Coffee is currently Canada’s most popular drink, with a daily average consumption of 2.7 cups per person. It is estimated that around two billion cups of coffee are drank everyday throughout the world.
This demand has resulted in significant variation in coffee preparation methods, including the development of coffee capsules. Because this technique of preparation, which requires single-use individual packaging, is hazardous to the environment, the popularity of these capsules has split public opinion.
We frequently debate coffee’s carbon footprint as researchers examining the environmental implications of products and services.
We decided to look at the carbon impact of several methods for making coffee at home, and it turns out that coffee capsules aren’t the worst offenders.
The pollution caused by household coffee making is only the tip of the iceberg. Before you can enjoy a cup of coffee, it must first go through various procedures, beginning with the agricultural production of the coffee beans, transporting them, roasting and grinding the beans, and finally boiling the water for the coffee and washing the cups it is poured in.
These procedures, which are similar to all coffee processing methods, use resources and create greenhouse gases (GHG).
To properly assess the carbon footprint of various coffee preparation techniques, it is necessary through analyse their whole life cycle: from coffee production to packaging and machinery manufacturing, to coffee preparation and waste disposal.
We decided to go further and did a thorough literature research on the issue. The carbon footprint of coffee was then calculated by comparing four methods of making 280 millilitres of coffee, namely:
1) Regular filter coffee (25 grammes of coffee)
2) Filter coffee encapsulated (14 grammes of coffee)
3) Freshly brewed coffee (French press) (17 grammes of coffee)
4) Soluble coffee (12 g) (often known as quick coffee)
Our data clearly demonstrated that conventional filter coffee has the biggest carbon footprint, owing to the higher amount of coffee powder needed to generate the same volume of coffee. This procedure also uses more power to heat and keep the water warm. Soluble coffee looks to be the most ecologically friendly alternative when customers use the correct amounts of coffee and water.
This is owing to the kettle’s decreased power use when compared to a coffee machine, as well as the absence of organic waste to be processed.
Coffee capsules, on the other hand, appear to be the best option when customers utilise a 20% surplus of coffee and boil twice as much water as is required (which is typically the case). Why? Because the capsules allow you to customise how much coffee and water you drink.
This is owing to the kettle’s decreased power use when compared to a coffee machine, as well as the absence of organic waste to be processed.
Coffee capsules, on the other hand, appear to be the best option when customers utilise a 20% surplus of coffee and boil twice as much water as is required (which is typically the case). Why? Because the capsules allow you to customise how much coffee and water you drink.
Beyond lowering coffee consumption, the most effective strategy for consumers to minimise the carbon footprint of conventional, brewed, and soluble coffees is to prevent wasting coffee and water. Coffee capsules reduce the need for coffee and water. However, the ease of capsule machines may cause customers to treble their coffee consumption, rendering this environmental benefit obsolete. Consumers should also be informed of the capsule recycling alternatives in their city to prevent having their capsules shipped to a landfill rather than a recycling centre.
Even better, they should use reusable capsules.
If you reside in a region or nation where power generation is carbon-intensive, avoiding using the hot plate on the coffee maker and washing the cup with cold water can help decrease your carbon footprint.
The power needed to wash a cup of coffee in Alberta, a high-carbon electricity-producing region, releases more carbon (29 grammes CO2e) than making and disposing of a coffee capsule (27 grammes CO2e). Because of hydroelectricity, cleaning your cup in a dishwasher has no effect in Québec (0.7 grammes of CO2e per cup). Also, don’t forget to load your dishwasher! Coffee is no exception when it comes to limiting your impact to climate change. Choosing a method of coffee preparation that generates less GHGs and limiting your intake are two components of the answer. However, the actions of coffee farmers and suppliers account for more than half of the carbon footprint of coffee. They must take steps to mitigate the environmental and social consequences of coffee cultivation.
Our research shows that assessments of items like coffee based on a life cycle analysis, or the holistic perspective, allow us to question our instinctive thinking, which can be inaccurate at times. Instead of shunning things based on supposition, we should examine our own purchasing patterns holistically. Change starts at home.
Coffee was by far the most influenced by future climate change of the three crops. By 2050, the number of places most suited to cultivating coffee had decreased by half in all three climatic scenarios.
At Truoosh, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Truoosh may earn commission.
