Plastic Free Coffee Maker – Non-Toxic Coffee Makers

Plastic coffee makers are the most popular coffee machines on the market today, mostly because they are affordable and convenient. Despite these advantages, a plastic-free coffee maker would be a better investment as plastic isn’t the most environmentally friendly material. It also poses potential health threats.

Traditional coffee makers that utilize plastics can be harmful to coffee drinkers and the environment. There are plenty of plastic-free alternatives available on the market, with most being manual instead of automatic. There are also BPA-free automatic coffee maker alternatives for those who value convenience.

Coffee lovers who are ready to ditch plastic for plastic-free, non-toxic coffee makers instead, look no further! Here is all the information needed to start the journey of reducing the daily use of plastic.

What Is The Problem with Plastic Coffee Makers?

Many coffee makers and their accessories are made of plastic. Although many coffee lovers buy plastic coffee makers because they are cheaper than most other alternatives, they can have harmful effects on those who use them and the environment.

Plastic Coffee Makers: How Does It Affect Coffee Drinkers?

Many owners of traditional coffee makers are unaware of the potentially harmful effects they could have on them. But many people report tasting plastic in their coffee, which – as I know – is very unpleasant!

Plastic can contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that – according to research – can lead to endocrine issues and cancer when consumed frequently.

How Does Plastic In Coffee Makers Affect The Environment?

Plastic pollution has been an ongoing crisis for decades, and traditional coffee makers made predominantly from plastic are not making it any better. The problem with these coffee makers is that their parts are made of plastic, along with the to-go cups with plastic lids, the plastic coffee pods used in them, and even coffee filter papers.

Coffee drinkers who purchase traditional coffee makers are generating more waste and contributing to the overflowing landfill sites as these various items are not being recycled.

According to recent studies, 83% of drinking water around the world is contaminated with plastic.

Plastic-Free Coffee Makers: Are There Any?

There are many plastic-free coffee makers that coffee drinkers can purchase to minimize the use of this material and exposure to it. The only downfall is that most of these alternative coffee makers are manual.

Automatic plastic-free coffee makers are more difficult to find as most of these machines are designed with plastic. Although these coffee makers comprise some plastic components, the plastic is BPA-free.  

Buying A Plastic-Free Coffee Maker: Factors To Consider

Moving from a traditional automatic coffee maker to a manual plastic-free coffee maker is a big adjustment, and there are many factors to consider before buying one. Let’s explore these factors in more detail. 

1. What The Plastic-Free Coffee Maker Is Made Of

Before buying any plastic-free coffee maker, it is important to know what materials were used to construct the coffee maker.

These two materials are the safest options for those who want to avoid plastic entirely:

• Stainless steel construction
• Glass

2. What Is The Safest Approach?

There are two approaches coffee drinkers can take when it comes to making coffee in a safer way. These include:

• Purchasing a manual plastic-free coffee maker.
• Purchasing an automatic BPA-free coffee maker.

Undoubtedly, a plastic-free coffee maker is the safest option. However, BPA-free coffee makers are just as great and safe as there is no chance of the chemical Bisphenol A contaminating the coffee. 

3. Do You Have Extra Time?

Another factor to consider is: Do you have extra time to spare? Making coffee with a manual plastic-free coffee such as a French Press or a pour-over is much more time-consuming than the BPA-free alternatives. 

The Best Plastic-Free Coffee Makers

Coffee lovers who do not mind giving up the convenience of an automatic coffee if it means reducing the daily use of plastic and avoiding its harmful effects should look no further!

Below are the best manual plastic-free coffee makers one can buy to live a safer and eco-friendlier lifestyle. 

1. Chemex Pour-Over Coffee Maker

The CHEMEX Pour-Over plastic free coffee maker is a pour-over design made from high-quality and non-porous Borosilicate glass including the glass carafe.

This type of glass prevents the coffee from absorbing any odors or chemicals which could be harmful.

This coffee maker also allows coffee drinkers to refrigerate leftover coffee to be reheated later without distorting the taste and flavor of the coffee.

Chemex Pour-Over Coffee Maker features and specifications:

2. Secura French Press Coffee Maker

The Secura French Press Coffee Maker is a manual coffee maker with both the interior and exterior made from 18/10 stainless steel.

