Last September I posted a popular series, “I may be green, but I’m not THAT green.” I discussed the benefits of reusable toilet paper, reusable feminine hygiene products, no deodorant, no soap, no shampoo, and no plastic straws – but that I just can’t follow those practices. (After a lot of feedback, I did end up trying – and changing to – reusable feminine pads.)
I’ve heard a couple other truly green practices that I just haven’t implemented – not because of the principle, but strictly for the sake of convenience. One of those practices involves making coffee.
Prince Charming can’t survive without coffee each morning, and our coffee maker faithfully brews his cups of joe. But there’s a safer way to make coffee. (We even have the alternative, but it takes too much time during our morning hustle and bustle.)
What’s wrong with coffee makers?
Many coffee makers are made of plastic. While consumers may financially benefit from plastic models because they’re so cheap, the plastic makers aren’t the healthiest choice. When plastic is heated, it leaches chemicals. Keep in mind that if BPA’s not leaching from your plastic, some other chemical is. As a 2011 study proved, most plastics release estrogenic chemicals. 1
That means when the coffee maker heats the water to a scalding hot temperature, all of the plastic in the machine is adding a little something extra to the ground beans and water. And it’s not a gourmet flavoring.
What’s a safer alternative?
Before plastic was invented, people still drank coffee. Metal coffee makers were often used – and they’re still sold today. And, one particularly easy way to brew coffee beans is with a glass French press.
(Just in case you haven’t seen a French press, you make coffee by putting ground coffee beans in the bottom of the glass cylinder pitcher. Fill the cylinder with boiling water, and lower a coffee plunger – that has a snug-fitting screen into the cylinder. Simply press the screen down with the handle, and all of the brewed coffee remains at the top of the cylinder while the brewed and squeezed beans are squished to the bottom.)
While Prince Charming and I got a French press as a wedding gift, we don’t use it every day. Instead of allotting more time to boil the water and press the coffee beans, maybe we should switch to a metal — and electric — coffee maker.
Talk back
How do you brew your coffee? And just for fun, do you drink it black, or with cream and sugar?
Sources
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I use an electric drip coffee maker. I had a Krups for 16 years before I couldn’t find a replacement carafe when I broke the last one. I got a french press to use while searching for a new one. The French press cools off too fast for me. I do use unbleached conical filters and try to only buy organic, fair trade coffee from micro roasters. I’m medium green when it comes to coffee. BTW- I got a Cuisinart that also gas a hot water dispenser and I really like it. I prefer a little milk in my coffee, a touch of sugar if it’s bitter or a latte.
I use an electric drip coffee maker. I had a french press and I loved the flavor but it just wouldn’t stay hot enough so I stopped using it.
I never stopped and thought about all the plastic in my daily coffee routine but now that I have I may explore some different options. I originally got my french press to help cut down our use of electricity.
I like cream and sugar in my coffee :)
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I do not comment, but I browsed a few of the responses on this page I May Be Green, But I’m Not THAT Green: Coffee Makers – Accidentally Green. I
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