8 Zero Waste Coffee Products

Are you a coffee drinker? Do you need a nice, hot cup of coffee each morning before you can start your day? If you’re like a lot of people, you get that coffee on the go from a coffee shop, be it Dunkin, Starbucks or something local. Unfortunately, the single-use plastic cups they give you won’t be recycled and will end up in a landfill. Billions of these cups get thrown away each year. Even if you brew a cup of coffee at home, the single-use filters and pods add up. Thankfully, there are lots of zero waste coffee options out there. If you’re an avid coffee drinker who wants to live more sustainably, here’s my curated list of zero waste coffee products you need ASAP.

FYI, this is a guest post written by Sydney Montagna, a zero waste advocate and aspiring writer. This post contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase one of these items I will make a very small commission at no extra charge to you. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

8 Zero Waste Coffee Products

Why switch to zero waste coffee products?

One of the most popular single-use products purchased are disposable cups. Whether you’re stopping at Starbucks for a warm cup of coffee or Jamba Juice for a cold smoothie, you’ll be given the same thing every time – a plastic cup. Over 16 billion disposable coffee cups are used each year. They’re usually coated with plastic to laminate the inside and use plastic lids.

Also, more than 14 million US tons of polystyrene (plastic foam) are produced each year. Americans alone throw away around 25 billion Styrofoam cups every year. These numbers only continue to climb as people become more and more dependent on these single-use items to get them through the day.

Some people justify using plastic cups because they believe it’ll be recycled. But in reality, only 9% of plastic actually gets recycled. More than 99.75% of disposable cups don’t get recycled.

Since the first home Keurig machine was invented, K-cups have become an essential in many homes. They’re convenient, but extremely wasteful. About 13 billion K-cups are tossed in landfills each year!

Thankfully, there are lots of waste-free options for coffee lovers out there. Here are some of my favorite brands and products: I’ve gone ahead and listed off their features, but it’s not an exhaustive list. Be sure to check them out for more details!

1. Reusable Coffee Filter

Did you know that you can replace disposable paper coffee filters with a reusable one instead? CoffeeSock created a reusable coffee filter that is made from durable organic cotton that’s GOTS certified and handmade in the USA. Paper filters tend to be lined with pesticides, chemicals and heavy metals. This reusable filter won’t expose you to any of that, all while providing a robust, crisp, and flavorful profile.

Each pack lasts about one year and replaces approximately 50 paper filters! The cotton is colored with dyes that bind cotton molecules, meaning no leaching into your drink. CoffeeSock is a family business where everything is handmade in Texas. They donate at least 1% of their profits to 1% for the Planet, which helped connect them to high-impact environmental nonprofits across the globe. Every filter is shipped in plastic-free, recyclable packaging.

2. KeepCup

If you’ve been feeling guilty about all the single-use coffee cups you’ve been buying, KeepCup has you covered from here on out. These handy cups are made from glass, reusable plastic and a natural cork band. Other than coffee, these cups can also be used for tea, matcha or other on-the-go needs. Also, the lid is splash-proof and recyclable: Drink with it on or off!

3. Handcrafted Coffee Scoop

On today’s episode of items you didn’t know you needed, this handcrafted coffee scoop is perfect for scooping up coffee grinds, coffee beans, or other dry foods in the kitchen. It’s made from untreated beechwood, so there are zero harmful chemicals. Redecker, a family business, make all their items by hand and sustainably harvest the wood themselves.

Since these are made from wood, they aren’t dishwasher safe. Wash by hand with warm water and mild soap. All shipping packaging is plastic free and recyclable. At the end of it’s life, you can just toss the scoop into your compost.

4. Klean Kanteen Thermos

If you want to try to avoid using single-use coffee cups, this insulated TKPro thermos is a fun and simple way to go. It’s entirely made of stainless steel with a double-wall insulated cup and 360 degree pour-through technology. It’ll keep your coffee hot (or cold, if preferred), regardless where you take it.

Every thermos was made with sustainable manufacturing- meaning some or all of the energy used to make this product is produced via renewable energy sources. This can include solar, wind, or hydropower energy. Also, it’s made with a leakproof lid and food grade silicone.

With every purchase Klean Kanteen donates at least 1% of their profits to 1% for the Planet. The product and packaging is completely plastic-free, BPA free and recyclable.

5. Pour-Over Coffee Maker

Do you want authentic, fragrant, crisp coffee while also helping the planet? Sure you do! This pour-over coffee maker is a unique coffee machine that’ll give you home made coffee without all the waste. It’s made from stainless steel and has a paperless mesh filter that’s laser-cut perfectly for your beans. All paper filters do is cost money, strip flavor, create waste and damage the environment. Any excess can be tossed in your compost bin. The glass is heat resistant, so you won’t have to worry about burning yourself from touching it.

You can also use this machine to brew a hot cup of tea! Just place the loose tea in the filter and pour away. This product is totally BPA and plastic-free, as well.

6. French Press Coffee Maker

This French Press coffee maker is a great way to make authentic coffee at home. It’s made from stainless steel and glass – which is able to withstand boiling water without warping or cracking. This French Press also has a 4-level filter that will keep grounds out of your delicious brew. It works perfectly as a coffee press coffee maker, ice coffee press, or a tea press for loose tea.

Each box comes with an instruction guide, explaining the materials and safety standards – which is super handy if you’ve never deal with a French press before. Everything is BPA free and shipped in recyclable packaging.

7. Coffee Canister

 If you’re looking for a safe and easy place to store your coffee beans (hopefully gotten package-free from the bulk bins), this stainless steel coffee canister does the job. It comes with a date tracker on top, so you can set the “best by” date by the month and day. This way, there’s less waste if you know exactly how long the coffee has until it’s expired. If you didn’t know, coffee naturally emits harmful CO2 which needs venting. These zero-BPA canisters have a CO2 release valve to release harmful CO2 but lock out oxygen.

 Also, each canister comes with a stainless steel measuring scoop to help you scoop up the exact amount of coffee (or other dry good) you need. Packaging is also plastic free and recyclable.

8. Ethical Bean Coffee

It can be difficult finding an ethically made, plastic-free coffee brand. Even if a brand claims to be zero waste, they’re often greenwashing their customers. However, these beans from Ethical Bean Coffee are worth bragging about! Their company is completely fair trade certified and they make organic coffee out of their roastery in Vancouver. Their beans are sourced seasonally and placed inside bags that can either be composted, or sent back to Ethical Bean for recycling through their bag return program.

The types of roasts they offer are bold, sweet espresso, classic, decaf, mellow, and super dark. Also, each bag of coffee has a QR code on the back. Simply scan it with your phone’s camera and you’ll be able to learn all about your coffee. Things such as:

• When it was roasted
• What co-op your coffee is from
• How long it was roasted for and at what temperature
• Who roasted it
• How the coffee scores on sweetness, body, acidity and more details

What’s your favorite zero waste coffee product or brand?

Wondering what else you can compost other than coffee grounds? Check out this post about What is Compostable Around the Home.

Enjoyed this post? Be sure to share it! If you like my content, sign up for my newsletter to get notified every time I write a new blog post. To support me even further, please consider buying me a cup of tea to help support my blog.