| After water, coffee is America's most popular beverage. For good reason. Coffee elevates our mood and motivation, while blocking the chemical signals that make us feel tired. It's associated with a lower risk of head and neck cancer, Type 2 diabetes and Parkinson's disease. Caffeinated brew even forges community: Kings feared the politics fomenting in coffeehouses. What's less wonderful is what's left behind: more than 10 billion paper and plastic cups each year, mountains of broken equipment, and tons of other waste. That new $50 drip coffee maker on your counter? Destined for the landfill after a few years of dispensing mediocre coffee. So I went in search of a better way: Buy it for life. For those unfamiliar with the BIFL movement, it's a grassroots rebellion against a culture and an economy designed to be disposable. Adherents look for items that will stand the test of time, even if they cost more up-front. Coffee needs a BIFL makeover. We're wasting good money, and beans, on shoddy equipment. When coffee makers don't brew properly, people dump in more coffee to compensate — enough beans to make about 20 cups of coffee per month, one expert estimated. For this week's Climate Coach column, I wrote about which coffee makers can help you save money, reduce waste and brew better. Write me with your questions at climatecoach@washpost.com. I read all your emails. |
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