Ever had the creeping feeling that all those coffee pods your office chucks out might not be the most brilliant thing ever in terms of the planet?
You're not alone.
John Sylvan – the American inventor of the Yank's equivalent to Nespresso capsules, Keurig K-Cups – has come out and said that he 'feels bad' about ever coming up with the concept.
The reason?
The mad waste of plastic they generate, due to being made of a type which is only recyclable in very few cities. Despite a new, fully recyclable version being launched in 2006, not many people bother – it involves taking the cup apart into three fiddly separate components and processing them separately – and, even then, you can only do it in towns with the correct facilities.
Speaking to The Atlantic, the regret-filled caffeine revolutionary (who sold his share of the billions-grossing business for $50,000 back in 1997 – ouch) added that they're also '...kind of expensive to use' and 'it's not like drip (filter) coffee is tough to make.'
Very true, as any one who's ever paid for more, more and more coffee pods/ used a coffee filter will tell you.
P.s: If you're after a sustainable way to get your java fix, may we recommend an AeroPress (Whittard's do a good one for £25) or a classic cafetière (try the chrome version from La Cafetière, £29.95).
