Environmental Impact of Nespresso Capsules
Coffee is a big consumer favourite and therefore big business, which equals profit. Made my numerous firms, including Tassimo, Nestlé, Keurig and others, single—serving, single-use coffee pods or capsules are designed to fit brewing machines, usually matching brand of machine to brand of pod; when these units were introduced to the coffee-drinking planet, there was public outrage over the amount of waste they created.
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The plethora of waste generated daily across the globe by the 30-40% of households that use this single-shot method of brewing coffee is thought to be 29,000 units dropped in landfill site per minute.
Coffee of any description is hardly eco friendly. For instance, the effects of climate change on traditional coffee-growing regions in Africa and South America, assuming the changes continue apace, will see far fewer areas still able to support coffee plantations by the year 2100.
The amount of water and fertilizers, creating methane gas, used in growing enough coffee to knock the sleepyheads awake is staggering. But, perhaps surprisingly, single-shot pods and their creation of garbage are not the worst offenders; while instant coffee creates the least amount of negative environmental impact, filter or drip coffee is the worst. Pods land in the middle, but much can be done to improve their lot in the waste stream.
Oddly, then, the environmental impact of Nespresso capsules is not as bad as consumers might imagine because significantly less water and energy is used in brewing one cup than an entire pot which often goes to waste. Think of that person who boils a full kettle of water to make one cup of tea... Irritating! And wasteful.
What is crucial is the capsules or pods themselves, not so much the single-shot coffee. Throw-away plastic pods last years, maybe decades, in landfill. Enter the reusable pod. It had to happen.
How to Use Reusable Nespresso Capsules
First, be sure to allow about 30 seconds more time than it would have taken to use an old-style disposable capsule. It’s that fast and easy, and not much different from the old, wasteful, costly way.
- 1Fill your Reusable Nespresso Capsule with your choice of ground coffee.
- 2Secure the lid on the capsule; lids should be made of either silicone, stainless steel or aluminum
- 3Set the capsule in position in the brewing machine and turn the unit on.
Simple and quick. One of the best reviewed pods is the SealPod Reusable Nespresso Capsules; they run from about $30-$60 USD and if you’re a frequent imbiber of coffee it will pay for itself in no time! The stainless steel lasts virtually forever.
How to Fill Reusable Nespresso Capsules
The formula is very much up to individual taste. The ground coffee packaging will normally suggest the amount of coffee to use, but it’s easy (far more so than the pre-measured pods that don’t allow for adjusting according to personal taste preference). Follow the basic directions for your first cup and use more or less to taste the next time. Have your java your way!
Benefits of SealPod Reusable Nespresso Capsules Versus Others
Crucial is to make it clear that while SealPod Reusable Nespresso Capsules work with most espresso machines, the company is not in any way affiliated with a coffee producer or coffee machine manufacturer. It is independent.
SealPod is moderately priced, but with careful attention paid to the quality of the product. Other cheaper units offer less durable materials, and sometimes their lids are more expensive. Other reusable capsules we looked at tended to be priced higher to somehow garner a loftier image, but were of no better quality, ease of use or longevity.
Compatible with most popular espresso machines, SealPod Reusable Nespresso Capsules make coffee-making easy and cost-effective. Not all reusable capsule makers have such a wide range of compatibility.
Other reusable pods may be made from plastic or similar materials, but SealPod’s stainless steel is the best, most durable capsule available.
What Others Say
SealPod is among the most popular reusable capsules, and is available through local distributors (conveniently, in your monetary unit and language), directly from the SealPod website, or through Amazon. Consumers love the lack of waste, the personalized strength of their espresso, and the huge savings.
“Easy to use and clean,” says one coffee fan who switched permanently to SealPod after trying a few other brands. Another conscientious consumer said, “I like that it’s sustainable and safer to use.”
The specific SealPod brand has ardent devotees: “I finally found SealPod and I won’t look back.” “The crema is good. You need to adjust the grind and type of coffee to get a good shot of espresso to your liking.”
Cost is a massive factor; the sums charged in grocery stores for the disposable capsules are simply outrageous and contribute to the waster steam. People love SealPod Reusable Nespresso Capsules because: “A perfect alternative to those terribly expensive capsules,” and “Huge cost savings! I love them!”
But if SealPod Reusable Nespresso Capsules are going to help reduce the environmental impact of single-shot coffee pods, the humans that drink the coffee must commit to the reusing and recycling process, and never revert to the old toss-away pods.