There are so many ways to make coffee.
It can be a little overwhelming.
How are we supposed to know what is best when there are so many different brewing methods? In my article French Press Vs. Drip, I explore why certain processes fit different kinds of people.
In addition to that, the lingo is a little weird. Like what is espresso? And what does it mean when people describe coffee as acidic?
Here at GGC Coffee, we are always striving to give you easy-to-read rundowns of how the coffee world goes round.
Today I want to talk a little bit about the ever-popular K-Cup.
Since it’s debut on the coffee scene in the early 2000s, this single serve brewing method has spread like wildfire. There’s a k-cup like machine in every kitchen in America.
We have an entire store here on the site outlining our thoughts on all the different kinds of k-cups too! You can see what we think the best k-cups are right here.
But as for sustainability there is no doubt that a lot of progress can still yet be made–there are in fact only a small fraction of brands that make anything truly compostable or biodegradable. Our favorites include:
- San Francisco Bay OneCup Gourmet Coffee Pods
- GloryBrew Compostable Coffee Pods
- Ethical Bean Coffee: Compostable K-Cups
There are others too of course so click here to skip straight to our reviews of the top biodegradable k-cups.
What is clear however is that coffee lovers love the convenience of the Keurig-style coffee maker and it’s not going away any time soon.
Why is that?
There are a few contributing factors that made this a genius idea.
#1 it’s easy
#2 it’s cheap
#3 you don’t have to learn any of the barista science
You don’t really have to think about it. Even though the idea of a perfect cappuccino in the morning is one I think we all share, there is so much equipment involved in bringing the cafe experience home. And the thought of a carafe full of dark french pressed coffee is mouthwatering, there is a chemistry to it that a lot of people just don’t want to mess with.
With the K-cup you just pop the pod into the machine, clamp the top, push the button and voila!
It seems fool proof until you think of the environmental and health repercussions.
Fatal Flaws
John Sylvan, the creator of the Keurig system, admittedly regrets making the product.
He states in an interview that he never thought that it would become a household name.
As of 2014, there were enough leftover pod containers to circle the earth 10+ times. We’re talking billions of plastic exoskeletons piling up in landfills all over America. This is around the same time that the petition and #killthekcup arose among environmental activist circles.
Along with the green groups, holistic practitioners across the country began to question the safety of the product itself. Hot plastic is usually a bad thing. Plastic boosts estrogen levels and is usually partnered with several carcinogens. And then you have the lids which are made of aluminum foil. It’s been proven that prolonged exposure, say 2-3 times a day, can lead to neurodegenerative disease, changes in behavior (like developing anxiety or depression,) inflammatory gut issues and even auto-immune disease.
I think we can all agree that this is no bueno.
The researchers who are speaking out have opened up the eyes of a lot of Americans. The stock market value of the Keurig has dipped substantially.
Because of all the spotlight, the company pledged to have the crises fixed with new design by 2020, but it’s looking pretty rough.
“The plastic is a specialized plastic made of four different layers.” Sylvan expressed, as he stated his doubts that they could ever come up with a fully recyclable version of his product.
However, I wouldn’t toss out your rig just yet!
These are the Best Biodegradable K Cups on the Market Today… Compostable and Environmentally Friendly
The coffee community has heard our cries for safe, sustainable single-serve coffee.
There are companies that are putting the brain and the elbow grease in to offer these products to us.
Words like biodegradable, compostable, organic and responsibly sourced have become big topics among the coffee elite.
What is best for the company?
The farmers?
The customers?
These few coffee companies have found a way to use plant based, or recyclable materials. So that almost nothing goes to waste and will eventually give right back to the farming community that brought us the beans in the first place.
Fair warning here: most of the pods on the market are not 100% biodegradable.
But stick with me and we will look at the best and most beneficial of the environmentally conscious k-cups available.
San Francisco Bay Gourmet Coffee: OneCup
Launched in late 2017, the San Francisco Bay OneCup is:
-100% certified compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute
-Lid: wood pulp
-Ring: plant products
-Filter: plant products
-Packaging “Mother Bag”: paper and wood pulp
-“Good Plastic”: made of Polylactic Acid, biodegradable pliable plastic made up of plant based products, like corn starch, cassava roots, chips or starch, or sugarcane.
Taste Test
The reviews online could NOT be better.
Fans of the product rave about the Mother Bag because it keeps the coffee grounds nice and fresh. Not as pretty as the classic k-cup carousel, but the absence of plastic leaves your cup of coffee tasting like it was made in a pot.
Some even say it tastes like it was poured straight from a French Press!
The mesh filter leaves that beautiful silt that French Press lovers so adore.
One mention-worthy caution to this almost flawless product: Do not throw it into your own bokaski bin or compost heap.
