6 tips to brew coffee more sustainably

Written by Charlotte

Edited on

7 October 2025

ยท

08:45

6 tips to brew coffee more sustainably

On this page, we'll give you 6 tips on how to prepare coffee in a more sustainable way. You can set the machine to turn off automatically, and we recommend you to clean your machine in time. We'll also tell you more on recycling Nespresso capsules, using a permanent filter, and on choosing and storing coffee beans.

Coffee beans

Get started with preparing coffee sustainably

A lot of coffee is consumed daily. We'll explain how to drink your cup of coffee more sustainably. You can use the following 6 tips for this:

  • Tip 1. Turn off the coffee machine right away
  • Tip 2. Maintain your coffee machine in time
  • Tip 3. Return Nespresso capsules
  • Tip 4. Use a permanent coffee filter
  • Tip 5. Be careful which coffee beans you buy
  • Tip 6. Store your coffee beans properly
Turn off machine

Tip 1: turn off the machine right away

We recommend you to turn off the machine right after use. That way, the machine won't be on for no reason and you won't use extra energy for nothing. You can do this manually or have it done automatically. If your machine does this automatically, you won't have to worry about forgetting to turn it off. With some machines, you can even set the time after which it'll turn off. This is nice. Your machine can also turn off via the standby function. As a result, it'll always be ready for you if you want to prepare a cup of coffee. Make sure to check if the machine doesn't use any energy in this mode.

Tip 2: maintain your machine in time

Tip 2: maintain your machine in time

It may seem logical, but your coffee machine will last longer if you maintain it thoroughly and on time. We really recommend you to keep up with this.

Tip 3: return  Nespresso capsules

Tip 3: return Nespresso capsules

If you return your used capsules to Nespresso, they'll recyle them. The capsules are made of aluminum, which makes them 100% recyclable. The advantage of aluminum is that no matter how often you recycle the cups, the properties remain the same. For example, it takes about 95% less energy to recycle aluminum than to produce new metals.

Tip 4: use a permanent coffee filter

Do you have a filter coffee machine on your counter? Use a permanent coffee filter instead of paper coffee filters. You can use a permanent filter again every day. You'll throw out the coffee grounds and rinse the filter under the faucet. Do you want to make more impact? Throw the coffee grounds in an organic waste trash can.

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Buy coffee beans

Tip 5: be careful which coffee beans you buy

You can find coffee beans everywhere, from the supermarket to coffee shops. Make sure to think about which coffee beans you buy. You can choose between different packaging, from plastic to paper. Make sure to check the coffee quality marks as well. Some quality mark focus more on people and the labor, while others mainly focus on the environment. That's why you should check the package to see what kind of coffee you're getting.

    Store coffee beans

    Tip 6: store your coffee properly

    After you got your coffee, it's important to store it for a while too without having to throw it away. In an airtight package, you can keep your coffee beans for up to 6 months. When you open the bag with coffee beans, you'll lose part of the flavor and the aging process of the coffee beans starts. We recommend you to finish the coffee beans within 4 weeks. You can store them in a coffee beans container, for example. Store the coffee beans in a clean, dark place.

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      Article by Charlotte

      Coffee Expert.

      Charlotte