Zero Waste Coffee Tips
Cofffeeee….My most favorite part of the day. If anyone knows me, you know that enjoying a warm cup of joe is one of my most favorite parts of the day! Honestly, it’s the one thing that can get me out of bed even on my worst days.
Over the years my coffee drinking habits have changed quite a bit. Yes i’m still drinking coffee but much more mindfully. Before making my own at home I was an on the go kinda gal, a Starbucks queen just like the rest of you. I didn’t realize it at the time but my love (or vice) was coming at a high cost on my pocket and the planet.
After doing some budgeting I found out I was spending about $5 or more a day on coffee, times 7 days a week = $35, times a month = $245. I was spending nearly $3,000 a year on just coffee! That was enough to really put things in perspective. Once I became a college student I couldn’t afford these little luxuries any more and had to pinch pennies where I could. So I started my journey of home brewing.
Not only did this eventually help me save money but I greatly reduced my carbon foot print by keeping those styrofoam and paper cups with plastic lids out of landfills, and reducing the resources needed to produce the convenient vessels for holding my morning cup. Convenience also comes with a price. Many of us think were doing the right thing by tossing our to-go cups in the recycling bin after were finished. The truth is, majority of those cups don’t actually get recycled. That is because even paper cups are lined with plastic or polyethylene which enables them from being broken down and repurposed properly. This means that all those cups get sent to landfills ever single day.
It is estimated that nearly 500 billion paper cups are used world wide every year, and only 1% actually get recycled. In order to produce all of those disposable cups, 20 million trees are cut down, and an alarming 12 billion gallons of water is used in the manufacturing process. All production processes and methods for transportation used to make and distribute the cups release enormous amounts greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to warming global temperatures associated with climate change. However we consumers can make little changes that have less impacts with these simple steps.
Top 5 Zero-Waste Coffee Tips
1.Buy in bulk. Buying in bulk means more bang for your buck. I can purchase about one pound of Organic, Fair-trade coffee from a local coffee shop or market for about $10-$13. Which usually lasts me about 2 weeks.
2.Reusable bag. Yes you can buy coffee already bagged, but usually beans are put into single-use bags also made from plastic or other synthetic chemicals. I like to use one of my favorite reusable mesh or hemp bags to put my bulk beans in. Then I transfer them into a mason jar that can be sealed tight for freshness.
3.French press. There are many different ways to make your coffee at home, but many methods still require some sort of paper liner or filter which also gets thrown away. You can most definitely use bio-degradable liners that you can compost later, but these filters can also add up. The french press method doesn’t require any liner and can be rinsed and re-used again right away. It takes just about 5 minutes to boil water and to let coffee steep before it’s ready to drink.
4.Bring your own. Some days we don’t have the time to make our coffee at home or maybe you want to treat your self. When in doubt, bring your own mug! I’m obsessed with my reusable coffee mug by hydro-flask. It is double wall lined and keeps my cup o joe hot for hours unlike those paper cups.
5.Compost your grounds. Wait it’s not over, you can actually repurpose your used coffee grounds instead of sending those to the landfill too. They are great for DIY body scrubs, or you can compost them. Check out my 5 best ways to reuse your coffee grounds for more sustainable tips.
I love the ritual of grinding my own beans, pouring over steaming water and letting the earthy aromas fill my home. I also love knowing that my vices don’t have to hurt the environment or my wallet. You can purchase a french press for between $20-$100 depending on quality and size. Currently I am using a stainless steel one that I purchased for around $20. My total amount spent on coffee drastically decreased once I switched to making my own at home. Per year I now spend roughly $350 verse $3000.
Making my own coffee now at home has become my favorite part of the day, I make a cup sit down to journal or practice yoga. It is a great way to start the morning off slow even if for a few minutes. I also get to change my flavors and brands trying something new each time i’m ready to re up my beans. The best part is controlling just how I like my coffee, not having to worry about it being burnt or watered down. And now when I actually go out for coffee it’s a treat, making it more enjoyable because I don’t do it all the time. I hope you take the time for your self and the planet in the morning and try one of my zero-waste coffee tips.