I’m not one to pay $3 for a cup of coffee, and I know it’s not a “local” coffee shop,
but I have to give it to Starbucks when it comes to making an effort.
Starbucks bag.
Paper cups, recyclable top.
Starbucks often throws out coffee grounds in a trashcan next to the door for gardeners to take them and go. If you don’t see the trashcan full of grounds in your local Starbucks, ask the barista behind the counter how you can get the grounds for your garden! I used to pick them up weekly on my way home for my mother to sprinkle in her garden. She loved it!
Their bags are also reusable and recyclable.
I’ve used this bag for various things. The latest is to collect my tops so that I can send them off to be recycled at Caps-n-Cups.
Starbucks gives a 10 cent discount if you bring your own mug. They do this internationally, claiming “one person can save trees, together we can save forests.” I like that. (Speaking of reusable mugs, Lou and Liz have some great ideas on this, hoping to change their entire city!)
The reason I stop in? The oatmeal with mixed nuts and dried fruit. If I’m out and about and starting to get a headache, a full-of-sugar muffin isn’t going to do the trick, and coffee most certainly won’t help. But a small serving of oatmeal with nuts is something I can feel decent about eating. All I have to do is say, “No sugar please.”
Starbucks also sells fair trade coffee. If all companies took responsibility for their products, wouldn’t we all be better off?
If you drink coffee out of the house, where do you buy it? And what’s your favorite coffee drink?
More about Starbucks:
- Great Coffee Shop Hunt: Starbucks (traveleatrepeat.com)
- Pricing not an issue for Starbucks – Shaun Rein (chinaherald.net)
- Order a Pour-Over to Get Fresh, Properly Brewed Coffee at Starbucks [Coffee] (lifehacker.com)
- 5 minute Starbucks Slave (levonsobsessions.com)
- Earth Week Challenge: Day 3 (huffingtonpost.com)
- Free Coffee at Starbucks (suddenlyfrugal.com)
Attempting zero waste lifestyle in a military household 
Often I forget but normally I try to bring my coffee mug with me when I go out for a coffee. We have a coffee shop called “Happy Donuts” and they serve pretty good coffee.
For most of the time I drink my coffee at the house. It’s WAY CHEAPER.
It’s nice to know that Starbucks is making such an effort – I took my son to McDonald’s last week per his request (he has a job and used his own money – I generally like to stay away from fast food – just on principe) but I noticed they had the calories posted on their drive through menu. Another small step in the right direction from a corporation…
I don’t really drink coffee except on rare occasions – it’s usually a treat on a winter evening or an iced coffee on a summer afternoon, and we generally make our own. The last time I had coffee out was a McDonald’s Frappe this spring, so I devised how to make it at home – tastes better, cheaper, and no strange ingredients.
I do have a slower start up in the am with no caffeine, though…
LOL! Ladies, you know I’m right there with you!! 🙂
I’m just too cheap to buy coffee, but I do like those free coffee grounds.
I have a hard time buying what I can make myself. But I love seeing the reuse, reuse, reuse, ad nauseum, THEN recycle. They’re onto something there.
Thanks for posting this – I feel better about going there already! I did not know about the 10% off for own mug. I’ll try it next time.
P.C. Zick—it’s 10 cents off, not 10%. But wouldn’t that be nice! I like your mindset!! Yes, let the guilt go and drink up! They’re doing a lot of good things.
I agree with you 100%… we need more recycling! The Republicans have been up to no good and the Earth is suffering because of it! Wake up people!!