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Take care of the planet through drinking good coffee

Greta Jonyniate | 10.10.11

If you are a coffee drinker then “Top 7 tips to green your coffee habit” from GreenFudge.org may help you to sit and think about your coffee drinking habits over a nice cup of coffee.

GreenFudge.org is a website that cares about climate change, ecology, nature, environment, eco-friendly politics, non-profit projects, human rights, preservation and wildlife. Thanks to their article at Greenhouse we are trying to green our coffee habits.

We love the taste and the smell of fresh coffee, especially in the morning. If you’re like me, this top 7 list of great eco-tips will help you enjoy your coffee beans and look after the planet at the same time.
 

Top 7 tips to green your coffee habit

1) Use reusable filters instead of paper ones.
Reusable filters come in many variations and forms, from organic fabrics to stainless steel over gold plated versions. Any of those will do great in reducing your coffee making waste and carbon footprint. Some coffee making machines also come with permanent filters, if you are looking to purchase make sure this feature is available.

2) Choose your coffee wisely.
All beans are not equal when it comes to Mother Nature. Make sure your coffee is organic, shade-grown and fair trade (it should say so on the label). According to Wikipedia organic coffee is coffee that has been grown according to organic farming standards and techniques, without the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. Fair Trade coffee then again is coffee that is purchased directly from the growers for a higher price than standard coffee.

3) Use your own coffee mug instead of one-time use (!) plastic or paper cups.
At home, at the office or even in a coffee shop, make sure you always take your own coffee mug instead of plastic or paper cups. Most coffee machines will allow you to do that.

4) Consider energy consumption.
Some coffee machines will turn themselves off after your coffee has been brewed, others will have timers you can set to avoid unnecessary energy waste. In most cases small coffee machines will consume less energy than bigger espresso ones, that need more power to grind and brew coffee. When and where possible, go for the smaller alternatives.

5) Try to avoid chemicals to clean you coffee machine.
Most smaller, simpler coffee machines will do fine with vinegar for cleaning. Producers of more sophisticated machinery will often sell their own cleaning solutions, often packed with chemicals. Consider this before purchasing your coffee machine.

6) Reuse your coffee grounds.
Although most people disregard coffee grounds as waste, there are a number of cool ways to recycle it around the house. Coffee grounds can be used as garden fertilizer when mixed with soil, as repellent for ants and snails and as deodorizer in fridge and freezer.

7) Drink less coffee.
As with everything, less usually means more for the environment. With coffee, drinking less is probably good for you too. Of course that is if you can resist the sweet smell and taste of it. If you can’t, use the tips above to make your indulgence as eco-friendly as possible.

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