Coffee Talk

[ghostrunner]

Maybe the issue is most packaging is becoming more recyclable, whereas the K Cups are essentially impossible to recycle.

I see those machines as more of an office or home coffee maker replacement, so instead of coffee going from paper filter to pot to mug, it's going from disposable plastic to mug and you can't recycle it. People are still going to getting coffee on the go.

Thirds is the first person I've heard make an issue of it, but it seems like most products the last 10-15 years have started getting that kind of inspection and criticism.

[jim]

Who else is tired of talking about the earth? Give it a rest already.

[33anda3rd]

When I am in my neighborhood walking the dogs, I'l sometimes pick up trash along the way. Same when I'm in the park wood-s sometimes pick up trash (attempt to curry favor with the trail gods -haven't rolled an ankle out there in 2+ years). It's plastic bags, cups, plastic bottles etc. whatever you can buy at a gas station or starbucks - ironically. I don't see k-cups though.

When some auto maker figures out the in-dash keurig dispenser you'll start seeing those cups along the side of the road.

Thirds is the first person I've heard make an issue of it, but it seems like most products the last 10-15 years have started getting that kind of inspection and criticism.

If you do a Google search for 'environmental effects of K-cups' there are 2.1 million results, so I'm hardly the only person worked up about it. Man-made climate change might be the most important issue of our time, and it's stuff like this--consumer ease over responsible purchasing--that has helped get us where we are environmentally.

[Jocephus]

i dont have a problem not using K cups but my method will still be inferior to some

[ghostrunner]

When I am in my neighborhood walking the dogs, I'l sometimes pick up trash along the way. Same when I'm in the park wood-s sometimes pick up trash (attempt to curry favor with the trail gods -haven't rolled an ankle out there in 2+ years). It's plastic bags, cups, plastic bottles etc. whatever you can buy at a gas station or starbucks - ironically. I don't see k-cups though.

When some auto maker figures out the in-dash keurig dispenser you'll start seeing those cups along the side of the road.

Thirds is the first person I've heard make an issue of it, but it seems like most products the last 10-15 years have started getting that kind of inspection and criticism.

If you do a Google search for 'environmental effects of K-cups' there are 2.1 million results, so I'm hardly the only person worked up about it. Man-made climate change might be the most important issue of our time, and it's stuff like this--consumer ease over responsible purchasing--that has helped get us where we are environmentally.

Basically what I'm saying is that I'm not up on specific environmental news. It's pretty obvious to me they're a concern, so I'll take your word for it. I very seldom have occasion to use one.

[jim]

If you do a google search for "blah blah blah", you get 29 million results.

[lukethedrifter]

I like the Earth. It gives me a place to stand. And when I drop something, like my keys, the Earth is there to catch them.

[JackofDiamonds]

We have a Nespresso machine, but we recycle the pods. Does Keurig not offer a recycling program?

[Hoot45]

I'm a former Keurig machine hoarder. Today, I'm two years sober, thank you Jesus.

Now, I only buy green beans from http://www.sweetmarias.com and I roast them myself one pound at a time using a stainless steel popcorn popper on my grill's side burner. My primary brewing equipment is a Hario hand grinder and an Aeropress. I prefer the upside down approach, the original paper filters, and a pretty fine grind. I'm happy to have found an approach and style that I really enjoy. It's not for everyone but it makes me happy. It did made me dangerously obsessive about coffee though.

Out of curiosity for other styles I'll probably soon try either a Chemex or a moka pot. I'm leaning towards a Chemex which seems like an instrument that would help me brew more than a cup at a time for when I have to serve more than myself. I appreciate everyone's passion and experiences here.

[jim]

We have a Nespresso machine, but we recycle the pods. Does Keurig not offer a recycling program?

We use a gizmo where you can just buy regular coffee and stuff it in there and then reuse. Probably more environmentally safe because we don't even use a coffee filter - no trees to cut down. I think they call it a K gizmo reuser thing-a-ma-job or something like that. It works great, you can grind your own beans and it makes really good coffee, and most importantly you aren't trashing the planet with all of that plastic waste. Of course we never use it, because it's much easier to just buy the plastic-y thing and throw it away when you are done, but we do have it and we could if we wanted to. So that has to count for something.