In this day and age where our every action has a likely imprint on society and the environment, being a conscious consumer isn’t a matter of choice.
It’s about contributing to a system that in turn benefits each one of us.
No matter where you are on the spectrum of casual coffee drinker to ardent coffee nerd, there’s a lot you can do to practice conscious consumption and make your enjoyment of coffee more mindful.
Who is a Conscious Coffee Consumer and What Does it Matter?
A conscious coffee consumer is someone who acknowledges the impact of their actions and makes decisions that benefit the industry, the environment, and themselves.
They actively choose to support businesses & organisations that stand by the values of transparency, ethical coffee cultivation, and fair trade practices. They often set aside their own convenience for the sake of the bigger picture.
As for why it matters, you’ll agree that the only way to keep enjoying good coffee is to invest in the growth of the industry and the environment.
The more we care for nature, the better yield we can hope for. Similarly, the more coffee growers feel motivated to cultivate good coffee, the higher the quality of our brew. This is the simple truth behind why one must be a conscious coffee consumer.
Steps to Become a Conscious Coffee Consumer
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The first step would be to learn as much as possible. So as to not overwhelm yourself, you can start small - understand where your coffee comes from and how to spot good-quality coffee.
From there, you can move on to topics like the coffee supply chain, fair trade coffee, the impact of shade-grown on biodiversity, how cooperatives help farmers, etc. -
Choosing coffee that is grown ethically and sustainably is the next natural step. You don’t have to wait till you’ve learned all about the world of coffee to start doing this.
Shift from instant options to better alternatives that are not mass-produced. Good-quality coffee contributes to the development of the community and they are also better for you in terms of getting the freshest coffee possible.
Do your due diligence to check how the coffee is grown, what the values of the coffee producer are, whether the coffee farmers get paid well, what kind of ethical practices are used, etc.
Your best bet would be to see what certifications they have - are they UTZ and Rainforest Alliance-certified? Do they have organic certifications?
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Support the local coffee community. This doesn’t only mean buying from local brands but also being a member of the coffee community in whatever capacity possible. You could participate in workshops, tastings, and other events, and volunteer to increase awareness.
If you like a certain brand’s products, help them grow through word of mouth by introducing your friends and family to the company. -
Finally, being mindful of how you consume coffee at home is another way to practice being a conscious coffee consumer.
If you are using a brewing method that requires you to use filters, opt for a reusable option if possible to reduce waste. On the other hand, maybe you love using coffee pods, get compostable ones.
You can also make use of leftover coffee grounds for other purposes at home so that you get the best use out of them.
Approach coffee consumption from a quality perspective, instead of always trying to get as many cups as you possibly can in a hurry. What this does is it changes the influence of coffee on your life; it goes from being merely a fuel that keeps you up throughout the day to something relaxing and enjoyable. Create a coffee-making ritual for yourself. You can also go one step further by trying out different coffees and maintaining a journal to keep track of the flavour notes you observe.
Small actions matter, regardless of how small they are. If you can start by taking one simple step today, you’ll be making great progress as a conscious coffee consumer and contributing to the community.