What is TalkShopLive?

Before we get into the exciting details, let's talk about TalkShopLive. It's the place where shopping meets live streaming, and it's revolutionizing the way we discover and buy amazing products. Think of it as a virtual marketplace where you can tune in, ask questions, and shop live, all from the comfort of your own home. It's like QVC for the digital age, but with a unique twist – you get to interact directly with the hosts and experts.

Meet the Hosts: Katie Kissell and Nathan Grant

Steeped Coffee is bringing some heavy hitters to the TalkShopLive stage. Katie Kissell, Sr. Marketing Director, will be there to guide you through the world of Steeped Coffee. With her passion for all things Steeped, she's the perfect host to keep you engaged and informed.

But that's not all! Nathan Grant, Steeped Coffee's resident coffee expert and Q-grader (basically a sommelier of coffee), will be joining as well. He's the guy you want by your side when you're on a quest for the perfect cup of coffee. Nathan will be sharing his extensive knowledge, brew method tips and tricks, and highlighting his favorite roasts. If you've ever wanted to take your coffee game to the next level, this is your chance to learn from the best.

What to Expect During the Live Session

During the Steeped Coffee live session, you can expect an exciting and informative experience. Katie and Nathan will be chatting with coffee enthusiasts like you, answering all your burning questions about Steeped Coffee. Whether you're curious about our unique brewing process or want to know more about the different coffee roasts, this is the time to ask.

But there's more! Steeped Coffee has some exclusive discounts lined up just for this live event. You'll have the opportunity to snag some fantastic deals on our exceptional coffee blends, so be prepared to stock up on your favorite brews.

So, mark your calendars, set your alarms, and get ready to join Katie and Nathan on TalkShopLive for an unforgettable coffee adventure. Whether you're a coffee connoisseur or just love a good cup of joe, this is an event you won't want to miss.

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, October 3rd
• Time: 5:00 PM PDT - 5:20 PM PDT
• Talk Shop Live: Steeped Coffee’s Channel

Prepare your questions, your coffee mugs, and your enthusiasm for an evening of coffee talk with Steeped Coffee on TalkShopLive. We'll see you there! ☕🎉

Joining Brew Crew is as easy as indulging in your favorite coffee blend. Whether you're a seasoned coffee connoisseur or just starting your caffeine-fueled journey, this program is designed to reward you for your dedication to the art of brewing. It's our way of saying thank you for being a part of the Steeped Coffee family.

How It Works

Sign Up

Joining the Brew Crew is the first step towards unlocking a world of exclusive perks. Simply visit our website and create your account and you’re already on your way. Get rewarded with your first 250 points just for signing up. Look for the little Brew Crew button on the bottom left of your screen to see, earn or redeem points.

Note: If you have an existing account with in our store, 250 points have been awarded to you already.

Earn Points

Earn 50 points for following us on Instagram, 150 points for posting a review with an image, 5 points per $1 spent on purchases and a $5 coupon for you and any friend you refer.

Savor the Rewards

Once you've earned enough points, it's time to reap the rewards! Brew Crew members enjoy a fantastic 5% cash back on every purchase. That's right - you'll receive a jolt of happiness in your cup and in your wallet!

Now, we know you might be thinking, "What's the catch?" Well, there isn't one! The Brew Crew is our way of showing our appreciation for your love and support. You're part of our coffee-loving community, and we want to make your coffee experience even more rewarding.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your favorite mug, brew up a cup of happiness, and join Steeped’s Brew Crew today! Visit our website and sign up to unlock a world of coffee-filled adventures.

If you have any questions about the Brew Crew or need assistance with signing up, our friendly customer support team is here to help. Just reach out to us at support@steepedcoffee.com, and we'll be more than happy to assist you.

Thank you for being a part of Steeped Coffee. We can't wait to celebrate each sip with our new Brew Crew!

Nearly 45 years after Carlo Di Ruocco brought the magic of Oak Wood Roasting to Northern California’s shores, we’re marrying that timeless tradition with our time-saving technology.

Carlo Di Ruocco spent years in his hometown of Salerno, Italy apprenticing under skilled coffee roasters and mastering the unique art of Oak Wood Roasting. When he immigrated to San Francisco in the late ‘70’s, he saw an opportunity to share his wisdom and passion for coffee with his newfound neighbors. From his passion for coffee and love for San Francisco, he created the now household name brand, Mr. Espresso. To this day, Mr. Espresso remains as one of the only macro-roasters in the US that still practice Oak Wood Roasting, which serves as a testament to the sustained passion that Mr. Espresso puts into every cup.

