Längerer Beitrag – schneller Überblick:
Yes, I know. The topic is very controversial. Especially since it goes to the emotional substance: to mine. For years - or is it decades? - I have been addicted to coffee and its lucky charms.
So the topic is more than important: on the one hand in terms of ecological sustainability, on the other because of a personal - yes, let's say it - dependency.
But let's look at the facts first.
Coffee consumption
Coffee is very popular. In Germany, people drink about 168 litres per person per year. That makes coffee the favourite drink. In Switzerland, too, people love coffee. They process about eight kilograms of coffee beans per person every year. That's about as much as three cups a day. Only in Scandinavian countries do people drink even more coffee.
Coffee consumption in the producing countries
In countries that produce coffee, coffee is prepared differently. In Latin America coffee is often filtered, but without a paper filter or machine. Instead, they use a cloth filter that lies on a wooden frame. The coffee goes directly into the cup. This is quick and easy. The coffee is usually drunk black with lots of sugar. The coffee they drink is often not as good as the one that is exported.
In Vietnam, the second largest coffee producer in the world, they also use a filter. But the filter is made of stainless steel. The coffee there is drunk sweet, often with sweetened condensed milk.
In some countries, coffee is more than just a drink. In Colombia coffee is a reason to meet and be together. In Ethiopiawhere coffee comes from, they do a special ceremony for coffee. They boil the coffee three times and serve it with lots of sugar. All people drink it, from children to old people.
In Arab countries coffee is made differently. They use beans that are not so strongly roasted. The coffee is yellow and they often add cardamom. The coffee is drunk with or without sugar, but often with sweets.
Cardamom is also always part of our camper. Every coffee is brewed with cardamom, I love it!
I admit it, sometimes I glance enviously over at my colleague and friend with his portafilter machine. And when we're at his place - which is unfortunately far too rare - I enjoy my espresso from pre-heated little cups with round rims. Hach!
The production
In 2017, we were in Laos and visited the production of various coffee farmers. To be honest, Laos is not the coffee country, but the coffee farmers in the Bolaven Plateau were able to give us a first insight. My goodness, what a job that is!
Most coffee farmers in the world have small farms. They own less than 10 hectares of land; in comparison, Swiss farmers have an average of 17 hectares. The work on the coffee plantations is hard. Because the coffee grows in high, steep areas, a lot has to be done by hand. Despite the hard work, many small farmers can barely make a living. They do not earn enough to cover their costs. Often even children have to work because the families need the money.
The price of coffee on the world market changes greatly. The farmers are at the beginning of the processing chain and are affected by the price fluctuations. They have to accept the prices because they need the money. Their small farms only yield small harvests and therefore little money. Therefore, they cannot invest in larger cultivation areas and remain poor.
The work on coffee plantations can also damage health. The hard work can leave its mark and on many plantations there are no rules for the use of pesticides. Workers are often exposed to the toxic substances without proper protective clothing. The environment around the plantations also suffers from the pesticides.
We have a lot of information in the Eden Project a huge art garden project in Cornwall.
Ecological consumption in coffee production
Coffee production consumes a Amount of water. It is estimated that for one cup of coffee around 140 litres of water are necessary. This includes watering the plants, processing the beans, transporting them and finally brewing the coffee. Coffee is thus the second most water-intensive foodstuff after cocoa. Climate change means that even more water is needed for coffee. Already, in countries like Colombia, coffee plants need a lot of watering to produce good beans.
Climate change: cause or effect?
Climate change is a big problem for coffee farmers. Higher temperatures cause many coffee plants to die. One solution could be to move the plantations to higher ground. But the farmers often don't have enough money for that. Higher temperatures also allow pests like coffee rust to grow, which can destroy entire harvests. Droughts and floods can also destroy a crop. When the harvest fails, it is a disaster for a farming family.
I can heartily recommend this podcast, which really explains once again exactly what is possible and where the limits are:
https://www.kaffeemacher.ch/blog/coffea-futurica-podcast-stefan-ruge/
Possible reasons why coffee is not sustainable:
DeforestationCoffee plants need a lot of space to grow, which often leads to deforestation, especially in tropical regions.
Ground load: Growing coffee can deplete the nutrients in the soil and contribute to soil erosion.
Pesticides and fertilisers: Many coffee plants are treated with chemical pesticides and fertilisers that can pollute the environment.
Water consumptionCoffee plants need a lot of water to grow, which can lead to water problems in growing areas.
Working conditions: Many coffee farmers work under poor conditions and often do not receive a fair price for their harvest.
TransportCoffee often has to be transported over long distances, which causes CO2 emissions.
Packing: Many coffee products are sold in non-reusable or non-recyclable packaging.
WasteCoffee capsules and disposable cups contribute significantly to waste problems.
Energy consumption: Roasting coffee beans consumes a lot of energy.
Biodiversity loss: The conversion of natural habitats into coffee plantations reduces biodiversity.
I have really read a lot and also watched a lot of podcasts and documentaries about it and I can say: there are ways to produce, package and also transport coffee sustainably. Everyone has to see for themselves how important it is and where the focus should be. But the search is worthwhile! On our trip, we will try to visit the small roasteries that offer certified coffee.
