How to Be a Better Coffee Drinker

Coffee is amazing! I mean, whoever even thought of it? Can you imagine the initial response?

Hi, thanks for coming, can I get you something to drink?

Ooh, yes please, I'm parched! What have you got?

Well, I found these little green beans, so I cooked them up until they turned black and then I smashed them into tiny pieces and mixed in some hot water, want one?

Erm... nah, I'll just have tea, thanks.

"Decaf only works if you throw it at people"

But, evidently the idea caught on eventually, thank goodness! Because now, in the UK alone we drink around 95 million cups of it per day. We never have to go to far to get our caffeine fix either; with over 22,000 coffee shops nationwide; a figure expected to increase by nearly 50% over the next five years, according to research by Allegra World Coffee Portal.

So, what is the problem? Disposable cups is the problem! They may look harmless but the reality is that we use around 7 million of them every day and we are throwing away 2.5 billion of them a year and contrary to popular belief, less than 1% of them are recycled! 

There are in fact, only three centres in the UK where they can be recycled due to the polyethylene lining that makes them waterproof. 

"Coffee helps me maintain my 'never killed anyone' streak"

Our own government have refused to take action, rejecting recent proposals by the Environmental Audit Committee, for a "latte levy" suggesting a 25p charge for disposable cup coffee sales, and instead announced they are "pleased" with the voluntary efforts already being made by retailers: 

Coffee chains Costa and Starbucks already offer a 25p discount incentive for customers who bring their own cup, and Pret a Manger have doubled theirs to 50p.

Boston Tea Party will become the first chain to ban disposable cups altogether, from June 1st this year.

Waitrose supermarket have also pledged to stop using them by Autumn.

Lot's of independent coffee shops are setting an example too, with various incentives or outright bans.

"The world begins to change through the eyes of a cup of coffee" (Donna A Favor)

So, what can we do? Be The Change! Bring your own cup, ask for a discount, spread the word! Check out some of the many reusable cups available to buy.
We can have our coffee and drink it too, without  destroying the planet!