In bringing Steeped’s passion for quality and sustainability and Mr. Espresso’s well-honed craft together, we’re entering into a collaboration set to galvanize the single-serve specialty coffee industry.

Why Oak Wood Roasting?

Mr. Espresso is the only macro-roaster in the U.S. to use Oak Wood Roasting, an artisanal slow-roasting method. This traditional roasting technique is said to bring out each bean’s full and rich flavor, yielding a smooth finish. It's a time-honored method that results in a unique flavor profile that can't be achieved with other roasting methods.

Meet the Mr. Espresso x Steeped Coffee Blends:

Mr. Espresso offers two delicious organic blends that pair perfectly with Steeped’s time-saving brewing method: the Golden Gate House Blend and their fan-favorite Seven Bridges Blend.

The  Golden Gate House Blend is a Fair Trade and Organic certified blend that was inspired by the stunning landscapes and picture-perfect sunsets of the San Francisco Bay. It's a blend of dark chocolate, sweet caramel, and fruit-toned acidity that creates a smooth and complex flavor profile.

The  Seven Bridges Blend, on the other hand, pays homage to the diversity of people and tastes in the San Francisco Bay Area. It's a velvety-bodied blend with depth and a complex, multilayer flavor dynamic. This blend is a favorite among customers and chefs alike and can be found at some of the finest dining establishments around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Steeped Coffee

When paired with Mr. Espresso's timeless Oak Wood Roasted blends, you'll experience a full-bodied, smooth, and complex flavor like never before. Just place your favorite Mr. Espresso x Steeped bag in hot water, dunk, and steep to begin your favorite new ritual. Whether you're a coffee enthusiast, an environmentalist, or both, this ground-breaking collaboration has something for everyone. Give it a try today and taste the difference that Oak Wood Roasting can make!

Shop Mr Espresso Blends:

Steeped Coffee, quickly becoming the new standard in single-serve coffee, is the only fully compostable brewing method that doesn’t require a machine, grinder, or specialty equipment to prepare premium coffee. Brewed similar to tea, Steeped delivers a simple cup of barista-approved coffee in minutes. Each pack contains craft-roasted, freshly ground pre-portioned coffee that is triple nitro-sealed to guarantee the perfect cup every time.

“La Colombe is proud to partner with Steeped Coffee, an innovative company leading the industry in offering guilt-free packaging for single-serve consumers,” said Nico O’Connell, Vice President Sales and Wholesale, La Colombe Coffee Roasters. “I remember my first cup of Steeped Coffee that I brought with me on a business trip. In comparison to in-room coffee, my Steeped experience was a game-changer — smooth and perfectly well-balanced. The possibilities are endless.”

The La Colombe partnership is a notable addition to Steeped’s line of premium coffee brands. La Colombe’s Steeped Packs debut with Monaco Medium Roast, Corsica Dark Roast, and Monte Carlo Decaffeinated coffees. Steeped Coffee has established over 200 licensed partnerships with specialty coffee roasters across the country, bringing the award-winning Steeped Brewing Method to coffee lovers nationwide. Steeped Packs are available for purchase online, at premium grocery stores, or through hospitality, office, and other wholesale providers.

“Steeped doesn’t take its barista-approved standards lightly and we’ve worked closely with La Colombe to validate every aspect of the Steeped Method from freshness, quality, extraction, shelf life, and most importantly, consistent taste to bring the most authentic La Colombe experience directly to single-serve consumers,” said Josh Wilbur, Founder and CEO, Steeped Coffee.

About Steeped Coffee

Steeped, Inc. based in Santa Cruz, California, is a Certified B Corp and Benefit Corporation focused on every detail from farm-to-cup and beyond, to bring people the most convenient, quality, ethically sourced, and sustainably packaged products available. Steeped is the new standard in coffee helping to make quality coffee more accessible through its proprietary technology and Steeped Brewing Method that is licensed to over 200 of the top specialty roasters around the globe. Steeped delivers 100% freshly roasted, precision ground, and nitro-sealed specialty coffee pre-portioned within Steeped Full Immersion Filters. Steeped Coffee is the simplest way to make a perfect cup of coffee by just adding water, with no machine needed. Welcome to Coffee Simplified. 

