Oil aside, coffee is the most highly traded substance in the world. The global demand for it stretches from coffee houses in New York, to cafe’s in France, to street stalls in Vietnam.
Unsurprisingly, this coffee consumption takes its toll on the environment. The majority of us do not think about the deforestation caused by coffee farming, the massive amount of water consumption, and the mountains of paper products (filters, cups, etc.) we create as a result of our coffee habit.
If you want to continue drinking coffee (relatively) guilt free, below are some ways to make your coffee habit more environmentally friendly:
Drink Local – Buy coffee that has traveled the shortest distance to reach you so as help lower the impact of shipping on the environment.
Buy A Cool Mug – Invest in a cool mug that you will want to use over and over again; eliminating the need for styrofoam cups, plastic sippy tops, java jackets, cup holders, etc.
Do Without A Coffee Stirrer – Instead of mixing cream and sugar into your coffee, try adding it in the empty cup. Then gently pour your hot coffee on top, and let the heat naturally dissolve the sugar.
Purchase Organic Coffee – Organic coffee is grown without toxic chemicals, and is grown in such a way that protects sensitive ecosystems and the animals that live within them.
Opt For Fair Trade Coffee – Rainforest Alliance and Transfair coffees not only ensure fair living wages for farmers, they take into account environmental standards in their certification process.
Choose A Good Coffee Filter – To reduce unnecessary paper consumption, consider buying a reusable gold coffee filter; not only will it help the environment, it makes your coffee taste better. You should look for unbleached, biodegradable ones.
Consume Less Coffee – It takes 200 liters of water to produce the coffee, milk, sugar, and cup for one regular latte. Therefore, Cutting out just one cup of coffee per day would really help the environment.
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TheCoffeeMakerStore.com is a daily blog and e-commerce store about coffee, coffee makers, and coffee culture. Download our free eco-friendly coffee tips widget that displays ways to make your coffee habit more gentle on the environment.
