7 Ways to “Green” Your Morning Coffee

Coffee - All Green Electronics Recycling

We all have an environmental compromise or two. I start almost every day with a cup of coffee—even though I know there are greener options out there. And I’m not alone; according to Treehugger, coffee is the world’s most traded commodity after crude oil.

Now even though coffee will never be the most eco-friendly choice out there, there are a few ways to make it easier on the environment.

  1. Buy local—Or at least as local as you can. I can’t buy coffee from California, but in my location, buying coffee grown in Central America or Hawaii is easier on the environment than buying coffee grown in Africa.
  2.  Buy shade-grown coffee—Not only does it produce richer flavors, but it preserves the habitats of certain migratory birds.
  3. Make your own—If you brew your own coffee, you can buy in bulk, saving packaging and money, you’ll know where your ingredients come from, and you can use your reusable mug.
  4. Use reusable filters—Consider using a reusable coffee filter. It can keep hundreds of paper ones out of landfills each year.
  5.  Compost—If you compost, coffee grounds are high in nitrogen, which make them a great fertilizer.
  6. Buy organic or fair trade—This seems like a no-brainer, so all I’ll say is to make sure that you understand the label and aren’t being greenwashed.
  7. Use a reusable mug—If you’re going to all of this effort to “green” your morning cup of coffee, don’t use a paper or Styrofoam cup! Invest in a nice travel mug that you can use for years.

What are your tips for “greening” your morning cup of coffee?

You can read more at Treehugger.

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