Steeped Coffee is available through KeHE, as well as on Amazon with Prime Free Delivery, at premium supermarkets, luxury hotels, and offices with craft coffee and at-home services. For more information, visit steepedcoffee.com. For business inquiries, contact sales@steepedcoffee.com or visit steepedcoffee.com/business.

Since launch, Steeped Inc. a Certified B Corp, has sought to answer the environmental dilemma created by non-recyclable brewing machines and billions of coffee pods that accumulate in the world’s landfills every year. 

“Since 2009, so many plastic pods have been used that if placed side-by-side, they would wrap around the planet over 130 times,” says Josh Wilbur, Steeped’s Founder and CEO. 

Steeped Coffee is one of the only brewing methods that doesn’t require a machine, grinder, or special equipment to prepare premium coffee. Brewed similar to tea, Steeped Bags only need water to make a simple cup of specialty coffee.

After years of development, the current version of Steeped Guilt-Free packaging utilizes renewable materials that pair high performance with the ability to safely break down per current compostability standards. 

“We are constantly looking at every element of our company’s footprint, while also preserving coffee quality and freshness,” says Wilbur. “We continue to learn and innovate to improve all of the materials within the Steeped Brewing Method as a top priority — not an afterthought.”

Through licensed partnerships, Steeped, Inc. is expanding the positive impact of its fully compostable brewing method to over 125 specialty coffee roasters around the globe. Steeped, Inc. has also recently launched a Steeped Packaging division offering compostable packaging to other sustainably-minded packaged goods companies. 

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries. The day is meant to celebrate clean air, land, and water, and to help raise awareness for environmental issues.

Frontline healthcare workers are facing one of the biggest challenges of their careers, and we want to help any way that we can. With you, we'd like to make sure their next great cup of coffee is on us.

Help us support these heroes by gifting 5, 10, or 30 Steeped Coffee Packs. We'll match every gift, pack for pack, and deliver directly to frontline healthcare workers across California.

May Update

We’re thrilled to announce that Steeped Coffee has been selected by The Ellen DeGeneres Show for Ellen’s Summer 2020 BE KIND. by ellen Subscription Box!

Everything in the box does something kind for the world. On behalf of Ellen’s subscribers and as part of our “You Give, We Give” campaign, we’re delivering coffee to frontline healthcare workers battling the COVID-19 crisis for every box sold! Get your box now at BEKINDbyellen.com and use code SUMMERPARTNER10 for $10 off your box! 

April Update

Your generosity has been inspiring since day one of You Give, We Give, and together we have gifted over 2000 packs of fresh coffee to support frontline healthcare workers across California!

To date, we have delivered fresh Steeped Coffee packs to 

Help us continue to show support for doctors, nurses, firefighters, police, and first responders on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis by making sure their next great cup of coffee is on us.

You Give, We Give is Live! 

To help fuel and lift the spirits of the many frontline doctors, nurses, firefighters, police, and first responders battling the COVID-19 crisis, we've launched You Give, We Give. When you gift Steeped Coffee Packs through You Give, We Give, Steeped will match every gift, pack for pack, and provide free weekly deliveries directly to the hospitals, stations, and clinics where they're needed most.

Steeped Coffee is one of the only brewing methods that doesn’t require a machine, grinder, or special equipment to prepare premium coffee. Brewed similar to tea, Steeped only needs hot water to make a fresh cup of barista approved coffee. Each pack contains hand roasted ground coffee that is nitro sealed for freshness in compostable packaging and preparing a cup with Steeped bypasses any risks of using a communal coffee pot — welcomed news for anyone working on the front lines or in social spaces.

Steeped has kicked off You Give, We Give by gifting 480 Steeped Coffee Packs to Dominican Santa Cruz, Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center of Santa Cruz, and the Santa Cruz Health Department. Help us reach more frontline healthcare workers across California by participating today.

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As this uncertain time unfolds, we feel it’s important to let you know the health and well-being of our community, our employees, and our partners is at the forefront of every decision we make.

