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seemaze | on: A wave of plastic-free coffee pods and machines
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...

benrutter | parent | next
> While I sympathize with the sentiment to eliminate plastic from the transport chain for anything ingestible, it's practically impossible in the modern world.

I think the argument is pretty simple:

- Plastic is bad (environment, microplastics, etc) - We should minimize it

That doesn't necessitate a "all the way to zero or don't bother" logic, which what you're saying reads as.

Coffee pods machines have been an environmental nightmare, great to see a growing trend that addresses this.

233mhz | root | parent
If you care enough about the environment to get rid of plastic you should get rid of coffee too, this argument makes no sense
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saidnooneever | parent | next
stainless steel might be less bad for environment if u chuck it in the bin but if you look at the entire process from getting ores to having the steel item i dont really think its a very big difference.

used to live nexto a huge steel refinery and many mental diseases and cancers in the area are up more than 50% not to mention lots of birth defects etc.

maybe its effects are more local idk. Not sure how glass and ceramic are made.

ofc not bad to try and eliminate plastics but having 1 plastic free device that is overly expensive is really just a status thing. it contributes nexto nothing to environmental goals which i think eliminating plastics belongs to.

u can just put the grounds in a cup and pour hot water on it afterall. tastes fine.

Teynah | root | parent | next
The irony is that replacing a perfectly functional plastic coffee maker with a brand new $500 stainless steel one might be worse environmentally than just continuing to use what you have
coolestguy | root | parent
It’s not about the environment for a lot of people, it’s about microplastics and their body
panos_news | parent | next
This one has a glass reservoir. Look at the product page images before you decide to bear any news
seemaze | root | parent
Well, it was paywalled, but that's beside the point. The point is that this marketeering contraption solves a problem that the marketeers created.

Coffee was enjoyed for hundreds of years before plastic was invented. The answer is not to get rid of the plastic, but get rid of the machine.

citrin_ru | parent | next
Italian Moka Pot is one more simple and cheap plastic free option.
| parent | next
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plorg | parent | next
And unless you're picking it up at your roaster in a container you bring yourself the beans have probably been rattling around in a polyethylene-lined bag.
wackget | parent | next
I was very skeptical but apparently the Caraway machine uses a glass reservoir and stainless steel pipes.
ninininino | parent | next
> it's practically impossible in the modern world

This sort of defeatism is why people don't try. Consumers can shift products through purchase behaviors. We're already seeing improvements in kitchen appliances and gear, cosmetics, some outdoor gear.

iamnothere | root | parent | next
Believe it or not, lawsuits and regulations are much more effective. Consumer behavior rarely moves the needle. It may make you feel better, but you can’t consume your way to a better world.

Conspicuous consumption has many forms, “ethical” consumerism is just the latest variation.

zenapollo | root | parent
Would love to see some research on this. My libertarian friends are a dog with a bone in their belief that our individual dollar-votes are the foremost and correct way we shape the economic landscape. I can’t imagine how anyone arrives there from research or history or experience, but I guess it keeps their Ayn Rand-ian ambition fired up.

That being said i wish they were right. I pay a premium for organic and farmers market. As well as plastic free everything. It feels good to support those businesses, but they are still mostly just getting by.

Beyond lawsuits and regulations - I’ve personally seen what Europe is doing to deploy financial programs for transitions to, for example, regenerative farming. It really works. With the extra funds/financing, farms are able to plan 2-5 year payback instead 10+. The incentive alignment makes a huge difference.

iamnothere | root | parent | next
Asbestos, lead, CFCs, DDT, there’s a ton of examples of where it worked. The question as usual is where regulation is appropriate and how far it should go. Banning lead pipes was obvious, and it worked once people understood the downsides and limited upside, but banning drugs has been a failure.

You have to look at the demand side of the equation, because creating black markets isn’t a good idea, and neither is creating widespread resistance and discontent. Governments aren’t all powerful (thank goodness), so regulation has to focus on the stuff that’s most harmful and has the highest chance of success.

foxglacier | root | parent
If they were very profitable instead of just getting by, more of them would appear until they were just getting by again. So that's not a sign of lack of impact of your spending.
jrootabega | root | parent
A small subset of coffee drinkers might produce a purchase trend that leads to a brief production of an overpriced coffee machine which still ends up being produced in the cheapest, dirtiest country they can get away with. The rest do not care and never will.
userbinator | parent
While I sympathize with the sentiment to eliminate plastic from the transport chain for anything ingestible

I don't, and this is just stupid virtue-signaling for the easily gullible hypochondriacs.

Plastics came from hydrocarbons, which make up the bulk of all living matter.

amanaplanacanal | root | parent
And all hydrocarbons have the exact same health effects, amirite?