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Zero Waste Coffee has never been so easy
There are several different ways to make zero waste coffee like the French press, reusable cotton coffee filter and pour over coffee maker, Turkish coffee, and the percolator. Those are some great options although you need the equipment to do it.
Alternatively, there are also refillable, reusable capsules and biodegradable pods.
The refillable pods very often get negative reviews when it comes to the quality of the coffee they are making.
The biodegradable pods are often called Zero Waste but I don’t think they deserve it. You can find detailed information about biodegradable coffee pods on Zero Waste Man’s website: Why changing to biodegradable coffee pods isn’t the answer.
For all of the above-mentioned ways to make zero waste coffee some kind of equipment is required. And in the end, there is always a bit of spend coffee grounds left.
But here is good news for you:
There is a 100% natural, super simple, and quick way to make coffee, and you can use it ANYWHERE without special equipment!
A young Haarlem based company just came out with a breakthrough when it comes to zero waste coffee:
Liquid coffee beans!
It’s called Magic Coffee and comes in black glass bottles. The ‘liquid coffee beans’ are used like an instant coffee (in liquid form) but it does have a really amazing taste.
They also offer a bottle of Iced Coffee Sirup to make Iced Coffee speedy and simple.
Magic Coffee’s mission is to encourage the drinking of tasty fresh coffee while significantly reducing the waste mountain of capsules and the environmental impact of recycling them.
I personally think they are absolutely on the right track. The coffee does taste great! I’ve never liked black coffee in the past due to the bitterness. But coffee made from just a spoon of the liquid coffee beans from Magic Coffee and some hot water makes a round-tasting black coffee that I even enjoy drinking without any add-ons. No bitterness!
And the best thing is that it’s much easier to make than coffee from pads or capsules. One spoon ‘liquid coffee beans’ plus hot water and your cup is ready. Or you add whatever you like best in your coffee. But the point is, you save one coffee capsule with every cup you drink.
I would even think it might save space in the kitchen since you don’t need the special machine, nor a bunch of different capsules for all the different coffee types your guests or family members or roommates or co-workers prefer. You can make any coffee type you like with Magic Coffee, cold and warm, even coffee-infused cocktails.
The Ingredients of Magic Coffee
The ingredient list of Magic Coffee is wonderfully short: water, arabica coffee, and cocoa. No artificial stuff, no E numbers, all is 100% natural.
The Iced Coffee Sirop from Magic Coffee additionally contains cane sugar so you can easily make iced coffee, enhance desserts, even use it in cocktails.
Make it anywhere
Since there is not much equipment needed to make Magic Coffee, it’s hands down the best coffee for a camping trip. I used to take a small french press with me in the past. Even on our Grand Canyon trip. We carried a french press, pot, and mini stove, cups, a tin with coffee grounds, water, and a container for the used coffee grounds all the way down Grand Canyon.
A small bottle of Magic Coffee instead would have saved a lot of space in the backpacks.
Give it a try!
You can now find Magic Coffee in the oodles and pinches online shop. With your first order, you’ll also get a set of recipe cards (plastic-free) and a reusable measuring spoon.
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Magic Coffee Iced Coffee SyrupSale Product on sale
16,95€14,95€ -
Magic Coffee Liquid coffee beansSale Product on sale
16,95€14,95€
Guide to Zero Waste in Haarlem
A word upfront: This page is work in progress.
This is a growing guide for eco-friendly living and going zero waste in Haarlem. It will be updated and added to. So it’s worth checking back again over time. And if you happen to know a location or business that would fit well on this list, just let me know.
If you’re a business owner and would like to be considered for this list, send me a message as well.
Second Handshops in Haarlem
Mooizooi
This is simply an amazing place! You’ll find here preowned Materials for handcrafts including paint, buttons, fabric, paper… a ton of stuff. Please check it out! And you can also donate materials! Link
Thrift Rataplan Haarlem
A large 2nd hand shop with a huge clothing section, shoes, toys, kitchen things, some furniture and many, many books. There are two locations in Haarlem: Werfstraat and Zijlstraat
Bijna Gratis Markt
This 2nd hand shop is across the street from Rataplan Zijlstraat. It’s smaller but they have really nice finds there. So if you go to Rataplan, definitely stop by at Bijna Gratis Markt as well! Link
Kringloopwinkel Paleis Noord
One of the genuin thriftstores in Haarlem: good prices, she supports several charities as well as the community and has true heart! Link
Eigenwijs
Lovely little kids clothing 2nd hand store in the city center with good quality products. Link
Buy things packaging free
Simon Lévelt coffee and Tea
You can bring your own jar or container for coffee and tea at Simon Lévelt. Two locations: Gierstraat (Link) and Barteljorisstraat (Link).
Bakkerij Kuin
Good bread and pastry and you are welcome to use your own bags. Link
Sogno di pasta
Bring your own container for different types of fresh and packaging free pasta, ravioli and variety of olives. There is also a selection of olive oil on tap available. Bring your own clean bottle or get one there. You’ll get a discount each time your bring a bottle. Link
oodles and pinches
An ever growing range of Zero Waste Products for bathroom, cleaning, kitchen, baby, on the go… Find vegan & cruelty, plastic free, natural products and as local as possible. Check out the Market Day page to find the oodles and pinches market stand in Haarlem.
Check out the shop: Link
Lush
Packaging free cosmetic products with wide range of soaps and bath bombs. Not every ingredient is natural though so check the ingredients list. They welcome customers with their own containers. Link
Facebook groups
Zero Waste Haarlem
Definitely join this group! You can ask questions, get inspiration, find events and likeminded people for Zero Waste Lifestyle topics specific to Haarlem. Link
Buy & Sell Amsterdam
Huge group with mostly English offers. Link
Gratis spullen gezocht en aangeboden in Haarlem
Dutch group for things that are given away for free. You can also ask if someone wants to give away what you’re looking for. Link
Gratis af te halen
Dutch group for free things. Link
Haarlem Buy & Sell
Mostly English in this group. Buy or Sell products in Haarlem. Link
Zero Waste Blogs
Waste Land Rebel | wastelandrebel.com | English and German |
Zero Waste Home | zerowastehome.com | English |
Trash is for Tossers | trashisfortossers.com | English |
Going Zero Waste | goingzerowaste.com | English |
Het Zero Waste Project | hetzerowasteproject.nl | Dutch |
Awkward Duckling | awkwardduckling.nl | Dutch |
Other helpful web links:
World overshoot day Learn more about world overshoot day, our resources and how to make it better. Link
There is even a calculator where you can calculate your own personal overshoot day. Link
Hautschutzengel: Find out what’s in your cosmetic products. This page is written in German but google translate can translate it for you. Either find the product in there or add a product and then you can see how good the ingredients are for your body. Link