Keepcup & Coffee on the brain
My day doesn’t start until coffee.
It is my life force, my blood. Coffee sets my day to meet pressing deadlines and hit my goals. It is the perfect libation for morning exchanges with my tribe.
Year round I crave different variations from nutty espresso shots, foamy cappuccinos, sweet pumpkin spice latte’s, and peppermint mochas.
Summer heat calls for iced java.
Chilly winter days are no match for this cuppa of comfort. I’m not the only one either, 50% of Americans over the age of 18 years (that is 150 million) drink coffee every day. But I digress. This is not a musing about how delicious coffee is.
Disposable cups litter my coffee experience. Specifically the plastic in the cup invades my caffeine daydream.
Here are the facts
Disposable coffee cup waste is an issue that is often overlooked.
So many to-go cups are piling up in the environment!
In the United States alone, 400 million cups of coffee are consumed per day. About 16 billion disposable coffee cups are used each year.
Very few waste recycling centers can recycle all these cups. They need to be heat and leak proof ergo the paper with a plastic lining.
Due to these components disposable cups are very hard to repurpose.
Still major coffee chains promote these cups as recyclable. Consumers with good intentions, toss the cups in the recycle bin.
In reality, we have been building mountains of cups in the landfill.
Recyclable cup—not really!
A lot of companies pride themselves on using recyclable take away cups. Yet fail at actually recycling them.
Only about 1% of disposable cups are recycled.
The material is paper that is bonded to plastic, and cannot be processed at a run-of-the-mill recycling center. Contamination by drink liquids is another factor to contend with.
Recycled materials often get rejected because they cannot be reconstituted into a sanitary product.
What about compostable cups?
Compostable cups are a great answer, IF they are being disposed of properly.
However, many wind up getting sorted into the wrong bin.
A compostable cup is designed to breakdown in the environment.
This material will also contaminate the recyclables. Again, the recyclable material may be rejected and pushed to the landfill.
A compostable cup in the landfill will compost but ideally those materials are meant for a higher purpose.
Zero-Waste Daily Grind
Bottom line coffee is a wonderful drink and our caffeine addiction does not require a single-use plastic container.
The best way to decrease disposable cup waste is to halt use and switch to a reusable cup.
An eco-friendly coffee cup is empowering and just might get you a free coffee! Fortunately, many companies are rising to the plastic crisis, making to-go coffee zero-waste.
Which is the best?
Keepcup is a barista standard, sustainable, to-go cup.
Insert this reusable cup for all your coffee-on-the-go needs. It is a fun way to drink coffee and show you care for the world.
The company has a nature-first mentality while creating a fully customizable drinking cup. There are so many varieties to choose from. You are sure to make even the snobbiest of coffee connoisseurs go green.
The Biz
It all came about in 2007, when founders Jamie and Abigail Forsyth opened a café.
They witnessed intensifying disposable cup waste in their shop. After realizing the plastic in 20 disposable coffee cups could be used for 1 reusable cup, the company start a plan into action to reduce waste.
Together they designed the refillable Keepcup. It is a cup for the customer, the barista, and the earth.
Fast-forward to now and they have a thriving global business with major shipping hubs in Australia, the UK, and the USA.
The Keepcup way
Reducing their carbon footprint is all in the mission.
The plastics and silicone used are BPA/BPS free. The website operates with full disclosure of all their chosen materials.
Packaging materials are made from recycled cardboard and paper. Solar power runs their Australian office, and as of 2019, the UK office.
The company LOVES when new customers purchase products from local suppliers to minimize the environmental woes of shipping.
Rave Review
These travel cups are amazing.
I chose the “Roast” glass Keepcup to curtail my disposable cup use.
It has been such a handy thing for my busy day. It is made of tempered clear glass, with an espresso colored lid and a cream-colored grip band.
I went with glass because it is easier to clean and it is less plastic in my life. Plus it has durability that is built to last. If you explore the shop they have a plethora of colors and styles to fit you.
Grande Vanilla Latte for…
With this cup in tow there is no guessing what size coffee I am buying. Likewise, barista’s never have to adjust the amount they are pouring.
Keepcup sizing mirrors common cup sizes ranging from espresso cups to bubble teas.
On the website they have a size guide for major chains so you know which cup to pick.
Pop the top and it is ready to go.
The lid comes off with such ease. No endless twisting or sticky buttons!
What I hear most is how seamless it is for barista’s to make drinks.
Keepcup is made to mimic the paper cup and fit under coffee machines. They can steam milk, make shots, stir, spoon, grip, and/or pour all without missing a beat.
There are fill lines molded inside the cup so your barista can stay in rhythm with the recipes.
What a relief when they are knee deep in orders.
Press that lid back on and I am out the door. For my iced or smoothie days I plug a reusable straw into the hole and sip away.
The whole experience is such a treat!
Reuse again and again and again
Cleaning has been a breeze.
Usually I rinse or hand-wash it after a coffee run.
When it is time for a deep clean Keepcup is safe to go in the dishwasher. Per their cleaning instructions, I take off the lid/plastic band and put everything on the top rack. If the grip or the lid ever wears out, replacement parts are readily available.
Bonus! Discounts! No Tax!
The best part of choosing to use a sustainable Keep cup is the markdown. Many coffee shops offer discounts or extra points for bringing a refillable cup.
Starbucks has offered a discount since opening. Sadly only 1.8%, of all their drinks sold are in a reusable cup. Some companies are beginning to charge a cup tax or fee.
Dodge that with a Keepcup!
Better for Everyone
My Keep cup runneth over with green freedom and yours can too.
This company has made a product with the intent to reinstitute the idea of smart plastic use.
Our world is teeming with single-use plastics.
One person can do so much by choosing the zero-waste path. Commit to switching to an environmentally responsible coffee habit.
Simply reduce the amount of disposable cups coming into your life.
Bring a cup with you.
