The Coffee Kits

Percolator and Moka Pot Coffee: Which is More Eco-Friendly?

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. In fact, it is estimated that over 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed every day worldwide. With such high consumption, it's important to consider the environmental impact of our coffee habits. Two popular methods of brewing coffee are the percolator and the moka pot. In this article, we'll compare the environmental impact of both methods and determine which is more eco-friendly.

Percolator Coffee

Percolator coffee has been around for over a century. It is a method of brewing coffee by boiling water in a pot and allowing it to drip through a filter basket filled with coffee grounds. The brewed coffee is then collected in a separate pot. Percolators are traditionally made of metal and are designed to be used on a stove or a campfire.

While percolator coffee is a simple and traditional method of brewing coffee, it has some environmental drawbacks. One of the main issues is the amount of energy required to boil the water. Percolators can take a long time to heat up, and they require constant heat to maintain the boiling temperature. This means that percolators use a lot of energy and can be expensive to operate.

Another environmental concern with percolator coffee is the waste generated by the filters. Traditional percolators use paper filters, which are not biodegradable and can take years to break down in landfills. While there are reusable metal filters available, they can be difficult to clean and may not be as effective at filtering out coffee grounds.

Moka Pot Coffee

Moka pots, also known as stovetop espresso makers, have been popular in Europe for over 80 years. They work by heating water in a lower chamber and forcing the steam through a filter basket filled with coffee grounds and into an upper chamber. Moka pots are typically made of aluminum or stainless steel and are designed to be used on a stove.

Moka pot coffee is generally considered to be more eco-friendly than percolator coffee. One reason for this is that moka pots use less energy to heat the water. They only require enough heat to create steam, which is much less than the constant heat required by percolators. Additionally, moka pots do not require filters, which means there is no waste generated by the brewing process.

Which is More Eco-Friendly?

So, which method of brewing coffee is more eco-friendly? While both methods have their environmental drawbacks, moka pot coffee is generally considered to be more eco-friendly than percolator coffee. Moka pots use less energy and do not generate waste from filters. Additionally, aluminum moka pots can be recycled at the end of their lifespan, while metal percolators may not be recyclable.

However, it's important to note that the most eco-friendly method of brewing coffee is using a French press or a pour-over coffee maker. These methods do not require filters and use less energy than both percolators and moka pots.

Conclusion

When it comes to choosing a method of brewing coffee, it's important to consider the environmental impact of your choice. While percolator coffee is a traditional and simple method of brewing coffee, it uses a lot of energy and generates waste from filters. Moka pot coffee, on the other hand, uses less energy and does not require filters. However, the most eco-friendly method of brewing coffee is using a French press or a pour-over coffee maker.