A study conducted by Canadian researchers suggests reducing consumption of coffee may reduce effects on climate change.
Pollution from preparing coffee is “just the tip of the iceberg,” according to researchers Luciano Rodrigues Viana, Charles Marty, Jean-François Boucher and Pierre-Luc Dessureault in a study published to the Conversation.
“Limiting your contribution to climate change requires an adapted diet, and coffee is no exception,” wrote researchers at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi.
“Choosing a mode of coffee preparation that emits less GHGs (greenhouse gases) and moderating your consumption are part of the solution.”
People should drink less coffee to combat climate change, study says https://t.co/pMTd0voh4B pic.twitter.com/2bc76PiMBs
— New York Post (@nypost) January 19, 2023
“So they just released a study out of Canada … that says we must immediately moderate our consumption of coffee to combat climate change. So, in honor of that I’ve decided to increase my coffee consumption,” wrote one Twitter user in response to the study.
“I’m so sick of these private jet riding people telling us what to do!”
Former candidate for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District Robby Starbuck echoed the user’s sentiment saying, “the Davos elite want us to: eat bugs, stop flying on planes, drink less coffee, put diapers/masks on cows, stop driving, trash gas stoves, use zero fossil fuels, use less water, not eat meat and stop having kids. All to ’slow climate change.’”
“My challenge to Davos: You first.”
“Our analysis clearly showed that traditional filter coffee has the highest carbon footprint, mainly because a greater quantity of coffee powder is used to produce the amount of coffee,” the study continued. “This process also consumes more electricity to heat the water and keep it warm.”
The study compared different methods of coffee suggesting use of coffee pods contributed less to the carbon footprint than traditional methods of brewing coffee, ultimately determining instant coffee to be the most “environmentally sound.” The study also noted coffee production produced more total emissions than coffee preparation.
“This mechanization, irrigation and use of nitrous oxide-emitting fertilizers — the production of which requires large quantities of natural gas — greatly contribute to coffee’s carbon footprint.”
In March 2022, a study released by the American College of Cardiology suggested coffee consumption reduced risk of heart disease and dangerous heart rhythms.
