Coffee– ground or instant: what is more
sustainable?
15th April, 2021 12.00pm GMT
AUTHOR______________________
Since coffee cultivation began in the 15th century on the Arabian Miss Freya E Patten, University Stu-
Penisula, a cup of coffee in the morning has routine for millions dent, Southampton
on this planet, essential for us to wake up and start the day. In
Europe, it was said to be the “bitter invention of Satan” due to its
bitter taste causing fear and suspicion. Research has shown how DISCLOSURE___________________
much of an impact the production of coffee has on our planet All research included in this article is
due to emissions and waste products. But some forms of coffee from secondary data sites, a full
are more sustainable than others - if people wish to continue reference list is supplied.
drinking this popular morning staple, what is the most sustaina- Freya is an unpaid member of The
ble option. Conversation. She holds funding
from Student Finance UK in order to
Due to coffee’s intensive production and preparation, the Life- continue her degree.
Cycle Assessment calculates coffee’s footprint as ‘high’. With de-
forestation and poor land management occurring within cultiva- PARTNERS____________________
tion and harvesting stages, the environmental impacts start ear-
ly on. Traditionally, coffee was produced under canopied trees
which provided valuable habitats for animals and topsoil erosion
prevention. However with increased demand, sun cultivation is University of Southampton provided
now widely practiced, which has increased deforestation, water educational purposes in order for
pollution, soil degradation and loss of habitats leading to extinc- this specific The Conversation UK
tion. It is no surprise that 37 of the 50 countries which have the piece.
highest deforestation rates are also the top coffee producers.
The energy needed to produce coffee beans is vast, and this is
not even taking into account the energy required to make the
drink. The addition of sugar and milk also increases the environ-
mental impacts drastically. WWF calculated that it takes 200 li-
tres of water to produce coffee, milk, sugar, and the cup- for just
one regular latte. There is also the waste of coffee to consider.
The process of separating the commercial product from the cof-
fee cherries generates enormous amounts of waste materials,
which are thrown away to landfills.
At first glance, instant coffee seems likely to be the least sustain-
able option. With more processing involved in its production, it
seems plausible to assume that the energy used for its produc-
tion is higher than ground coffee. Instant coffee is made from
low quality Robusta beans which are roasted and then finely
ground into a powder, followed by brewing and stripping of wa-
ter, leaving an extract. This dehydration process, either with
freezing or spraying, uses an enormous amount of energy due to
the heat needed and the chilling in later stages. Instant coffee is
also more likely to require larger and less sustainable packaging,
with glass being used to hold the content. Glass is heavy...
sustainable?
15th April, 2021 12.00pm GMT
AUTHOR______________________
Since coffee cultivation began in the 15th century on the Arabian Miss Freya E Patten, University Stu-
Penisula, a cup of coffee in the morning has routine for millions dent, Southampton
on this planet, essential for us to wake up and start the day. In
Europe, it was said to be the “bitter invention of Satan” due to its
bitter taste causing fear and suspicion. Research has shown how DISCLOSURE___________________
much of an impact the production of coffee has on our planet All research included in this article is
due to emissions and waste products. But some forms of coffee from secondary data sites, a full
are more sustainable than others - if people wish to continue reference list is supplied.
drinking this popular morning staple, what is the most sustaina- Freya is an unpaid member of The
ble option. Conversation. She holds funding
from Student Finance UK in order to
Due to coffee’s intensive production and preparation, the Life- continue her degree.
Cycle Assessment calculates coffee’s footprint as ‘high’. With de-
forestation and poor land management occurring within cultiva- PARTNERS____________________
tion and harvesting stages, the environmental impacts start ear-
ly on. Traditionally, coffee was produced under canopied trees
which provided valuable habitats for animals and topsoil erosion
prevention. However with increased demand, sun cultivation is University of Southampton provided
now widely practiced, which has increased deforestation, water educational purposes in order for
pollution, soil degradation and loss of habitats leading to extinc- this specific The Conversation UK
tion. It is no surprise that 37 of the 50 countries which have the piece.
highest deforestation rates are also the top coffee producers.
The energy needed to produce coffee beans is vast, and this is
not even taking into account the energy required to make the
drink. The addition of sugar and milk also increases the environ-
mental impacts drastically. WWF calculated that it takes 200 li-
tres of water to produce coffee, milk, sugar, and the cup- for just
one regular latte. There is also the waste of coffee to consider.
The process of separating the commercial product from the cof-
fee cherries generates enormous amounts of waste materials,
which are thrown away to landfills.
At first glance, instant coffee seems likely to be the least sustain-
able option. With more processing involved in its production, it
seems plausible to assume that the energy used for its produc-
tion is higher than ground coffee. Instant coffee is made from
low quality Robusta beans which are roasted and then finely
ground into a powder, followed by brewing and stripping of wa-
ter, leaving an extract. This dehydration process, either with
freezing or spraying, uses an enormous amount of energy due to
the heat needed and the chilling in later stages. Instant coffee is
also more likely to require larger and less sustainable packaging,
with glass being used to hold the content. Glass is heavy...
