Earlier this year, the day marked Earth Day on the calendars turned forty. You'd think that after that many years, things would be starting to look a lot greener. However, it's no secret that the earth is taking some pretty hard hits right now. And coffee drinkers, we're part of the problem. Our precious coffee is causing forests to be knocked down at an alarming rate to make room for coffee trees and closer to home our land and water if littered with coffee cups.
There's no easy answer, but there's ways for us to go from causing more problems to being part of the solution.
Next time you go shopping, take a look at the labels on the coffee there. Organic and shade grown are just two of the many earth friendly labels out there. Organic coffees are grown and processed without harsh chemicals and shade grown coffee preserves the habitats for migratory birds. And don't forget to buy local so your morning coffee has less of a carbon foot print.
Billions of paper and Styrofoam cups are used once then thrown out. They're filling up our landfills, polluting our lakes and covering land. The answer is simple, start using a travel mug.
Unplug your coffee maker and cut your electric bill with a French Press or Aerobie Aeropress. The only power needed is to the heat the water. The French Press doesn't even require a single use paper filter that you would have to throw out after your done. The Aeropress only needs a filter that's less than the size of a silver dollar. Either way, you're getting great tasting coffee.
If you are set on using your traditional drip coffee maker, use coffee filters made out of recycled paper or better yet get a permanent reusable filter. Do you have a Keurig or other single serve machine? Have you checked out the reusable K-Cup? It allows you to use your own coffee and not throw out a plastic k-cup every time. Win/win.
After you're all done, don't throw the coffee grounds in the trash. Instead put them in your compost pile. If you don't have one, what are you waiting for? Start one today or give them to a neighbor that does have one in their backyard.
That's just a few easy ways to go green with your coffee, but that's just the beginning. There's so many ways that you can help nurture our earth.
There's no easy answer, but there's ways for us to go from causing more problems to being part of the solution.
Next time you go shopping, take a look at the labels on the coffee there. Organic and shade grown are just two of the many earth friendly labels out there. Organic coffees are grown and processed without harsh chemicals and shade grown coffee preserves the habitats for migratory birds. And don't forget to buy local so your morning coffee has less of a carbon foot print.
Billions of paper and Styrofoam cups are used once then thrown out. They're filling up our landfills, polluting our lakes and covering land. The answer is simple, start using a travel mug.
Unplug your coffee maker and cut your electric bill with a French Press or Aerobie Aeropress. The only power needed is to the heat the water. The French Press doesn't even require a single use paper filter that you would have to throw out after your done. The Aeropress only needs a filter that's less than the size of a silver dollar. Either way, you're getting great tasting coffee.
If you are set on using your traditional drip coffee maker, use coffee filters made out of recycled paper or better yet get a permanent reusable filter. Do you have a Keurig or other single serve machine? Have you checked out the reusable K-Cup? It allows you to use your own coffee and not throw out a plastic k-cup every time. Win/win.
After you're all done, don't throw the coffee grounds in the trash. Instead put them in your compost pile. If you don't have one, what are you waiting for? Start one today or give them to a neighbor that does have one in their backyard.
That's just a few easy ways to go green with your coffee, but that's just the beginning. There's so many ways that you can help nurture our earth.
Mike Crimmins is a coffee fanatic. He's not your traditional coffee expert or barista. He's just your average joe, looking for that perfect cup of coffee. You can learn more about coffee at his blog http://dailyshotofcoffee.com/ and visit http://shop.dailyshotofcoffee.com/.
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