Rest assured that Steeped is focused on the safety and integrity of every order that leaves our facility. Since day one, we have and will continue to manufacture all of our products according to the highest standards of health and safety. In addition to this, we are taking these key steps (and many more) as a response to recent developments: 

• All staff not directly involved in manufacturing or fulfillment have been working remotely since March 12th and are sheltering in place at home.
• We are a closed facility with no access to the general public and have implemented a non-essential travel and visitor ban. 
• The Production team running Steeped HQ has created working zones to maintain social distancing and limiting the number of staff in the manufacturing and fulfillment area at any given time. All staff who enter the facility are checked for symptoms and are sheltering in place at home between shifts. All staff members are instructed to stay home if symptoms develop. 
• Facility cleanings have been intensified by disinfecting common surfaces in the workplace and a 3rd party cleaning service has been added for additional weekly deep cleanings.
• As a B-Corp, we will continue to provide all employees access to paid sick time, paid time off, health benefits, and other progressive policies. In addition, we will provide extensions for paid time off, if necessary, for the well-being of our employees.

One of the core values of Steeped Coffee is Purpose Beyond Profits, which means we strive to give back whenever possible, but especially in times of great need. Currently, we have donated 1,000 Steeped Coffee Packs to CityTeam to help support those experiencing homelessness, poverty, hunger, and addiction. CityTeam is actively responding to the food and shelter needs of its Bay Area community during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Steeped is also seeking to donate Steeped Coffee to front line health care workers in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas. We feel Steeped Coffee would be a timely tool to fuel those working long hours to save lives during this crisis, since our single-serve method doesn’t require communal coffee pots or equipment (the craft coffee is a bonus). If you or anyone you know has contacts in the Bay Area that could help us get Steeped Coffee directly to front line health care workers in hospitals, fire stations, clinics, care centers and beyond, please contact us via email at support@steepedcoffee.com. 

At the end of the day, we are here to make life a little bit easier by providing the most convenient, high quality, and sustainably packaged coffee available. If we can provide an easy way for you to take your moment while enjoying your next cup of specialty coffee, it’s our honor to help.  

If you’re in the US and want to step up your home coffee setup with convenient coffee, a sleek water kettle, or anything else we sell, shipping is free on our whole store and for all order values until further notice. And if you already have a Steeped Coffee Subscription, future US orders will be shipped for free until further notice. 

If you have any questions, our team is ready to assist you. The fastest way to connect with us is via email at support@steepedcoffee.com.

Thank you for being a part of this amazing community.

The Steeped Coffee Team

But you can save time and money – and the planet – on a superior brew by making it at home, exactly the way you like it.

The award-winning coffee experts at Steeped Coffee have some tips on preparing the perfect iced coffee. Their simple method requires no gadgets, no expensive equipment, no mystery instant powders, and no wasteful pods. With a pack of single-serve Steeped Coffee, a great-tasting and sustainable glass of cold summer happiness is just a few minutes away.

Steeped, Inc. is all about coffee without compromise. Their proprietary single-serve brewing method features Steeped Coffee Bags (think tea bags engineered for coffee) to deliver the best ethically-sourced and locally roasted specialty coffee, one delicious cup at a time. Nitro-sealed to preserve freshness, Steeped Packs are made with renewable and compostable materials.

How to make Steeped Coffee Concentrate

According to the team at Steeped, the secret to a classic iced coffee is a well-crafted ‘coffee concentrate’. A good concentrate is also the basis for many other refreshing coffee drinks we associate with summer sipping.

First, we’ll cover the recipe for Steeped Coffee Concentrate, and then we’ll dive into all the different variations of iced coffee you can create using that concentrate.

For each serving, you’ll need

• 1 Steeped Coffee Pack
• 10 oz. mug
• Filtered water

Directions

1. Heat filtered water to 205 degrees, or just below boiling
2. Place a Steeped Bag at the bottom of a standard 10oz mug
3. Pour hot water over the Steeped Bag until the mug is half full
4. Dip and dunk Steeped Bag 20 to 30 times over 1 minute
5. Leave the Steeped Bag in, and let steep for 5 to 7 minutes or more to taste
6. Remove Steeped Bag. Your Steeped Coffee Concentrate is now ready for one of our 7 recipes below.

Pro Tips

Now it’s time to win summer with Steeped Iced Coffee in 7 delightful variations.