Fun-Fact Capsule Coffee
Depending on the variety, a (Nespresso) coffee capsule contains between 5 and 7 grams of ground coffee. I doubt whether this coffee is good and sustainable. I'm a Nestlé-not-so-friend anyway. But that's another story. But if we talk about certified coffee from small cooperatives that come to Europe, for example, by sailboat instead of by freighter or plane, we quickly reach 40 to 60 € / CHF per kilogram of coffee. Expensive, isn't it?
If I have an average of 6 grams per capsule, then 10 capsules cost about 5 to 6 € / CHF, I am quickly at a Price per kilo from 83 to 100 € / CHF. Funny, isn't it? Oh, we all pay for the grey energy and the environmental impact of the capsules, not just the coffee consumer. Just saying!
Be careful, this can cause problems with capsule coffee:
- Packaging material: aluminium or plastic (sometimes compostable, but only in composting plants, not on the home compost - pay attention to quantities!)
- Waste problem: disposable products, end up in landfills or incinerators
- Energy consumption: High energy input in the production of the packaging and the coffee
- Monoculture and pesticide use: endangers biodiversity, soil erosion, water pollution
- Transport routes: Long distances, increased energy consumption and CO2 emissions
- Lack of transparency: difficult to obtain information on origin and cultivation
- Water consumption: High water demand for production and cleaning of the machines
- Disposable culture: Promotes throwaway mentality instead of sustainable alternatives
- High price: More expensive than other coffee options
- Social aspects: Working conditions and fair payment in growing countries often not guaranteed.
Organic seal
Organic coffee means that the coffee has been produced according to certain rules. These rules are laid down in Europe by a special law. They include:
- No use of genetic engineering,
- No artificial pesticides,
- No special fertilisers and
- Protection of soil, water and air (whatever that means again!).
Companies that want to sell organic products must be tested to see if they comply with these rules. This inspection is called organic certification.
But there are other important aspects, such as social and economic, that the organic law does not cover. Therefore, some companies combine organic certification with other certifications. You can see these certifications on the coffee packaging.
Fair Trade
Fair trade helps coffee farmers by setting a fixed minimum price. There is more money and stability as a result. Fair Trade coffee is bought directly from farmers or their cooperatives. Without middlemen, the farmers earn more. Fair Trade also strengthens the farmers' position vis-à-vis coffee traders. In addition to the minimum price, a Fair Trade premium is paid. This money is invested in local things like schools or hospitals. Fair trade also ensures clear supply chains. You can see exactly where the coffee was grown.
Fair Trade also stands up for workers' rights and prohibits child labour. Independent controls ensure that these rules are adhered to. There are also rules for the use of pesticides and the protection of natural resources. Biodiverse and organic cultivation is promoted.
Studies prove that fair trade has a positive impact on the living conditions of coffee farmers and their environment. One study compared the impact of different certifications such as Fairtrade and organic on the income of small coffee farmers in different countries. Fairtrade had the strongest positive impact on the quality of life of the farmers and the whole community.
The Fairtrade premium, although not a direct income, is very valuable. It enables important projects, such as schools or hospitals, that support the community. In addition, it enables measures to increase production, which indirectly strengthen the economy. Stricter labour regulations through Fairtrade, such as health insurance and protection against dismissal, also contribute to improving farmers' living standards.
Rainforest Alliance
The Rainforest Alliance is an organisation that wants to help nature and people. It works to make the world a better place for trade, agriculture and forestry. It works with partners to protect forests, improve the living conditions of farmers and loggers and strengthen their rights. It also helps these people fight the climate crisis and prepare for its consequences.
Its seal shows that farmers follow certain rules for sustainable agriculture and good business practices. It teaches farmers how to grow better crops to harvest more, earn more money and better protect the environment. In 2018, the Rainforest Alliance joined forces with the UTZ organisation to do even more.
4C
4C is a global system that checks whether coffee is grown and processed sustainably. 4C wants the whole coffee sector to become sustainable. To achieve this, they have rules for the social, ecological and economic handling of coffee. Independent bodies check whether these rules are respected and where the coffee comes from.
The rules of 4C state, among other things:
- Protection of forests and animals
- Good and safe working conditions (no child or forced labour)
- Protection of soil, water and air
- Compliance with laws
- Better management and training
- Access to clean water, protective clothing and good housing
- Ban and reduction of certain chemicals
4C works in 26 countries and helps more than 400,000 coffee producers, mostly smallholders. These producers, traders and the industry form so-called "4C Units". These ensure that everything from cultivation to the green bean is done sustainably. 4C also uses new technologies to make audits easier and to detect deforestation, for example. This allows them to improve the quality of the audits and save money at the same time. They can also calculate the CO₂ footprint of coffee.
Our conclusion & ideas for environmentally friendly coffee enjoyment
After this research, one thing is clear for me: I want to drink less coffee. And if I do, then certified.
- So: I only drink one cup of coffee a day.
