3 Sustainable Coffee Brands and 6 Ways to Drink Eco-Friendly Coffee
Updated: May 23, 2023
From sustainably sourced coffee beans to more environmentally-friendly accessories, find everything you need to brew a more eco-friendly cup.
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Raise your hand if coffee is the best part of your day. We couldn’t dream of giving it up, but thankfully there are lots of ways to make your daily coffee habit more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Choosing sustainable coffee not only supports safe working conditions and fair trade for farmers, it also ensures coffee beans are produced in ways that keep the environment healthy.
And beyond buying sustainable coffee, it’s important to make environmentally-friendly choices with coffee accessories, too. Producing less waste by ditching disposable cups and cardboard sleeves also goes a long way. Here are some of our favorite ways to keep enjoying coffee while keeping the Earth happy…
Ethical Bean Coffee
Ethical Bean Coffee roasting company is both Fair Trade and organic certified. It’s even roasted in a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard energy-efficient factory. Have a Keurig machine? Ethical Bean Coffee also makes 100% compostable single-serve coffee pods. The flavor profile ranges from classic to super dark.
Nguyen Coffee Supply
Think outside the arabica beans from Africa and South America box, and check out Vietnamese coffee. The direct-trade, woman-owned Nguyen Coffee Supply offers a strong, smooth cup of coffee from blends sourced from a family-run farm in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Find out which blend is your favorite by sampling the Original Vietnamese Coffee Trio.
Café Mam
This coffee roasting company has been sourcing 100% Fair Trade, organic and shade-grown coffee from indigenous cooperatives since 1990. And as part of their Climate Change Mitigation Fund, Café Mam pays an extra 10 cents per pound that the co-ops can then put towards combating climate change in their own communities. Use sustainable coffee to make these Starbucks copycat recipes at home.
Reusable coffee pods and K cups
Coffee pods and K cups pile up in landfills, and they can also end up in rivers, lakes and oceans. But there is SUCH an easy fix to this massive waste: reusable coffee pods! Not only are they better for the environment, you’ll also end up spending much less on coffee by the pound. A win-win!
Energy-friendly espresso maker
If you’re making lattes at home in your own mug, that’s a fantastic start on an eco-friendly cup of coffee. But there are a couple of things to look for in an espresso machine to conserve the most energy. This Espressione Concierge machine features a small footprint, which means less materials were used to make it. And machines with an auto-off save electricity. Awesome!
Reusable coffee filters
Another easy fix for reducing waste is to add reusable coffee filters to your coffee station. These Green Polly filters are made from hemp to bring out the natural flavor in the coffee. To clean, they simply need a rinse in hot water. Then air dry and reuse again. Get inspired to build a beautiful coffee bar at home.
Coffee cup with cork band
With a travel coffee cup as chic as this one, ditching the single-use coffee cup is a no-brainer. This glass coffee cup with a lid makes it possible to always have a travel container ready for your chosen on-the-go beverage. The cork band replaces disposable cardboard sleeves. And yeah, you can personalize it with your name!
Collapsible reusable straws
Remembering and keeping track of your reusable straw is no problem when it’s your actual key chain! This two-pack of collapsible stainless straws go where you go. So you can politely decline the disposable variety when you cruise through your favorite coffee shop. The straws come in all sorts of colors, including rose gold.
Compost bin
Did you know coffee grounds (and some paper filters) can go straight to your compost bin? We love this counter compost bin from Bamboozled. It’s small enough to not take up too much room in your kitchen, and cute enough to be a permanent fixture there. Or, if you have a Simplehuman garbage bin, this sleek compost caddy docks right on the side.
Originally Published: June 02, 2021
