Climate Action
Drinks That Don’t Get As Much Heat As Coffee: Three Alternative Morning Beverages and Their Environmental Impacts
April 18, 2025
Coffee has long dominated the morning beverage scene, fueling over a billion people every day with its bold flavor and caffeine kick. However, it has also been scrutinized for its environmental footprint, since each cup requires vast amounts of water, contributes to deforestation, and often raises ethical concerns about fair working conditions for farmers. While coffee remains the go-to choice for many, there are alternative drinks that offer their own unique benefits, flavors, and environmental impacts. Chai, matcha, and energy drinks are popular alternatives to coffee. Let’s look at how they compare in their caffeine levels and environmental impact.
Matcha
Matcha, a finely ground green tea powder, offers a gentler caffeine boost than coffee while boasting a more sustainable environmental footprint. A typical cup of matcha contains around 60 to 70 milligrams of caffeine, compared to the 95 milligrams in an average 8-ounce cup of coffee. This provides a more balanced energy lift without the jitters or crashes that some experience with coffee.
Environmentally, matcha requires significantly less water to produce – about 8,856 liters per kilogram – while coffee demands over double that amount at 19,000 liters. Additionally, organic matcha farming reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, as it is often cultivated using traditional methods like hand-picking leaves and shading tea bushes to enhance flavor. Matcha is also grown on small plots of land, which helps preserve soil biodiversity.
Unlike coffee, which generates waste from discarded grounds and filters, matcha uses the entire tea leaf and minimizes waste. Plus, since matcha is a powder, it eliminates the need for tea bags and extra packaging. This makes it an eco-friendlier alternative for those looking to reduce their environmental impact while still enjoying a morning caffeine boost.
Chai
Chai – a spiced tea blend traditionally made with black tea, milk, and various spices like cardamom, cinnamon, or ginger – offers a flavorful alternative to coffee. In terms of caffeine content, chai typically contains around 40–60 milligrams per cup. This makes it a good option for those looking to cut back on caffeine while still enjoying a warm, energizing drink. When made with milk or plant-based alternatives, chai also provides a creamy texture that can rival the richness of a latte.
From an environmental perspective, chai has a lower water footprint than coffee, largely due to the lower water requirements of tea cultivation. Black tea – the base of most chai blends – requires significantly less water per kilogram than coffee. However, the total environmental impact can vary depending on additional ingredients such as milk and spices.
Additionally, chai can become an even more sustainable choice when sourced from organic or fair-trade farms, which minimize pesticide use and ensure ethical labor practices. Unlike single-use coffee pods or takeaway cups, loose-leaf chai or chai concentrates can be prepared with minimal waste, especially when brewed at home. With its bold flavors, customizable nature, and lower environmental impact, chai serves as a compelling alternative for those looking to swap their morning coffee for something both sustainable and satisfying.
Energy Drinks
Energy drinks provide a quick and convenient caffeine boost, typically containing between 80 and 300 milligrams of caffeine per can. These levels far exceed those regularly found in coffee or tea. While energy drinks are popular for their immediate energy-enhancing effects, their environmental impact is a growing concern, particularly due to packaging waste and ingredient sourcing. The majority of energy drinks also come with a long list of health concerns.
One of the biggest environmental drawbacks of energy drinks is their packaging. Some are sold in plastic bottles, which contribute to plastic waste and pollution if not properly recycled. Aluminum cans, on the other hand, are generally considered a more sustainable option due to their high recycling rate. Choosing brands that use recyclable materials and making sure to properly dispose of containers can help mitigate this issue. Additionally, the production of sugar – a key ingredient in many energy drinks – requires large amounts of water.
Another lesser-known concern is caffeine pollution; some studies suggest that caffeine from energy drinks can enter waterways through wastewater and potentially impact aquatic life. While research on this issue is ongoing, it highlights yet another ecological downside of energy drinks. Given these challenges, consumers looking for a more sustainable energy boost may want to consider other morning beverages with lower environmental impacts.
Other Ways to Reduce Your Caffeinated Cup’s Impact
No matter which morning beverage you sip on, there are ways to make your daily cup more sustainable. One of the simplest steps is to reduce single-use waste by brewing your drink at home, bringing a reusable to-go cup, or opting to dine in when ordering from a café. Disposable coffee cups, plastic lids, and stirrers contribute to significant waste, much of which is not easily recyclable but easily avoidable. By making small changes to how you consume your drinks, you can help cut down on unnecessary packaging and landfill waste.
Choosing organic ingredients is another way to reduce your beverage’s environmental impact. Organic coffee tea products are produced without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, which protects soil health and reduces water pollution. Additionally, supporting brands that prioritize fairtrade and sustainable farming practices ensures that workers are treated fairly and that crops are grown with long-term environmental health in mind.
Your milk choice also plays a big role in the overall footprint of your drink. Dairy milk requires significant water, land, and energy resources, while plant-based alternatives like oat, soy or almond milk come with their own environmental trade-offs. Oat milk generally has the lowest water and carbon footprint of dairy alternatives. Almond milk on the other hand has the one of the largest water footprints out of plant-based milk alternatives. By being mindful of how your drink is sourced, packaged, and consumed, you can enjoy your morning beverage of choice at a lower cost to the planet.
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