What’s the Environmental Impact of the Single-Cup Coffee Maker?

As much as you might want that coffee buzz to make it through the workday, drinking the burnt stuff that’s been sitting on the heating unit too long just doesn’t sound appealing.  Grinding and measuring the beans and cleaning the conventional coffee pot can also be a hassle.  It’s no wonder that the ingenious idea for the single-cup coffee maker has made a hit. 

Nearly 46 percent of the dollars going toward the purchase of coffee or espresso makers went to single-serve machines in the 12 months ending in November, reports an article in The Kansas City Star based on information from the NPD Group, a market research firm.

But, what’s the impact of this handy appliance? 

The K-Cup® package — a single-portion coffee packaging made by Keurig Inc., a major seller of the one-cup coffee maker — is put together so the coffee isn’t degraded by oxygen, light and moisture.  But this process of ensuring freshness, or making the foil top with a polyethylene coating and heat-sealing the various elements, makes recycling the packaging difficult, reports Keurig.

Other popular single-serving coffee makers, such as Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf late’s One Touch machine, and Nespresso make their packaging with materials similar to Keurig Inc., reports the The Kansas City Star article. 

Keurig, however, is working toward finding a more environmentally friendly packaging and has already developed other sustainable practices.  For example, the company has decreased the volume of its packaging by 30 percent and partners with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. based in Vermont, that has a reputation for environmentally friendly practices.  Green Mountain Coffee was the No. 1 buyer of fair trade coffee globally in 2012, reported Fair Trade USA.

In the meantime, do what you can and start composting the coffee or tea after using the single-serving packages and make sure you’ll drink the beverage before you make it. 

And, you can always consider going back to the conventional coffee maker in your office.  If you have an office of coffee fiends, who says that coffee won’t be drunk before it gets burnt?

EcoGreenOffice offers a variety of coffeemakers, including one-cup makers and conventional.  Not to mention, a Combination Coffee/Espresso Machine.

Avoid waste, hassle and burnt coffee with the  ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine supplied through EcoGreenOffice.