RECIPE #1: STEEPED ICED COFFEE

For each serving, you’ll need

• 1 serving of Steeped Coffee Concentrate (see above)
• A tall glass
• Ice
• Optional: sugar and creamer or dairy substitute such as oat milk

Directions

1. Fill the glass to the top with ice 
2. Slowly pour the Steeped Coffee Concentrate into the glass
3. Optional: top off with your favorite sweetener, creamer or dairy substitute to taste. Stir and enjoy.

RECIPE #2: STEEPED ICED LATTE

You’ll need

• Steeped Coffee Concentrate (see above)
• A tall glass
• Milk or dairy substitute such as oat milk
• Cocktail shaker
• Ice
• Optional: a simple syrup or flavored coffee syrup

Directions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
2. Add 1 part Steeped Coffee Concentrate and 1 part milk
3. Sweeten to taste or use a flavored coffee syrup to make a vanilla latte, caramel latte, or other classics
4. Shake until foamy
5. Pour into a chilled glass

RECIPE #3: STEEPED BLENDED (FRAPPUCCINO-STYLE) COFFEE

You’ll need

• Steeped Coffee Concentrate (see above)
• A tall glass
• Milk
• Blender
• Ice
• Whipped cream
• Optional: sweetener or flavored coffee syrup

Directions

1. Fill a blender with a glass full of ice
2. Add 1 part Steeped Coffee Concentrate and 1 part milk (or dairy substitute)
3. Sweeten to your preference or use a flavored coffee syrup to make a vanilla latte, caramel latte, or other classics
4. Pour into a chilled glass
5. Top with whipped cream to taste

RECIPE #4: STEEPED ICED MOCHA

You’ll need

• 1 serving of Steeped Coffee Concentrate (see above)
• A tall glass
• Good quality chocolate syrup
• Ice
• Cream or preferred dairy substitute
• Whipped cream

Directions

1. Pour the Steeped Coffee Concentrate into the glass
2. Stir in chocolate syrup and milk or dairy substitute, leaving space for ice
3. Add ice to the glass until full and stir
4. Top with whipped cream to taste

RECIPE #5: STEEPED VIETNAMESE ICED COFFEE

You’ll need

• 1 serving of Steeped Coffee Concentrate (see above)
• A tall glass
• Sweetened condensed milk
• Ice

Directions

1. Fill the glass to the top with ice 
2. Slowly pour the Steeped Coffee Concentrate into the glass
3. Stir in sweetened condensed milk

RECIPE #6: STEEPED THAI ICED COFFEE

You’ll need

• A tall glass
• Extra-strong Steeped Coffee Concentrate (use two Steeped Coffee Bags instead of one)
• Sweetened condensed milk or evaporated milk or coconut cream
• Ground cardamom
• Ice

Directions

1. Fill the glass to the top with ice 
2. Slowly pour the strong Steeped Coffee Concentrate into the glass
3. Top with your choice of sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, or coconut cream, but DO NOT STIR
4. Sweeten to taste
5. Sprinkle with ground cardamom

RECIPE #7: STEEPED SPIKED ICED COFFEE

You’ll need

• A tall glass
• 1 serving of Steeped Coffee Concentrate (see above)
• Liqueur of your choice: hazelnut, orange, Irish cream, amaretto, etc.
• Ice
• Sweetener or creamer (optional)

Directions

1. Fill the glass to the top with ice 
2. Slowly pour the Steeped Coffee Concentrate into the glass
3. Stir in 1 shot of liqueur
4. Sweeten and top with creamer to taste.
5. Stir and enjoy

Steeped earned the award from the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), a trade organization comprising coffee professionals from around the world, on April 13 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The Specialty Coffee Expo is the largest coffee event in North America, attracting more than 13,000 attendees and hundreds of vendors from over 75 countries each year.

“This award further validates the excitement around the Steeped Coffee Method and particularly in the way our team is empowering our specialty coffee partners to find success without compromise through initiatives like our Guilt-Free Packaging,” said Josh Wilbur, Founder and CEO of Steeped Coffee.

Wilbur patented the Steeped Brewing Method in response to the environmental impact of billions of unrecyclable pods accumulating in landfills each year. Unable to find viable options, Steeped sourced and developed its own sustainable packaging materials, which are now available to other consumer packaged goods companies. 

