Talk about a simple way to help. Replace your paper coffee filters with a permanent filter. Considering landfills are approximately 40% paper, we can help reduce that volume by not purchasing paper filters. Chlorine bleach, which releases toxic dioxins into the environment, is used in the manufacture of white coffee filters so by making the switch we are helping the environment on two fronts.
There is some debate in the coffee connoisseur community about the taste of coffee when a permanent filter is used. I personally think a gold filter makes the coffee taste better although some people complain about too much sediment leaking through. If sediment is a deal killer for you, another green option is to use a French press which does not use a filter at all. Not only does a French Press not use paper filters but it also doesn’t use electricity. One concern with a French Press, however, is that oil on ground coffee beans has been linked to increased levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. French Press coffee makers do not filter out the oil at all. Paper filters in drip coffee makers remove most of the oil but metal filters are not as thorough.
So what is the solution? Hemp. I know it sounds a little green extreme but hemp cloth coffee filters effectively strain out coffee bean oil and since they are washable are great for the environment. The tightly woven hemp fabric produces a slower and finer filtration than paper thereby producing a stronger, richer cup of coffee. One filter will last for many years and will pay for itself within 3-4 months.
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:48 am
It would be a better world and a healthier one if we all did this. I stopped eating anything that has a face many years ago. Animals are our friends - would you eat your frineds?