5 Meaningful Ways to Become an Awesome Coffee Lover

You know you’re a coffee lover, enthusiast, or even a die-hard coffee drinker when almost “everything” in your life is associated with coffee. You can’t survive your morning or your entire day without coffee. You can’t think creatively without coffee in your system. And everything just doesn’t seem right without your favorite beverage. Even your social media posts are all about coffee!

Of course we know it – you are already awesome! Given that you love coffee so much, it would also be nice to level up your coffee drinking game by taking part in little yet meaningful ways to make this world a better place. Here are some more ways to become an awesome coffee lover!

1. Support organic coffee.

A lot of the toxins, pesticides, and chemicals from conventional farming are harmful to the environment. Although these chemicals don’t necessarily get into your cup of coffee, they had such a huge impact during farming. They can pollute the waterways and can be hazardous to the farmers, workers, and animals.

It is also a great idea to support shade-grown coffee whenever you can. This kind of coffee comes from coffee plants that are grown under a canopy of trees. According to this article from Serious Eats, there is no significant difference in taste between shade-grown coffee and one that is not. This may not be the point-of-view of everyone as there are probably others who swear by the taste of organic coffee or of another variety.

Whatever the case is though and as long as coffee beans are cultivated and processed properly, shade-grown coffee plants will not only taste great but also positively impact the biodiversity of a landscape.

Fruit trees such as avocado, banana, orange, and lemon, as well as cedars, and some forest trees can provide a canopy or shade for coffee plants. Together, they all create a harmonious nitrogen balance. This kind of setup also promotes sustainability of more species.

In short, although shade-grown coffee may have little to no effect on the taste of the coffee you drink, it does have an important impact on the environment. And it is more fulfilling for you as a coffee lover if you are able to help in that kind of way.

2. Use a compostable coffee cup.

Using styrofoam coffee cups are common. In fact, almost all coffee shops employ this method because styrofoam is more sturdy, and such a great insulator. It helps keep the coffee warm for longer. However, it doesn’t help the environment at all. These coffee cups just fill up landfills, never degrade, and will forever be wastes.

Whenever you can, consider using compostable or biodegradable coffee cups, or choose coffee shops that support this environment-friendly cause. There are already coffee shops that are making a move to support positive change by replacing their plastic or styrofoam cups with compostable ones.

When hosting gatherings at home, you can serve your coffee or drinks using compostable cups too. Try looking for a set online that can also give value for your money.

This article mentioned that there’s a new packaging idea to support an environmental project. The company called Reuse, Reduce, Grow created coffee cups that have flowers and seeds embedded in the lining. These cups will degrade in less than 200 days and allow the seeds to grow. The idea is that they can plant the cups in the appropriate area in their community or give the cups to any coffee shop that supports this project.

3. Invest in a travel mug.

In relation to the second item, investing in a travel mug is also a meaningful way to help the environment because this avoids the use of disposable non-compostable coffee cups. If you order coffee frequently, or if your office serves free coffee, then bringing your own mug or cup is a great idea! For one, you eliminate waste, and also, you get to bring your favorite mug.

As a bonus, you might want to look for coffee shops near you that sell their own travel mug. Perhaps they give a discount or some sort of a reward if you use it when ordering your coffee. It’s a win-win situation.

4. Consider using a reusable filter.

If you love pour-over coffee, then it’s well worth it if you consider using a reusable filter. A lot of people invest in one-time use paper filters because they’re easy to dispose of and mess-free plus they might like the brighter, sweeter taste as a result.

However, in some cases, paper filters can also leave behind residues that can affect your coffee’s flavor. Also, although they are generally cheaper per piece, the costs can add up real quick especially if you brew coffee several times a day.

Stainless steel or metal coffee drip filters can be expensive depending on the type and brand, but it can save you money in the long run because you don’t have to purchase again and again. Metal filters usually result to a visually darker coffee and more robust or full-bodied taste.

Also, you might be thinking that metal filters are a pain to clean. That may be true in some instances which is why it’s important to look for filters that are easy to clean. Kitchables Pour-Over Coffee Drip Filter is a great option because it has dual filter micro-mesh technology that’s very easy to clean. This ensures absolutely no clogging as the mesh feels like silk to the touch. It’s also dishwasher safe.

Aside from that, its stainless steel material ensures permanence unlike glass or stoneware filters that easily break or paper filters that are for one-time use only. This can reduce your carbon footprint and help save the environment one coffee cup at a time.

5. Support local coffee shops.

There are several reasons why you should. First of all, it’s not guilt-tripping over you choosing the corporate businesses over the local ones. It’s just saying that local shops are worth visiting and knowing more.

As soon as these local shops put up their businesses, they know the need of the community, and they most likely have a vision. They choose to open their business despite the risks involved. They also most likely employ people from the locality, and so this gives way to more jobs in the community.

The profits stay local so it provides significant growth of revenue to the community too. Aside from that, it’s easier to reach out to the owners because they’re most likely locals. There’s a bigger chance that they will act upon your needs right away because they are reachable.

Thus, it creates a more harmonious relationship among the people in the community. Isn’t that a great way to build genuine connections? That certainly makes the world a better place!

Now, here’s to hoping you give these 5 meaningful ways a try, and help promote positive change in the society.