Make Me A Sustainable Cup of Coffee!
Coffee
Flop
My first experience with refill coffee was a flop. A mason jar full cost $15 (about twice what we usually pay for the same amount) and I seemed to need twice the amount of ground coffee to make a flavourful pot. I felt discouraged and concerned that I couldn’t sell my husband on refill coffee (more expensive and less tasty?).
I decided to give it one more try before looking for another zero waste option. I discussed my issues with the owner of our local refill store, and she was surprised. She’d only ever heard positive reviews of the coffee they sell. I asked if the flavour is affected because the beans are in a large dispensing jug versus vacuum sealed. Again, she said she’d never heard of that issue or experienced it herself. I wondered if the grind was too thick, so they ground up my next order to see if the “drip coffee” setting looked the same as last time. It did look the same, so it would seem there wasn’t an issue with the level of grind.
Success
The second time around I had a great experience with the same coffee. Most importantly the coffee was rich and flavourful, and brewed with the same coffee to water ratio that I’m used to. Also, it wasn’t twice as expensive as my usual coffee, just a couple of dollars more (which I’m happy to spend on sustainable sourced coffee… keep reading for more details on that!).
An alternative to refill coffee is buying a sealed, compostable bag of coffee. I haven’t tried this type of coffee, since ultimately I had success with refill beans.
Filters
Cotton Filter
An option I wasn’t familiar with before entering the world of sustainable coffee was the cotton washable filter. At our refill store they cost just under $20 and apparently can last two years or so. They do require more maintenance than the other two options (paper and metal). A cotton filter should be rinsed regularly and left to dry rather than remain moist. Every couple of weeks it should be boiled to remove residue build-up.
Paper Filter
Paper filters are compostable but they create a lot of waste AND contribute to deforestation. It is best to use either cotton or metal filters instead.
Metal Filter
Metal filters are sometimes built-in to a coffee maker, like the french press. These filters are washable and apparently last forever. They’re easier to maintain than a cotton filter because they can be fully washed after each use (they don’t accumulate residue).
Machine
Our current drip coffee machine still works well, so it makes sense to keep using it. I clean it every couple of weeks by running a pot of ½ vinegar and ½ water and then a pot of water. This process helps improve the taste of the coffee.
When the time comes to replace our machine I plan to buy a french press, hopefully second hand. The french press coffee machine is the lowest waste option. There is a built-in metal filter PLUS you're not drinking boiling water that’s gone through a mostly plastic obstacle course before reaching your mouth.
Sustainable Coffee Production
Our local refill store sources its coffee from Ground Up Roastery. This company purchases its coffee from small coffee plantations. The coffee is not commercially produced nor is it exposed to chemicals/pesticides. They use a Canadian importer who works with the coffee farmers, and this allows Ground Up Roastery to have full traceability of their coffee.
Your Turn!
What type of machine do you use for your coffee, and have you found a way to buy/brew it that’s zero waste? Let me know how this is going for you via contact page.
If you haven’t switched to sustainable coffee, than go find a mason jar and try it for yourself (at least once… or twice!).
