How to Green your Morning Cup of Coffee

Americans are going green in many ways, but when it comes to coffee, they’re still in the dark. According to a new independent survey, 67 percent of consumers who frequent coffee shops admit to discarding their used paper cups into a trash can. That’s 28 billion cups (100 million pounds of paper) every year that end up in landfills. That’s why home-brewed coffee is such a powerful alternative. Cutting out just one of those typical lattes each day and replacing it with a premium coffee you brew yourself will have a positive impact on the environment and your wallet.

The surprising results of the new study have become the foundation for Good Earth Coffee’s ‘Brew at Home’ Pledge campaign. Good Earth is encouraging coffee drinkers to lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle and brew their coffee at home.

To help inspire coffee lovers to make this change, Good Earth will donate $1.00 for each online pledge they receive to The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit environmental organization. To sign the pledge online, visit www.goodearthcoffee.com.

Additionally, I've created some simple eco-coffee tips that will help all of us put more green in our morning cup.

Instructions

1. Buy organic coffee for health benefits and to protect the environment. Look for coffee bags that contain the USDA certified organic stamp.
2. Consider the packaging the coffee comes in: is it eco-friendly? Packaging that is recyclable or made from renewable resources can reduce the amount of fossil fuels used in the process.
3. For coffee on-the-go, always take a reusable mug filled with home brewed coffee – it will save time, money and the environment.
   

Tips & Warnings

• Save resources and energy by only using the amount of filtered water needed. For a great tasting cup of coffee, Good Earth Coffee recommends 1.5 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6 ounces of water.
• Try a French press: It makes great tasting coffee, uses very little energy, and doesn’t require a filter.
• If you do use coffee filters, buy the built-in reusable kind or ones that are made of non-bleached/recycled paper.
• Fill a coffee maker with filtered water as it has health benefits and improves the taste of the brew!
• Use coffee grounds as compost for yards and gardens. They are excellent plant growth accelerators.
• Use organic milk or cream when making home brewed coffee – it is better for the coffee drinker and the planet.
• Brewing at home can reduce gas, paper and plastic consumption all with one simple action!