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Coffee is an important part of many people’s routine. It gives you the motivation to get going in the morning and sets you up for the day. If you’re concerned about how your coffee habits might be affecting the environment, there are a few things to do to ensure you can enjoy a caffeinated beverage pretty much guilt-free. There are plenty of ethical and sustainable brands out there and it’s important to be mindful of how and where you drink coffee. Here are five eco-friendly coffee habits all coffee lovers should adopt.
Use the right coffee maker
There are some coffee makers that are more eco-friendly than others. The first thing to do is to ditch the ones that use pods. Even though these are often recyclable and companies will collect used pods, there are much better zero-waste options. These include drip, French press, percolator, or manual pour over. Look for a coffee maker with reusable filters as well. Check out these examples of more sustainable coffee makers.
Get a reusable mug
If you’re going to drink coffee on the go, invest in one of these reusable coffee cups. You can also take these to work and to certain coffee shops. If you do drink coffee in a cafe choose one that offers reusable or recycled cups and ethically-sourced coffee. Often coffee shops aren’t able to follow a completely zero-waste policy, but many of them follow sustainability best practices.
Compost your coffee grounds
Many people are aware of the health benefits of coffee, but did you know it’s good for your garden as well? If you grind your own coffee beans, which is a great habit to get into, you can then use this as compost. Coffee contains nitrogen which is released as it decomposes. This helps to enrich the soil. It’s better to use organic compost rather than chemical fertilisers, so throw your coffee in with your fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags, and grass cuttings.
Buy ethically-sourced brands
Whether you’re buying coffee for use at home or in a cafe, look for the best ethical coffee brands. These should be organic, shade grown, and fair trade. This means the coffee will have been grown without using harmful chemicals, without destroying animals’ habitat, and in regulated working conditions for a fair price. Alternatively, you could look for locally-sourced coffee or support smaller local businesses with an eco-focus.
Prepare coffee at home
Rather than traveling far and increasing your carbon footprint to get a coffee, why not prepare it at home more often instead? You could invest friends round for coffee and prepare a homemade spread as well. Check out these foods that go best with coffee. You could host a fabulous brunch, for example. By preparing your own food and beverages you’ll have more control over the amount of waste you produce and you’ll save money as well. With a few small changes to your habits, you can enjoy a fresh cup of coffee every day with minimal environmental impact.
These are some eco-friendly coffee habits that you can adopt to make a difference.