The Best Zero-Waste Brewing Methods for Coffee & Tea: A Complete Guide

Tea brewing methods

Recent studies have found that teabags can release billions of microplastics into every cup of tea you drink—and these can stay in your body. Even traditional tea bags that aren’t the plastic kind can contain glue, phthalate esters, chlorine, and chemicals that leach into your drink, especially when heated. To avoid toxicity and waste in your tea rituals, here are some methods you can adopt.

Loose leaf tea methods

Loose leaf tea is just the tea itself, without the toxic tea bag. At re_ grocery we carry so many different types of beautiful tea leaves and blends available for refill with zero single-use plastic needed, from jasmine blueberry green tea to dark chocolate peppermint.

To make an individual cup of tea, simply heat your water as usual, and use either a reusable mesh ball infuser or tea strainer spoon, or a wide-mouth tea strainer that sits on top of your mug.

Drinking coffee or tea is a daily ritual for many—and that means it’s a great opportunity to reduce everyday waste

You can also use our unbleached and totally chlorine-free FSC certified tea bags with no toxic additives—this is a good option for tea parties or times you have multiple guests over and not enough reusable strainers for every cup. To make a batch of tea and see the beauty of the tea as it infuses, we like a glass teapot with an internal strainer.

A good rule of thumb is to use about 1 teaspoon of loose leaf tea for every 6 ounces of water, depending on how strong you like your tea.

If you want to get really into the perfect cup of tea, here’s a quick brewing chart for different types of tea leaves:

Green tea - Brew at 140-185°F for 1-3 minutes

White tea - Brew at 160-185°F for 1-3 minutes

Black tea - Brew at 200-212°F for 3-5 minutes

Herbal tea - Brew at 200°F for 5-7 minutes

A good rule of thumb is to use about 1 teaspoon of loose leaf tea for every 6 ounces of water

Basic matcha latte

Unlike other types of green tea, with matcha you consume the leaves as a powder instead of steeping them. To make a simple matcha latte, one method is to add ½ teaspoon to a mug with a few drops of honey (optional), then add about ¼ cup of hot water and whisk using our bamboo matcha whisk. Froth some steamed milk using our milk frother and fill to the top of your mug.

At re_ grocery we carry so many different types of beautiful tea leaves and blends available for refill with zero single-use plastic needed

Cold brew iced tea

Traditional iced tea is usually brewed hot and then chilled. But cold brewing your iced tea makes for a smoother drinking experience, since heat can bring out bitter flavors.

To make cold brewed iced tea, simply add 1 teaspoon of loose leaf tea per every 6 ounces cold or room temp water to a pitcher or French press. Let the tea infuse for 6-12 hours (white or green tea are best with a gentler steeping time while black tea is more robust and can handle a longer steep). Strain through a fine-mesh sieve with a cheesecloth, or press your tea, and serve with plenty of ice and lemon.

Cold brewing your iced tea makes for a smoother drinking experience, since heat can bring out bitter flavors

Coffee brewing methods

For an eco-friendly cup of coffee, start by sourcing zero-waste coffee beans. You can find a variety of single-origin, locally roasted coffee beans and decaf available for refill without the waste in our stores or at re_ online.

For a fresh grind, we have coffee grinders at all re_ grocery locations. Just tell a staff member what type of filter you’ll use to brew and we can grind it for you!

If you’re a drip coffee die-hard, we also have certified compostable coffee filters. Otherwise, here are some go-to methods for brewing a low-waste cup of coffee.

For an eco-friendly cup of coffee, start by sourcing zero-waste coffee beans

French press coffee

A french press pot is a timeless piece of equipment and a simple way to brew your coffee fresh and plastic-free each morning. A coarse grind is best for this method.

Pour in your hot water just enough to cover the beans and allow them to “bloom” for 30-45 seconds before filling your hot water the rest of the way to the top for the final steep (a total of 4:00 including the bloom). A simple method is to use 1 tablespoon of coffee per “cup.”

A french press pot is a timeless piece of equipment and a simple way to brew your coffee fresh and plastic-free each morning

Pour over coffee

To make a cup of pour over coffee, you just need a pour over maker and cloth or compostable filters, or simply our reusable coffee filter over your mug. Place medium-coarse ground coffee in the filter, pour over hot water, and let it drip through. 1-2 tablespoons per 6 ounce mug is considered the golden ratio.

Stovetop coffee maker

To make espresso on the stovetop using a moka pot, pour filtered water into the base up to the small inner gasket. Next, fill up the top basket to just below the rim with coffee beans to measure how much you’ll need. Grind your beans fine, like an espresso grind. Add back to the basket, screw the two halves of your moka pot together, and set on the stove top.

Turn on the heat (not too high), until the coffee starts to percolate up into the “chimney” on top. Lower the heat to avoid, and if you hear sputtering, remove from the heat (you want to avoid boiling your coffee).

Place medium-coarse ground coffee in the filter, pour over hot water, and let it drip through. 1-2 tablespoons per 6 ounce mug is considered the golden ratio.

Cold brew coffee

Cold brew addict? You don’t need a cold brew concentrate—or any fancy equipment—to make a batch of icy brew at home. Grind your beans coarsely for this, then add them to a jar and pour your water on top (a 1:2 coffee to water ratio will do). Stir and let the jar sit covered on your counter for 12-24 hours (the longer it steeps, the stronger your coffee).

Strain well (into a jug, if you like) using a fine-mesh sieve lined with compostable filters or cheesecloth or using a french press. Store chilled and serve over ice with water to dilute and your milk of choice.

If you’re not into coffee but still want a cozy mug in the morning, try a functional mix

Instant coffee and coffee alternatives

If you’re going camping and have a way to boil water, an instant coffee mix like this functional super latte mix is an easy way to get your caffeine boost. Simply mix or froth 3 tablespoons with 8 ounces of hot water and stir.

If you’re not into coffee but still want a cozy mug in the morning, try a functional mix like a adaptogenic latte mix, caffeine-free turmeric latte mix, chicory coffee alternative, or a nighttime latte blend for rest.

When you’re done with leftover coffee grounds and tea leaves, throw them in the compost, or repurpose them if you’re feeling crafty

Low-waste milk options for a delicious cup of coffee

For those who don’t take their tea straight or their coffee black, some milk options are more environmentally friendly than others. For plant-based milk with no bottle necessary, try instant oat milk powder, available in bulk at our stores. Shelf-stable and made with just one ingredient, it’s a great option for frothing straight into your lattes.

For organic milk without the plastic, come in stores to buy our whole milk and get a $3 deposit back on every bottle you return.

What to do with leftover coffee grounds and tea leaves

When you’re done with leftover coffee grounds and tea leaves, throw them in the compost, or repurpose them if you’re feeling crafty. Upcycled coffee grounds can go great in a lip or body scrub with a bit of brown sugar, honey, and some coconut oil.

We hope this guide helps you choose your favorite method of brewing coffee and tea, whether you’re making a batch of cold brew or treating yourself to a matcha latte. By removing unwanted toxins, plastic, and trash from your daily ritual, you’ll enjoy every cup that much more.