-They are not certified for at home composting…YET. They’re working on it.
-According to their site, “Our pods will break down in the trash but do not do so in the required amount of days to be certified.”
-You must bring your used pods to a community composter. Click here to find the one closest to you.
An amazing pro is that this spearhead company didn’t stop at providing a revolutionary product, they gave us an array of roasts to choose from.
Check out the different varieties of SF Bay Coffee OneCup pods here!
Glorybrew Pods for Keurig Pod-Style Machines
This company, “created in cooperation with BPI®* and PURPOD100™. ”
-100% compostable
-compatible with the newest Keurigs
-breaks down completely into soil in 7 weeks
-ring: coffee chaff
-filter: bio-based products
-coffee is certified by: Rainforest Alliance™
Taste Test
The yays have it! The people LOVE this coffee. Their dark roasts have some of the best compliments, likening them to the same quality of artisan coffee shops.
They only have 3 roasts available, but you can order an assortment.
Why wait? Click through to see all Glorybrew compostable K-cups before you place your order!
Cameron’s Coffee EcoPods
With their slogan, “Better Taste, Less Waste” Cameron’s Coffee has succeeded in bringing their loyal clientele all flavor without the guilt since 2012.
-Lid: paper
-Ring: corn, beets, and wood
-Filter: plant-based
Big pro here is that the company states that their products are compostable AT HOME. Click here to learn more about how to start this process in your own back yard.
Taste Test
The reviews rave about this company’s smooth, rich flavors.
The downer is that they do not come in a container that keeps the product fresh. So most people resort to using plastic baggies, which is worrisome if you were trying to stay as environmentally friendly as possible. (The alternative would be to use an air tight glass jar.)
They have a variety of different roasts and blends available. Ranging from intense dark roasts to flavored coffees like, “chocolate caramel brownie.”
Find your favorite flavors of Cameron’s Coffee pods here.
Here are Some More Biodegradable Options
The three companies featured above are just a few options in this space. Here are a few more brands that make biodegradable, compostable, and otherwise earth friendly k cups.
- Boyd’s Hi Rev Coffee Pods
- Oakland Coffee Works Single Serve Pods
- Faro Roasting Houses Rainforest Alliance Compostable K Cups
See folks? It is absolutely possible to be smart and sustainable without sacrificing your preferences.
If you’re ready to take your first step into the world of single serve, here are a few different coffee machines.
And don’t forget descaler! you’ll need that after a few months of having your mug full at the push of a button.
These Biodegradable K-Cups Are The Best: Compostable With Less Plastic
Keurig coffee has been the craze since the 1990s. It picked up in 2006 and by 2013, Green Mountain Roasters has sold over $827 million worth of brewers and accessories.
Planning to own a Keurig machine too? To help you decide, here are some pros and cons of using a Keurig brewer.
Pros:
- Brewed coffee in an instant, not your 3-in-1 type
- Hundreds of flavors to choose from, hazelnut, roasted almond, latte, caramel and more
- Not limited to coffee, can make hot tea, cold tea and iced coffee (when brewed over ice), lemonade, cappuccinos, lattes, hot chocolate and more
- Different sizes to choose from, single serve 4 oz to travel size mugs
- Make coffee on the go
- No need to program, make coffee in an instant even if you have just woken up
- Pre-measured coffee, means no mess and no coffee wasted
- You can choose your heat and strength settings
- Instant water heating system
- Quality coffee, inexpensive brew
- There is a reusable filter you can buy that you can also use with regular coffee
- Has most options as far as machines and settings over any pod brewer
- Sealed pods to ensure freshness and quality
- The new VUE cups are recyclable
- Simple to use, even your kids can make their own coffee or hot drinks
Cons:
- Pods can be expensive
- Keurig is expensive
- Can only make a single serve coffee, for most Keurig models
- Lower-end Keurig models do not offer many features such as brew strength, heat strength and they have smaller water reservoirs
- Only the new models have the right settings to make iced drinks, the other models it can be done with but the flavor will not be the same
- Only the VUE can make latte and cappuccino, but are nothing like a real espresso machine
- K-cups are not recyclable
Make sure to see this post for my take on the best Keurig coffee makers you can buy today.
K-cups and the Environment
K-cups may have been the icon of convenience in the coffee brewing industry. But alongside its success, there is a dark side that lurks in its tracks. Mountains of unrecyclable waste caught the attention of environmentalists. In fact, its creator, John Sylvan, estimated that one K-cup machine creates 10 times more waste than a traditional drip machine.
From the 1990s to 2013, most of the K-cups are non-recyclable. More than 10 billion K-cups had been sold at about 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per K-cup or over 67 million gallons of waste coffee grounds. It’s a lot of waste for valuable compost.
However, all is not lost. There are now recyclable K-cups that you can choose from.
