The classic French Press is the perfect Zero Waste Plastic-Free answer to all of your caffeine needs.
Admittedly, caffeine is my drug of choice. I very rarely go a day without it. Coffee is absolutely amazing but tragically, it taxes my adrenal glands. So, green tea to the rescue!
All of those little tea bags and then the bags that the tea bags come in can add up, though. Same with coffee, right? All of those little plastic pods that will end up in a landfill for all of eternity. Enter the French Press.
My French Press is made out of metal because I always manage to break the glass ones. It's technically made for camping but in my world that just translates into "Morgan-Proof." Check out your local second-hand shops as I have seen French Presses on their shelves before!
Delightfully, a French Press can be used for either coffee or tea. It actually is the best way to brew coffee if you're interested in tasting fully what you brew. Coffee, much like wine, has various taste profiles depending on its growing region and using a French Press preserves those complex flavors as a paper filter will absorb them. With tea, I find that the French Press brews it perfectly as the leaves aren't compacted and can expand to ensure proper steeping.
Coffee beans can be purchased in bulk in most places where bulk is offered. Go for organic and Fair Trade and use a cloth produce bag. Tea can also be purchased in bulk but it's harder to find. I get my tea in bulk from online and it does come in a bag - which I keep and then reuse. Alway, always, always buy organic tea. As Food Babe explains in this article, tea leaves are often not washed before they are dried. That means you pour boiling hot water all over those carcinogenic pesticides and then let them stew before ingesting. No thank you.
When you are finished consuming your caffeinated beverage, compost your tea leaves and coffee grounds (coffee grounds can also go directly into your garden if you choose, as they are rich in nitrogen and other nutrients and can even deter pests!)
As always, thank you for reading and for every plastic-free step you take!