical coffee producers in your area. In addition to confirming that their coffee is sourced correctly and sustainably, you’ll be able to recognize products from these companies as they will use sustainable packaging materials such as paper and biodegradable plastics.
You no longer have to choose between having your favourite cup of coffee and saving the environment. Now, you can do both by brewing your coffee at home using manual grinders and reusable filters, or compostable coffee pods. Also, give composting a go to dispose of organic coffee waste naturally. And before all that, obviously, you should have already started avoiding single-use cups in favour of reusable ones. Finally, support coffee companies that use sustainable production practices and products as well.