These are the Best Biodegradable K-cups Right Now
Here are the best recyclable K-cups available in the market today.
EKOCUps Organic Coffee
This brand offers 100% organic coffee in 40 count packs. It features fair trade coffee with a strong flavor and sweet, smooth finish. It is recyclable and fits any Keurig machines.
Best features:
- It has 13 grams of coffee for every K-cup, about 30% more than common single serve cups
- Enjoy a richer, creamier coffee taste and flavor
- It is USDA certified, Fair Trade seal and Organic Coffee certification, this is good for vegan, lactose intolerant
- It uses cool-peel-recycle technology. This allows for easy recycling after the brewing process.
- Compatible with Keurig K-cup brewer and other single serve coffee make except for Keurig VUE.
Death Wish Coffee
This popular artisan brand offers a special 2 pack of Java single serve capsules. If you love delicious and super strong coffee, this is for you.
Best features:
- Compatible with Keurig 2.0 brewers
- Hand-picked coffee beans to provide ultra strong coffee
- Fair Trade and USDA certified coffee beans
Kona Bean Co.
This prides authentic Kona region coffee, arguably the best coffee in the world.
Best features:
- Authentic, certified 100% Kona coffee from the Kona coffee region of big island Hawaii
- Compatible with all Keurig coffee brewers
- Direct trade coffee
Rasta Bean
Hailed from the beautiful South American island of Jamaica, the Rasta Bean prides its harvest from the majestic hills of the Blue Mountains. It is one of the most delicious coffee known to the world.
Best features:
- 100% Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee
- Compatible with Keurig K-cup brewers
- Kosher certified
- Fair Trade Organic seal
People’s Organic Coffee
Known for their artisan coffee and fair trade support.
Best features:
- 100% Fair Trade and USDA Organic certified
- Single serve in recyclable cups
- Shade grown and hand picked
- Medium roast with decadent flavor
Real Good Coffee
Features Sumatran coffee with fruity and herbal hints. An invigorating brew perfect for early morning drink.
Best features:
- USDA certified organic, dark roast coffee for Keurig K-cups
- Compatible with Keurig and other single serve brewers
While these K-cups are recyclable, some environmentalists still argue that some K-cups are not 100% recyclable. Since these are a tad expensive than regular, non-recyclable K-cups, are there ways to make K-cups more environment-friendly?
Single-Serve Alternatives for a Better Environment
If you want to use single serve brewers but worry about the environment, you can check out these suggestions from Sustainable America.
- Use reusable filters.Keurig’s come with reusable filters. You can opt to use this instead of getting a new K-cup all the time. However, you can only use this for older models. Keurig 2.0 models do not have these features. You can check out EkoBrew and see if it is compatible with your existing machine.
- Use biodegradable and compostable K-cups.The Rogers Company came up with OneCup, a K-cup alternative made of 97% biodegradable materials. Canada’s Canterburry Coffee offers compostable K-cups.
- Coffee PodsNew Hampshire Coffee has started using 100% compostable coffee pods that work well with their machines.
How to Recycle Used Coffee Grounds
It can be a mess to remove the used coffee grounds from a K-cup, but it’s worth the effort. Not only will your help reduce waste, your home and your garden will also benefit from this added treat.
- Natural pesticide. Used coffee grounds are effective plant pest repellents. Ants, snails and slugs destroy the natural ecosystem. Not to mention they feed on your plants. If you want to keep these pests at bay, sprinkle used coffee grounds on the soil around your plants.
- Organic fertilizer. Used coffee grounds are have neutral pH, compared to fresh coffee grounds. After brewing, the acids and oils are extracted from the coffee beans. As such, used grounds have little acid or almost neutral. When mixed with soil, it adds balance to the natural pH level of the soil. Mix your old grounds with dead grass clippings, brown leaves, or dry straw to neutralize some of the acidity, the spread them around your plants.
- Free compost. If you have no immediate plans to use your coffee ground for gardening, you can add it to your compost pit. Used coffee grounds have a lot of “green” matter that is beneficial in promoting a healthy soil. It adds nitrogen to the soil, too. Composting coffee grounds is as easy as throwing the used coffee grounds onto your compost pile. Used coffee filters can be composted as well.
- Natural home deodorizer. Place used coffee grounds in a jar and put it inside your refrigerator. It can absorb food odor that permeates the inside of your fridge. Let it sit for two weeks before replacing it.
- Skin exfoliator. The rough and coarse texture of coffee grounds are effective for exfoliating the skin. Add used grounds to a bit of warm water or your favorite all-natural oil like coconut oil. Rub the mixture on your body and gently exfoliate. Wash with warm water. Since you have used organic coffee grounds, it may still retain some antioxidants that will beneficial for your skin.
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