Secura French Press Maker features and specifications:

3. Café Du Chateau French Press Coffee Maker

The Café Du Chateau French Press Coffee Maker is made from high-quality Borosilicate glass, which is able to withstand high temperatures without the glass cracking.

The various components of this French coffee maker are made with 304-grade stainless steel that is resistant to rust and corrosion, which means they are designed to last a very long time.

The components of the Café Du Chateau French Press Coffee Maker made with 304-grade stainless steel:

• The carafe housing
• The filter handle
• The top lid

Café Du Chateau French Press Coffee Maker features and specifications:

4. Farberware Classic Stainless Steel Coffee Percolator

The Faberware Classic Stainless Steel Coffee Maker / Percolator is a stovetop coffee maker that one can use on gas, electric, and induction stovetops.

The coffee maker is available in the 8-cup model and the 12-cup model.

Farberware Classic Stainless Steel Coffee Percolator features and specifications:

The Best BPA-Free Coffee Makers

Suppose a manual plastic-free coffee maker is out of the question. In that case, several automatic stainless steel coffee makers are available on the market with components made from mostly stainless steel and BPA-free plastic.

Below are the best BPA-free coffee makers that are safe to use.

1. Technivorm 59616 KBG Coffee Brewer

The Technivorm 59691 KB Coffee Brewer is a coffee machine made from recyclable materials, with all the plastic components being 100% BPA-free.

2. Cuisinart DCC-3400P1 Coffee Maker

The Cuisinart DCC-3400P1 Coffee Maker is an automatic and programmable drip coffee maker. There are two models available for this coffee maker:

• The 12-cup model. The 12-cup model comes with a thermal stainless-steel carafe.
• The 14-cup model. The 14-cup model comes with a glass carafe and is more energy efficient than the 12-cup model.

Cuisinart DCC-3400P1 Coffee Maker features and specifications:

3. Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker

The Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker is a high-quality stainless steel coffee maker with some components made of BPA-free plastic.

This coffee maker is the first household coffee maker to have an adjustable grinder.

The Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker features and specifications:

Do coffee filter papers contain plastic or other chemicals?

The bright white traditional coffee filter papers you see in stores are usually bleached to give them their whiteness. Unfortunately, the bleaching process often uses chlorine, which can be harmful to both our health and the environment.

Thankfully, there are now plenty of unbleached coffee filter papers available on the market. These filters are usually made from natural brown paper and have not been treated with any chemicals.

Some coffee aficionados claim that the unbleached filters can have a strange taste, not something I’ve experienced but that’s a personal preference you’ll have to test for yourself.

There are some filter papers that can contain microplastics, others overtly use polypropylene in their paper mix to strengthen the filters. Again you’d need to shop around to make sure you’re not inadvertently putting this plastic in your coffee cup!

If you’re looking for an even more environmentally friendly option, you could ditch the paper filters altogether and go for a reusable metal or mesh filter. These can be used over and over again, which means less waste ends up in a landfill.

Alternative Plastic Free Coffee Making Ideas

When it comes to making your coffee, there are plenty of ways to do it without using any plastic. Here are just a few ideas:-

• Use a coffee plunger or French press. These devices don’t require any disposable filters or pods – You can also compost the coffee grounds.
• Make cold brew coffee. This method doesn’t require any heat, so there’s no need for an electric coffee maker. Plus, it can be stored in a glass jar or bottle.
• Buy loose ground coffee beans and grind them yourself using a manual or electric grinder.
• If you use instant coffee, look for brands that come in recyclable packaging rather than plastic jars or sachets.
• Use a reusable K-cup. These can be filled with your favorite coffee or tea and used in a Keurig machine.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy delicious coffee without creating any unnecessary waste. By making small changes to the way you drink your coffee, you can help to make a big difference for the environment.

Conclusion

After discussing the problems associated with plastic coffee makers, coffee drinkers should certainly consider a change to the healthiest coffee maker they can find. Preferably one that is also a more environmentally friendly alternative.

Ditching the plastic entirely by purchasing a manual non-plastic coffee maker or a BPA-free plastic coffee maker is a wise decision.

However, it is crucial to consider the factors discussed above to make the best decision. Reviewing the best plastic-free and BPA-free coffee makers that I highly recommend will help many coffee drinkers choose the right coffee maker.