If you are a fan of single-cup brewing systems, a simple switch to replacing single-use, pre-filled plastic pods with washable and reusable k-cups will save you money and put less plastic on our planet as well. Trust me. I made the switch and have never turned back.

I wasn’t an early adopter of single serve coffee machines. I liked brewing pots of coffee and it didn’t seem like a necessary switch. As my sons grew into early adulthood and our household became busier with family and friends, I gave in and bought a Keurig machine. I am now among the 40% of Americans who own a single-cup brewing system.1

From the start, I didn’t like the thought of using all that plastic per cup of coffee. 

I tried to overlook the amount of plastic we were throwing away and the amount of money I was spending on pre-filled coffee pods. I didn’t realize how much more costly these little convenient, pre-filled plastic coffee pods were.

It’s been estimated that using pre-filled k-cups costs 5 times more than brewing coffee. 

My enjoyment of coffee started to wane when I would select coffee pods based on which brand was on sale versus choosing the coffee I wanted to drink. I realized I needed to make a change for my wallet and for the planet so that I could get back to enjoying drinking coffee again.

When I purchased the single-serve coffee machine it came with a reusable pod but we didn’t use it much at first. I purchased two more reusable pods just like the original one so that we could have pods in rotation for mornings and group gatherings.

1-U.S. ownership of single-cup brewing systems 2005-2020, Statista, 2020

This experience was shared by OPL CMO Amy Bates.

Learn more about Amy.