Make Your Morning Eco-Friendly: More Sustainable Coffee + Tea!
Make Your Morning Eco-Friendly: More Sustainable Coffee + Tea!
The alarm goes off and the first thing on your mind (besides the snooze button) is your daily caffeine fix. But all those coffees and teas, whether it's a Dunkin run, a Nespresso or Keurig, or a standard tea bag, create a LOT of waste- and shed microplastics right into your morning jolt. Here are some simple swaps you can try to make your coffee and tea routines a little more sustainable!
More Sustainable Teas
- Try a fair trade tea blend. Fair trade means laborers and farmers have been paid a fair wage and that sustainable farming practices were used. ArborTeas offers dozens of looseleaf teas that are fair trade and organic!
- Buy in bulk. Spice and Tea Exchange offers tons of amazing, delicious bulk teas. You can store your tea in any airtight container.
- Skip the bag! DYK: Traditional tea bags leech microplastics into your drink. Try using your bulk tea in a reusable tea strainer or reusable tea bag!
- If you can't live without the tea bags, try Calabash Tea, who offers plastic-free, plant-based, biodegradable tea sachets. Plus, all of her teas are DIVINE. (Sunyatta is a DC local and fifth generation herbalist!)
- Compost your leaves when you're done enjoying your drink! (If you're using a traditional tea bag, cut it open and dump out the leaves.)
Brewing an Eco-Friendly Coffee
- Try a fair trade coffee when you can, or pick a local roaster to try. Local favorites Bump n Grind support woman-owned farms. New (to me!) Rustic Route is LGBTQ-woman-owned and roasts fairly sourced coffee. La Finca offers environmentally-friendly coffee from their cart and is named for the owners' childhood village in El Salvador.
- Try a low/no-waste method of brewing, such as a French press.
- Using a traditional coffee pot? Try compostable filters (plants love coffee grounds!) or, even better, a reusable coffee filter. Using a Keurig or Nespresso? Make the swap to a stainless steel K-cup.
- On the go? Many coffee shops will make your to-go coffee in your mug when you remember to bring it- just ask!
- Compost your coffee grounds or sprinkle them into your garden. They act as a fertilizer and can ward off pests. Not all plants like coffee grounds though, so check first.
- Make your own syrups! Instead of synthetic flavors in giant plastic jugs, syrups can be made from a few simple ingredients. You can make what you need, waste less, and try seasonal flavors! Here are four simple DIY recipes.
Simple Swaps for Sustainable Drinks!
As with all FH2H's sustainability tips, when it comes to making coffee and tea swaps, choose what is: easiest and within your budget. Use what you have and then make a swap!
Making a more sustainable cup of tea or coffee doesn't have to be hard. Little swaps add up to reduce waste, reduce plastic, and taste better!