The unexpected reason we're consuming less coffee
![Keurig Green Mountain K-Cups](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9ygRXyb4fmRTn2zMg6qNQU-594-80.jpg)
Despite the fact that Keurig Green Mountain's K-Cups create exorbitant amounts of plastic waste as a byproduct of supporting Americans' coffee addictions, a new report suggests that Keurig machines are simultaneously decreasing our actual coffee waste.
While the company sold enough non-recyclable coffee containers in 2014 to circle the Earth 10.5 times, national coffee consumption actually declined this year for the first time since 2009-2010, according to a biannual USDA report released on Friday. The reason isn't a lack of desire to stay caffeinated — rather, the rise of Keurig machines means that fewer Americans are wasting the extra drip coffee that often gets poured down the drain. Nearly a quarter of Americans brew coffee at home in Keurig-style machines. "We're losing the sink as a consumer," one roaster told Reuters.
Although millions feel naked without clutching a coffee cup in hand each morning, overall coffee consumption in the United States will drop from 24 million 60-kg bags to 23.7 million in 2015-2016, the report estimates. This may seem like a minor decline, but it will make the U.S. the only top coffee-drinking nation to see demand fall after experiencing steady growth.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Munich Security Conference: will 'stench of appeasement' overpower old world order?
Today's Big Question Trump's talks with Putin threaten the international rules-based order, say critics
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Decline of dating apps: will AI be our knight in shining armour?
In The Spotlight New features have raised concerns about privacy and manipulation
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 8 - 14 February
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?
Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published