In honor of Earth Day, April 22, we're taking a look at easy ways to green up your coffee routine. Making Earth-friendly espresso requires a little creativity, check out our take on it.

Brew Smart
Paper filters turn into trash with every brew cycle; reduce your carbon footprint with reusable filters or if you indulge in single-serve coffee, consider a reusable cup/capsule, like the Keurig My K-Cup. Looking to unplug? Go with a French Press, Handpresso, or manual espresso machine.

Cup Consciousness
Instead of using a disposable cup, opt for nice mugs and cups that you'll love using over again. For coffee on the go, choose a travel mug that won't end up in the landfill long after your drink's gone.

Put Your Grounds into the Ground
Make free compost with every cup! Spent grounds can deter pests, encourage worms, and nourish your garden. It'll be literally going green in no time!

Got a green coffee routine you'd like to share? Post your eco-friendly tricks here!

Going green may seem complicated, but you can start saving the planet first thing in the morning, just by making a few simple changes to your java routine.

Many coffee houses across the country are encouraging caffeine junkies to bring their own mug and save some change. If you bring your own mug to your local café, you may be able to keep the change on your purchase.

Want to keep your hands from feeling the burn while drinking your coffee? There are now-earth friendly alternatives to the tried and true cardboard coffee sleeve. The EcoSleeve is an alternative made from 100% biodegradable and recyclable materials. These cost effective and durable sleeves can be purchased for home or business use here.

If you want to go green while brewing your own coffee at home, a quick change will help save Mother Earth. Purchase wooden coffee stirrers that are biodegradable instead of plastic ones. If you want to eliminate coffee clutter in landfills all together, pour your cream and sugar into your mug first. The hot tea or coffee will automatically mix with your cream and sugar--no stirring required.

If you already have a green thumb, go green with your gardening habits. Don't throw your used coffee grounds in the trash, mix them into your potting soil to act as a fertilizer and keep unwanted pests away.

With just a few small changes you can enjoy your cup o'Joe and join the go green movement as well.

Lori
Customer Service Department

In a world trying to go green, from electric cars to eco-friendly fashion, brothers Dave and Mike Hartkop are making their mark with a kitchen staple. In 2004, the siblings created a solar-powered coffee roaster--made from an old satellite dish, mirrors, and a broccoli steamer. Their vision has since grown into Solar Roast Coffee, the only "commercial solar-thermal coffee roaster in the world"--replacing gas burners normally found in traditional roasters with a large solar reflector, capable of generating 900 degree Fahrenheit temps to bake the beans. The resulting coffee is carbon neutral, 100% USDA Certified Organic, and eco-friendly. Solar Roast Coffee currently has 12 different kinds of coffee--ranging from the ever-popular Sumatra to the exotic Bolivia Organic.

Given that the coffee culture is steeped in tradition...Are the rituals of roasting too sacred to mess with or are you willing to give Solar Roast Coffee a test sip?

Tho
Writing Department