Zero Waste Coffee Routine Inspiring You to Brew Better

By: Paxton Ruzicka

Published: March 25, 2023

There is nothing quite like coffee. Believe me, I have tried the alternatives. Nothing comes close to the wonderful smell of fresh brewed coffee or that first sip feeling. To be honest, coffee is often the highlight of my day. Yet our coffee routine is usually not the most sustainable habit. Around 2.5 billion disposal cups and 75% of wet coffee grounds go to the landfill each year. My goal here is to have you striving for a low waste or even a zero waste coffee routine. But first, let’s start at the source.

Coffee Issues

Like daddy issues, but worse.

There are a lot of issues when it comes to the coffee industry. Ethical issues, environmental issues, socioecological issues, the list is endless. As our farmers face pay disparities and our land faces deforestation, it is extremely important to do the research on where and how your coffee is sourced.

By first figuring out where your coffee is coming from, you can feel better about your morning cup of Joe and in turn be part of the solution, to this very real problem.

While this article is not about how to choose the best coffee for you (your health and the farmers) yet to brew more sustainably, I do encourage you to take a deeper dive into my article Better for You and Them: Fair Trade and Organic Coffee.

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Now that you are more versed on what type of coffee to buy, lets discuss the best way to reduce your waste during your coffee brewing.

Coffee Makers

Here are a few methods to brew your coffee with little to no waste.

Pour over

A pour over is probably my favorite form of brewing. There are a few ways to do this. With a paper filter, a cloth filter, or a metal filter. With cloth and metal being the more economical option, metal is my choice. You will get many uses out of a cloth filter but it will eventually wear. When you are shopping for a pour over, keep an eye out for the ones made of metal with a built in filter.

French Press

French press is certainly a sustainable option when it comes to your waste-free coffee routine. They involve no type of additional filter. The French press is designed to separate the grounds from the water when you press it. Leaving the grounds nicely packed at the bottom when you are finished. Very simple to use and to clean.

Reusable Products

If you decide to go with the traditional method of brewing (or buying) opt for reusable.

Reusable filter

As I mentioned a few times already, a reusable filter is going to be the cost effective and waste-free choice versus the disposal ones. Reusable filter = less plastic packaging, less product, and less waste.

If a reusable filter is just out of the picture for you, totally understandable! If that's the case, opt for the bleach-free compostable ones, like these!

Reusable coffee cup

Contrary to popular belief, plastic or even paper coffee cups cannot be recycled. Thankfully, there are so many options when it comes to reusable coffee cups. From glass, to ceramic, to stainless steel, insulated verses not, dishwasher safe, leak proof, you get the point.

KeepCup

This is one of my favorite brands, a B corporation that donates 1% of profits to protect the environment. This is such a fun brand that has designed so many different color combination and styles. Originally made of tempered glass and cork, these cups are lightweight, easy to clean and highly rated among customers. Definitely recommend checking them out.

In addition to these reusable products, check out some more smart swaps for your kitchen!

Disposing of Grounds

Besides finding the perfect coffee maker or reusable cup, a waste-free coffee routine wouldn't be waste-free without properly disposing of the excess grounds. In the end, wet grounds are the number one source of waste when it comes to coffee. Here's what you can do!

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Compost

Do you have flowers or vegetables growing in your garden? Coffee grounds are good for the soil! According to Epic Gardening "this improves your soil’s water retention, aeration and drainage.

Furthermore, coffee grounds will encourage microorganisms that are beneficial to plant growth and attract earthworms and other biota to your soil."

Exfoliant scrub

You can use your old coffee grounds to make an awesome body exfoliant. Take three tablespoons of coffee and mix with one tablespoon of coconut oil and one tablespoon of sugar. You have yourself a perfect full body scrub.

Join me in being part of the solution and switching to a waste-free coffee routine! Let me know your favorite coffee in the comments!

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