- I've been thinking about why I drink so much coffee. And yes, it's the habit, the cosiness, the warm cup in my hand. I can do that now with local bean coffee. However, I still have to search a little and try out which one. Cereal coffee tastes best to me.
- "At home, in the van, I only drink certified coffee. In the restaurant, I try to be selective and sometimes do without the espresso after dinner. Let's see if I can do that.
- I am still looking for small brands that trade directly.
- Another tip, which I don't implement myself because I don't want to buy another new kitchen appliance, but still want to share: Try to grind the coffee beans yourself to create a connection to the raw material.
And then there's the milk...
Source: https://albert-schweitzer-stiftung.de/aktuell/oekobilanz-pflanzenmilch
When we drink coffee with normal cow's milk, it is bad for the environment. Cows are often in discussions about the climate because they produce a lot of greenhouse gases. Cows that provide milk and meat are slightly better for the climate.
We need to ask ourselves questions about the milk we drink:
- Where does the milk come from and under what conditions is it produced?
- Is that good or bad for the climate?
- Who earns from it and how much?
There is too much milk, especially from cows fed with special fodder. Some fields are not suitable for growing crops, but good for cows. "Feed no food" means that it does not make sense to grow crops to feed to cows because there is competition for land.
Milk alternatives
Plant milk is a good option for people who cannot or do not want to drink cow's milk. It is healthy, good for animals and the environment. But there are differences: soy milk is not as good as oat milk because oat milk comes from our area.
Cow's milk production can be harmful to the environment, as described above. It produces many gases that are harmful to the climate. Much of this comes from the cow's digestive process. But the feed the cows eat also contributes. On average, the production of one litre of cow's milk produces as much CO₂ as burning one litre of petrol. In Europe, it's a little less, but still a lot. With these figures, we haven't even considered the transport and storage of the milk.
Soy milk
As a rule, plant milk is more environmentally friendly. But there are differences here too. One problem is soy milk. Large areas of rainforest are often cleared for the cultivation of soy, especially in Brazil. This is very harmful to the environment. In addition, a lot of soy is genetically modified and needs a lot of pesticides.
Nevertheless, it is important to know that most of the soy is not used for soy milk. Most soy is used as animal feed. Only a small part is processed into soy milk. Nevertheless, it is good to pay attention to the origin of soy milk.
Almond milk
Almond milk is a popular milk alternative, but its production also has problems. Most almonds come from California, where large monocultures are crowding out nature. The trees there need a lot of water, which is problematic in the hot region.
Many bees are used to pollinate the almond trees. However, this is stressful for the bees and can make them sick. Some people even say that almonds are not really vegan because of this.
Although almond milk produces fewer greenhouse gases than cow's milk, it uses much more water. Some European almond milk producers say they source their almonds from Europe, which might be better. But we don't know exactly how good or bad this almond production is for the environment.
Oat milk
Oats are good for us because they grow in Europe. That means we don't have to cut down forests or use a lot of water like in California. A Swedish company called Oatly and a German company called Berief only use oats from their countries.
According to a study, oat milk is much better for the climate than cow's milk. It pollutes the climate 70% less and only needs 40% of the energy to produce it. It also requires much less land, almost 80% less than cow's milk.
Sources, as always, currently retrieved 19.07.2023
https://kaffeemacher.podigee.io/42-anja-schroeder
https://de.statista.com/themen/171/kaffee/#topicOverview
https://www.kaffeeverband.de/de/kaffeewissen/nachhaltigkeit
https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/
https://www.fairtrade-deutschland.de/
https://www.oekolandbau.de/bio-siegel/
https://albert-schweitzer-stiftung.de/aktuell/oekobilanz-pflanzenmilch
https://www.kaffeemacher.ch/blog/kuhmilch-als-klimakiller-im-kaffee/
Thank you for reading our sustainability thoughts. Every two to three weeks on Mondays we write something about the possibility of living future-oriented in the van. We try to shed light on different areas and hope to do so without pointing fingers.
Our focus is on the joy of van life and the many possibilities. We want to avoid the usual doomsday and renunciation communication.
You can find all the sustainability posts collected in the Category Future.
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Best regards - Heike & Gerd
Oh dear 😔, you've hit a nerve.
Thank you for this detailed contribution.
Some things are already known to women and we also pay attention to the aspects you have described.
The big drawback for us is the quantity! We've already cut back a bit, but rarely the afternoon coffee.
We filter with stainless steel filters, buy mainly fair-trade organic beans, (not easy in Italy).
We grind and cook with solar power and occasionally use oat drink, but mostly organic milk.
In any case, there is still room for improvement.
Please report back later on how you like the cereal coffee.
Kind regards
Sabine and Jens, currently still in Germany
Dear ones
I think if we are aware of everything, we are already off to a good start, aren't we?
Everyone tries his or her best.
I've been testing cereal coffees for a while now and I can say: depending on the case... Some manufacturers have done a good job of conjuring up a tasty drink, while others have not.
I'll keep at it. The good thing about my experiment is that I'm almost completely off coffee. I like it even more from a health point of view than from an environmental point of view. I would never have thought that.
All the best to you!
Gerd & Heike