SAVE THE EARTH! IT’S THE ONLY PLANET WITH COFFEE.
For over 50 years, April 22 has been celebrated as International Earth Day. In the 1970s, the environmental movement was born in the United States, aiming to push politicians to address issues such as water and air quality. Today, half a century later, this celebration has become global, connecting millions of people around the world, both literally and remotely.
Earth Day gained international fame in 1990, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and contributing to the organization of the United Nations Earth Summit in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. In the following years, as climate change became a central issue, Earth Day organizers sought to highlight its importance and stop it from being ignored. They called for the transformation of global economies towards more sustainable, renewable energy-based systems.
The main goal of Earth Day is to promote pro-ecological attitudes, build shared responsibility, and raise awareness of the threats posed by industrial development and its impact on nature.
Eco JAVA
Working with coffee makes the ecological aspect of both the cultivation of trees on plantations and the handling of production waste, which occurs during coffee processing, roasting, and brewing of ground beans, a topic we encounter daily.
Today, on the occasion of International Earth Day, we want to share with you some ways to enjoy coffee while being eco-friendly, and besides the most important aspect, which is caring for our planet, also benefit yourself. Enjoy the read!
First: Chaff – What is it and how to use it?
Chaff is nothing more than coffee waste, also known as silver skin or husk. It is the part of the bean that falls off during roasting due to high temperatures. Chaff, with its light and fluffy consistency, is usually collected in a bucket (called a collector), while the rest accumulates inside the roaster, where it must be regularly removed to eliminate the risk of fire.
The simplest and most practical way to reuse chaff is to use it as compost or fertilizer. Since it is organic and lightweight, it mixes well with other compostable materials.
Chaff is also rich in nitrogen. Fast-growing vegetables, such as tomatoes, will benefit the most from the soil-enriching properties of chaff.
IMPORTANT: To prevent seedling mold after covering them with chaff, it should first be composted. One of the simplest methods at home is to place it together with organic waste in one container to initiate an aerobic reaction.
Second: Cascara
The coffee cherry, which is the skin and pulp surrounding the coffee bean, is usually discarded. But it definitely shouldn't be! Fortunately, over the years, dried coffee cherries are gaining popularity, and that's great! But why?
Cascara, which means peel or husk in Spanish, comes from a new method of recycling the coffee cherry skin and pulp, which are produced in large quantities during coffee processing. In most countries where cascara is produced, it was until recently considered worthless waste, often used only as fertilizer. However, it has been found that by using a special method, it is possible to dry the coffee fruit, which when brewed gives us a fruity, pleasantly sweet, and refreshing infusion, perfect both hot and cold.
Choosing cascara is not only a way to care for the planet. The infusion prepared from dried coffee cherries is full of nutrients for your body!
Analyses and academic studies conducted on cascara have shown that it contains an exceptionally beneficial combination of bioactive substances for health, such as phytochemicals (protective substances naturally found in plants), which positively affect the human body. These include caffeine, polysaccharides, and polyphenols; energy-giving components that act as the body’s “metabolic fuel” (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins).
Third: Coffee Bags
What can be done with jute coffee bags? We process quite a lot of coffee, so we have plenty of bags from green beans and even more. What do we do with them? We distribute some among ourselves, of course, but our capacity is limited, so we are happy to give them to those who want and need them. We receive numerous calls asking for coffee bags, which our customers eagerly use and turn into accessories like bags or backpacks, pillow covers, home decorations, or use them in the garden.
Some time ago, there were even workshops held at the Bielański Cultural Center for sewing backpacks from jute coffee bags, and we are delighted to support such or similar initiatives that give jute bags a second life.
ReUse, ReCycle, ReJAVA
So, would you like to stop by and grab some chaff to nourish your plants, or pick up some bags to unleash your creativity and decorate your home? Or maybe you just feel like brewing some cascara to warm up this chilly spring? Whatever your Earth Day plans are, remember—we're here to help.
