The Environmental Factor of coffee capsules
I can certainly understand the appeal of one of the espresso machines, but like most things that seem too good to be true… coffee capsules have a dark side (and it's not just the dark roast they have).
The Environmental FactorOne of the reasons why John Sylvan regrets creating K-cups? The environmental repercussions.
Coffee capsules generate large amounts of plastic waste each year. These are not biodegradable or recyclable (although some companies have started to make biodegradable options).
Although there are brands of capsules such as cheap Dolce Gusto capsules , these are very affordable, you have to consider the environment. Some manufacturers like Nespresso also join the game, and they're not the only ones. If we consider the creators of larger coffee capsules (Dolce Gusto and Nespresso) as those who could make a change to recycle.
Coffee capsules and their impactSo why is it so important?Last year, enough k-cups were sold that if placed end to end, they would go around the world 10.5 times. And that's just the amount sold in one year! (source)
In fact, nearly 10 billion of the individual cheap Dolce Gusto coffee capsules have been sold in the past year and that number appears to be on the rise. Some of the newer generations of k-cups are recyclable, but you have to take them apart and separate the plastic, compost the coffee grounds and discard the top. Also, most people are not even aware that some of them are recyclable.
With increasing levels of BPA and other plastic chemicals found in our groundwater, ocean water, and even buried under 30 feet of ice at the South Pole, experts warn that these chemicals may be contributing to the increase in health problems that we are seeing worldwide.
Cheap Dolce Gusto coffee capsules alone are a major source of plastic chemicals in landfills, and unfortunately their popularity seems to be growing. This prompted a video team to make an exaggerated video encouraging people to "kill the K-Cup."
Of course, this video is overly dramatic, but it demonstrates the point that even those of us who don't use k-cups are affected by the plastics of their release into the environment.
To be fair, Green Mountain (which Keurig owns) announced plans to make its coffee capsules recyclable by 2020, but it still means that billions of more plastic cups will enter landfills in the next five years, and even if / When they are recyclable, many people will not recycle.
Health RamificationsEqually threatening are the potential health concerns associated with disposable coffee capsules.
Plastics ...They are plastic, so they apply all of the usual problems associated with consuming food or drinks in plastic containers, but they are actually intensified because hot liquid is used, allowing more plastic chemicals to transfer into coffee.
Plastic chemicals like BPA, BPF, BPS, and phthalates are known endocrine disruptors and can contribute to hormonal imbalance, weight gain, and fertility problems. Although Keurig has recently confirmed that his capsules are BPA-free, they tested positive for estrogenic activity and may also contain polystyrene, a possible carcinogen.
AluminumThe tops of these K-Cup coffee capsules are generally made of aluminum, which has some health problems in itself and which can be bad for the brain. Aluminum exposure has been linked to Alzheimer's disease, depression, anxiety, autism, and even autoimmune disease.
Mold, algae, and biofilms?Microbiologist Erin Chamerlik noted that coffee capsule machines are also an increasingly critical environment for mold, mildew, algae, and biofilm.
The instruction manual for these machines states that once filled with water, the internal tank and lines cannot be drained, creating perpetual darkness, a warm and humid environment.
These molds and biofilms bring their own health problems and are almost impossible to eradicate. Hot water is not enough to finish them off, nor is the acidity of coffee. Some sources recommend running multiple cycles with diluted vinegar, but laboratory tests have shown that this is not enough to remove mold and biofilms.
In fairness, this problem is not limited to just using it in coffee machines. Almost all coffee machines can be a source of mold and biofilms, and up to 50% of cups of coffee contain mold spores or even fecal bacteria.
Financial affairsIf the sanitary and environmental aspects are not enough to convince you, the individual coffee capsules are an absolutely horrible deal .
Of course they are convenient, but with so little coffee in each capsule, a pound of coffee would cost over 50 euros!
Even the highest-quality, single-origin organic coffees generally don't cost a lot, and many of us pay for low-grade, plastic and aluminum-coated ones that wreck the environment!
If budgeting is a problem, these should be the first to go!
K-cups and Coffee Capsules: The Solution?Don't buy a coffee capsule brewing machine. If you have one, get rid of it. Sure, convenience can't be better, but it's not worth the financial, environmental, and health downsides. Rising levels of plastics in landfills is becoming a massive global problem, and this is one of the main sources.
Of course, I am a coffee drinker and I will not advocate avoiding coffee, simply by making it in an ecological and health conscious way (which also tastes much better, it should be clarified). If you still can't get rid of your Keurig, at least, consider buying biodegradable options like the ones that can be compounded (bonus: they're cheap too!) Or use a reusable capsule.
What to doK-cups take about a minute to prepare, and my much healthier and environmentally friendly version only takes about two minutes… plus, the flavor is absolutely worth the extra minute of prep time.
I use a glass electric kettle and and a stainless glass French press to make coffee.
I heat the water to almost boil in the electric kettle. This takes about 30 seconds. As this heats up, I grind fresh organic coffee beans and put them on the bottom of the French press.
I pour the water into the French press and stir with a wooden spoon. After about 60 to 90 seconds, I push down the filter in the French press and I get delicious freshly brewed coffee without plastics, aluminum or biofilms.
(Or, if you're like my Italian husband who prefers espresso, get an old-school stainless espresso espresso stove.)
Confession: I once had a coffee capsule brewing machine. I was using reusable or biodegradable capsules, but after researching the various health and environmental issues with these machines, I returned to our beloved French press and couldn't be happier .
The Original Donut Shop Keurig Single-Serve K-Cup Pods, Regular Medium Roast Coffee, 72 Count