A wave of plastic-free coffee pods and machines

troyvit

Huh, cool. If you want to save a few bucks you can go with a stainless steel French press or a mason jar if you're into cold brews. You're symbolizing a different kind of status though. This summer was sunny and hot in Colorado, so every morning I'd make a jar of sun coffee. I'd leave it out through the day and overnight. The next morning I'd pull it in, filter it, refill it with grounds and water and take it outside again. It was cool enough to enjoy and really smooth.

zaphar

I mean, among real coffee snobs the status symbol is mostly not using a Keurig or Lavazza machine at all. Pour overs, Espresso machines, most status symbol coffee equipment is pretty light on the plastic already.

elchief

i just use a stainless steel electric kettle, and a glass ikea french press $55ish CAD total

SomaticPirate

Aeropress makes a glass version although I was never too concerned about the microplastic risk

throwitaway222

I think the status symbol is not having enough time to make it at home and also being able to afford it at Starbucks.

christkv

So ridiculous we already have ESE pods for traditional expresso machines. We replaced the Nespresso machine in the office with a normal expresso machine so people can make bring their own ground coffee if they want but we also offer ESE pods for people who don't care but still want a good coffee.

comrade1234

I used to grind my coffee and manually make espresso. Years ago though I switched to an all-in-one. I was very adamant that it had to have ceramic grinders so that it will last forever. I've since had to replace some internal parts and I'm sure the display will eventually fail and not be replaceable, but those grinders are going to last centuries!

zekehernandez

I would enjoy a plastic-free drip machine with a thermal carafe for convenient large batches. For now, been enjoying a stainless steel french press and pour over.

zodwick

good thread to lookup : https://x.com/levelsio/status/2088235859887726696

cjoelrun

Status: titanium credit card at expensive local coffee shop.

seemaze

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but even the $10k slayer espresso machine has a plastic water resevoir. Granted the brewing assembly is mostly plastic free. While I sympathize with the sentiment to eliminate plastic from the transport chain for anything ingestible, it's practically impossible in the modern world. Simple is usually best; glass or ceramic pour over, stainless press, or even the traditional South American coffee sock[0] [0] https://perfectdailygrind.com/2016/01/coffee-sock-old-school...

dachworker

Hmm, is all the metal food safe? To what extent?

bob1029

When I drank coffee I would use a Hario V60. Avoiding plastic is trivial (and cheap). $40-50 for the entire setup. I preferred to waste my money on expensive beans instead.

silverFork

Typical paper cups that are used to serve coffee produce massively more plastic particles and they are more toxic. One cup per year exceeds what whole year of coffee maker plastic releases.. plastic coffee maker: 7-20 particles paper cup : 25000 particles https://getplasticproof.com/blog/does-coffee-have-microplast... https://sifts.co/blogs/microplastics/microplastics-and-coffe... https://sprudge.com/hot-to-go-which-type-of-coffee-has-the-m...

PowerElectronix

Do people take pods coffee seriously? If you want to signal true status with coffee you pull your roasted coffee beans from a very exotic place, ground them in your very expensive stainless steel manual grinder and make a very strong, very flavorful espresso in your generic chinese espresso machine (that steo is just heat, water and pressure, no need to go overboard there).

amelius

I hate it that Apple products still have so much plastic in them. Makes them look flimsy.

turtlebro

Join team instant coffee. It's way better then its rep. No microplastics either.

zombot

I must be hot shit then, my portafilter has no plasic and neither does my grinder.

devindotcom

I have a Technivorm Moccamaster KBG-V and they use good plastic for their parts but it's still plastic (except the thermal carafe etc). There's a new copycat version that's all glass and plastic (Simply Good I think?) but not sure how it actually performs. What I'm surprised at is that no one has made non-plastic drop-in replacement parts for the reservoir, basket, and funnel. The KBG-V is highly modular so it's strange to me that no one has gone this route. It shouldn't change anything significant in the brewing process or quality of the coffee.

sfpotter

Love my La Pavoni.