Connecticut Green Living

Happy holidays! If you are like me, you are enjoying Christmas or Hannukah with a huge cup of joe. All that running around, gift buying and cheesy smiling in Christmas PJs for the J.C. Penney photographer makes this mandatory. My favorite eco-coffee brand is from my home state of California, nestled along the mighty Pacific in Santa Cruz. For Christmas, they have concocted a slew of recipes to go with their sustainable brand. You will not only enjoy top line coffee, but feel assured you are helping your carbon footprint. Steeped is certified as a "farm-to-cup" B Corp, meaning it has met standards for transparency, accountability and charitible giving. This is 100 percent ethically-sourced coffee, roasted in small batches. And it comes in cute compostable bags that mimic the tea experience. The company is offering its holiday samplers of premium coffee, the "Seasonal Sampler Set", for 24.95. It comes in a holiday-themed box and boasts coffee strengths from light-t...

If there is one thing I hate, it's the sight of those bloody Keurig machines all over the place, from a neighbor's home to an airport I once dashed through. Yes, convenient, but oh-so-bad for the environment. I was happy to try Tentera Coffee, as they say they "care about the planet". Their roaster's mission, they say, "is to replace the environmentally damaging single-serving pod coffees.” These pour-overs, as they are called, don't require any additional tools. All one needs is hot water and a mug; they are lightweight and eco-friendly. The company says, ”They are a better replacement for busy coffee drinkers using instant coffee, and they are convenient for people with limited space and appliances-- not to mention the brew time is completed in seconds. With high-quality beans, Tentera coffee drinkers won't have to endure the unhealthy side effects of drinking low-grade coffee." But how does it taste? Admittedly, it is not as strong as I like...

California has long been touted as the most progressive state, but arguably it is also the greenest . It is therefore not surprising that a startup from Santa Cruz has developed a solution to all that coffee-making waste. Steeped Coffee is aptly named. According to the company release, "Brewed similar to tea, Steeped Coffee’s nitro sealed Steeped Bags, along with their guilt-free packaging made using renewable and compostable materials, achieve the unthinkable: freshly ground specialty coffee in a single-serving." When I lived in London , I had a kettle in my room to make my own coffee. It was common there to make single-serve coffee. When I saw these little bags, it reminded me of that. Then when I tore open the first bag, called "DRIFTWOOD", I was hooked. The intoxicating aroma rivals any other including fresh beans in the grinder. I DO think one needs to steep the maximum amount of time if he wants a stronger brew. I am used to two or three cups of piping hot...