Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2067/47001
Title: Carbon footprint of different coffee brewing methods
Authors: Cibelli, Matteo
Cimini, Alessio 
Moresi, Mauro 
Journal: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING TRANSACTIONS 
Issue Date: 2021
Abstract: 
Roasted and ground coffee in Italy is currently dominating in consumption and revenues. However, the portioned coffee market is recording continuous and constant growth notwithstanding a great concern about the unnecessary consumption of non-renewable resources and huge generation of often aluminum-polluted wastes. The aim of this work was to assess the cradle-to-grave carbon footprint of a 40-mL cup of coffee, prepared using different brewing methods (i.e., a 3-cup Moka pot, and three single-serving coffee machines) and distinct formats (i.e., 250-g vacuum flexible bags, 44-mm Easy Serving Espresso pods, and Nespresso®-type capsules), in compliance with the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2050 standard method. The production of one cup of coffee gave rise to 45-57 or 47-59 g CO2e when using the Moka pot heated by an induction- or gas-fired stove, 74-96 g CO2e when using the espresso coffee machine, 72-92 g CO2e when using the pod coffee machine, and 57-73 g CO2e when using the capsule coffee machine, whether the post-consumer wastes were incinerated or disposed of in landfills. Moreover, by using coffee pods or capsules, the contribution of the packaging material production and post-consumer waste disposal increased up to represent the secondary share of the overall GHG emissions. Based on these estimates, the environmentally aware consumer should be conscious that the preparation of a cup of coffee with a coffee pod or capsule machine would result in extra emissions of 27.6 or 12.6 g CO2e with respect to those emitted with an induction Moka pot, respectively. By referring to the current Italian consumption of 80-million coffee cups per day, such extra GHG emissions would equal to those emitted by a Euro 5 city car (ca. 100 g CO2e/km) traveling around the Earth's equator as many as 551 or 252 times per day, respectively.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2067/47001
ISSN: 2283-9216
DOI: 10.1016/j.spc.2021.04.004
Rights: CC0 1.0 Universal
Appears in Collections:A1. Articolo in rivista

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat Existing users please
10- Carbon Footprint of Different Coffee Brewing Methods.pdf575.68 kBAdobe PDF    Request a copy
Show full item record

SCOPUSTM   
Citations 20

1
Last Week
6
Last month
3
checked on Mar 24, 2024

Page view(s)

58
Last Week
0
Last month
0
checked on Mar 27, 2024

Download(s)

3
checked on Mar 27, 2024

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


This item is licensed under a Creative Commons License Creative Commons