Capsule coffee is an environmental problem (alternatives)

I have recently seen a TV feature (unfortunately I can not remember which station) that said that coffee capsules are a growing environmental problem.

More and more people are switching to the convenient delicious coffee with the capsules, so more and more waste is created. The material from which the capsules are unfortunately not very sustainable and (honestly) who throws the capsules already good in the yellow sack, so they go to recycling? Quite apart from that, the capsules are also really expensive and there are many good alternatives as well.

(In Switzerland, it looks a bit different, because you can get the used capsules, so that they are recycled.)


Alternatives to coffee capsules

Pad Coffee

Pad coffee is very similar to capsule coffee. He is freshly prepared by the cup and brewed with pressure, so that he is already related to espresso. The big advantage is that used pads on / in the compost can and it is cheaper.

Espresso machine

Espresso machines are already available for a small fee. Here, a portafilter is filled with fresh coffee / espresso powder, hooked down and out comes delicious coffee was brewed with a lot of pressure and therefore is particularly digestible. The devices are no larger than a capsule and the running costs (because powder) is particularly low, although cup freshly prepared.

Small pot with filter to press down

I do not know exactly how the jugs are called, but in there you pour coffee powder with boiling water and after a short time presses down a filter so that the coffee powder is held by the filter on the ground and does not interfere with drinking. The resulting coffee can still contain particles of coffee powder and to use it requires a kettle. The coffee does not taste good, so why not join friends and have a try? It's not that easy to cook coffee!


Espresso pot

(bottom water, middle powder, later coffee above)

The jug has probably ever seen schonmal, mostly they are so angular and look a bit like an hourglass made of stainless steel. It fills the bottom of the container water, then comes in then an essay which is filled with coffee / espresso powder and on top of the empty top is screwed. The whole thing comes on the hot stove and (depending on the size of the pot and capacity) you have after 5-10 minutes of fresh espresso, very classic. In my opinion, the espresso is so strong and the jug should be cleared regularly, but it is delicious and easy. Incidentally, also very popular in Italy!

Just a tip


Take a slightly higher quality jug of stainless steel, which has a fine insert for the powder. So you have especially long from the pot and less powder in the coffee than the cheap version.

The fully automatic machine

Since you have to buy something good when you buy and the devices are usually still large. He is particularly favorably filled with whole beans, making the coffee is particularly fresh. As with capsules and pads, the machines work by the cup and with light pressure. The coffee grounds are classic and can easily land on the compost and be used as fertilizer.

Classic filter coffee

Until a few years ago probably the most common method in Germany: the filter coffee. The principle is well-known: a filter is filled with coffee powder and / or drizzled manually or by machine with hot water, down comes then finished coffee out. Incidentally, such devices are also available for various amounts of coffee and filter sizes and are particularly inexpensive as "hand filters". Hand filters are the things that are available in larger supermarkets (often on plastic, but also made of stainless steel and ceramics). Since a filter is placed purely as in a machine, then pour the filter over with boiling water from the kettle. So no machine is in the way around and that is great for the occasional coffee enjoyment with or without friends.

These were certainly not all alternatives (I like to install more), but if maybe one or two people convince themselves to give up capsules, then I am pleased.

I would not like to initiate a big discussion or claim that anyone who ever drank capsule coffee is an abysmal evil person, but that the capsules are not good for the environment is obvious.

And who decides on capsules to whom a request: Pay attention to the correct and sustainable disposal of your used capsules!

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