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Before I really started taking my green journey seriously, I received a Keurig coffee machine for Christmas.
At the time I thought it was the most awesome gift because I was trying to reduce my coffee intake — from something crazy like almost a whole pot, down to a single cup or two — so it seemed like the perfect solution.
But as I started to really commit to “going green” it didn’t take long for me to realize that disposable, single-use K-cups, despite their convenience, are more wasteful than my new green goals can allow.
I borrowed these pods to show how quickly they can add up in the landfill. I used to use 2 per day and with 3 coffee drinkers in our house that could add up to 180 per month from our family alone!
Greener Alternatives to K-Cup Pods?
At the time of my revelation, my Keurig coffee machine was still pretty new, so throwing the whole machine into the trash would have been very environmentally irresponsible too.
My next best hope then, I thought, might be to look for a green or at least a greener options to replace the disposable K-cup coffee pods.
These “100% compostable” pods are still better than all plastic cups, but you need to read the fine print. They are only compostable in a industrial compost facility.
“Compostable” Coffee Pods
Thanks to Amazon.com, I found that there are several alternative coffee pods available including those that boast being 100% compostable. But the problem is that although they are compostable, they are not backyard compostable.
Most of the “compostable” Keurig compatible pods available are only compostable at an industrial or commercial compost facility. This makes them a little greener than regular, plastic K-cups, but they are still not the best option for genuinely green lifestyle. You can cut them apart and compost the filter and the used grounds in your backyard compost, but you’ll still have to throw away the ring and the top cover.
FYI: If you live near a commercial compost facility that takes them, buying and composting San Francisco Bay Organic Rainforest Blend is worth the effort. Their organic coffee is delicious!
Get Details Here: San Francisco Bay Organic Rainforest Blend Coffee Pods
If you want to keep your Keurig, reusable stainless capsules like this one from Ekobrew are your greenest option.
Stainless Steel Reusable Coffee Filters
These plastic-free, long-lasting stainless steel capsules by Ekobrew are a much better option. All you have to do is fill them with an Ekobrew filter and your favorite ground coffee for a much less wasteful cup of coffee. It’s a little more work to refill them for each cup, but both the filters and the used grounds can be tossed into your backyard compost making them pretty much zero-waste.
Get Details Here: Ekobrew Reusable Stainless Capsule, Ekobrew Filters
This is my old coffee grinder and I love it. The bad news is they don’t make it anymore. If it ever stops working, I’ll try one with stainless blades that are easier to clean.
Be Prepared to Grind Your Own Coffee
From my experience, if you use pre-ground coffee, these sometimes leave more coffee grounds in my cup than the fully enclosed soft coffee pods. The best way to keep them out of your cup is to grind your own coffee to a medium size before filling the capsule. To save time I grind my coffee and store it in the freezer. This keeps it fresh and makes my coffee routine faster in the morning when I need it most!
Get Details Here: Kitchenaid Coffee & Spice Grinder, Coffmax Stainless Canister
These Ekobrew reusable stainless capsules and filters are your best option if you want to be zero-waste and green as possible without going back to a traditional coffee maker.
The Bottom Line on Greener Coffee Pods
From what I have found so far, there is no such thing as a truly “green coffee pod.” If you live near a commercial compost facility that accepts the compostable pods, these can be a great tasting alternative. But if not, you can use a stainless steel reusable coffee capsule and still keep your Keurig guilt-free!
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