Steeped Coffee has been creating a buzz throughout the coffee industry with its environmentally-responsible approach. Its proprietary single-serve brewing method delivers freshly ground, nitro sealed specialty coffee in guilt-free packaging, made using renewable and compostable materials. 

Simply add hot water to the Steeped Bags for the perfect cup. No machines, no special equipment, no plastic pods, no waste – just fresh, ethically-sourced, micro-batch coffee that is being celebrated by a growing list of renowned roasters and baristas across the nation. 

The Steeped Coffee brand is available in five roasts: light, medium, dark, French roast, and a single-origin Swiss Water Process decaf. You can get your hands on Steeped Coffee packs at www.steepedcoffee.com, various luxury hotels, top company break rooms, by asking your local retail stores to start carrying Steeped, or through any of the partnered specialty roasters now offering their coffee in the Steeped Brewing Method. 

In a world quickly moving towards convenience, solutions that focus on sustainability are few and far between. Steeped, Inc. hopes to help fuel the change by offering more guilt-free packaging—even by enjoying a simple cup of quality coffee while at home, at work, or on-the-go. 

Like many Americans, 29-year-old Tiffany Mooney uses a single-serving beverage brewing system to produce her daily cup of coffee.

She loads the at-home brewer in the morning with a pint-sized plastic coffee capsule and within minutes her hot drink is ready. Around lunchtime, she pops in a plastic-encased Cappuccino-flavored brew to keep her going. 

And right before bed, the Hanceville, Alabama, resident opts for a "relaxing" hot chocolate flavor.

"That thing is my life," Mooney said about her Walmart-brand coffee maker. "But I know that tossing the empty little cups in the garbage after I use them isn't the most environmentally friendly thing to do."

She's right. 

They’re small, convenient and filled with every flavor imaginable.

For some, they're pricey to buy. Others purchase them in bulk by the dozen. Regardless of how or where you buy the 2-by-2-inch pods, these modern-day coffee containers increasingly contribute to the mountain of plastic that's ending up in landfills.

"Coffee pods are one of the best examples of unnecessary single-use plastics that are polluting our planet," said John Hocevar, the campaign director of Greenpeace USA, an environmental nonprofit organization. "Many end up getting incinerated, dumping poison into our air, water and our soil."

Coffee pods can wind up in rivers where they wash into lakes and oceans. Over time, the plastic breaks down into smaller pieces that choke and kill wildlife, Hocevar said.

Whether K-Cups, or Nespresso Capsules, or other brands, coffee pods are generally small plastic or aluminum containers with aluminum foil lids that can create one cup of coffee with the press of a button. Despite being substantially more expensive per pound than regular coffee brewed in a pot, they’ve been the go-to solution for caffeine addicts who need a quick fix since the '90s.

Coffee pods surrounded by other groceries. Photo: Jackson Ruckar

But the big boom happened around 2012, according to the National Coffee Association (NCA). In 2012, about 10 percent of coffee consumers brewed using this method, and the percentage increased each year since.

By 2018, the number of users more than doubled. Today, 41 percent of Americans own a single-cup coffee maker, according to NCA and Statista, a market research firm. 

Front and center at supermarkets, drugstores and select dollar chains nationwide, popular brands include Keurig Green Mountain, Starbucks, Folger Coffee Co. and Kraft Heinz Co.

Keurig, Inc. launched its K-Cups for the home in 2004, after growing popularity in the office market. Within 10 years, enough K-Cups were sold that if placed end-to-end, they would circle the globe 10 times, Hocevar said.

A Keurig spokesperson said the company sold 10.5 billion K-Cups for the fiscal year ending in September 2015, which is the last year public data was available, the Chicago Tribune notes. Keurig went private after a $13.9 billion buyout by JAB Holding Co. in 2016.

That same year, some cities around the globe began banning K-Cups entirely, due to the product's recycle-resistant nature. In Hamburg, Germany, coffee pods were banned from state-run buildings as part of an environmental movement.

Even the creator of the K-Cup has stopped using them out of guilt, saying that he “feels bad sometimes” about the product's wasteful impact, according to the Atlantic.

Part of the problem with recycling tiny coffee pods stems from traceability.

The capsules are often too small for some sorting systems at recycling plants to pick up. Also, recycling centers can be overwhelmed with mountains of trash, so sifting through a mound of garbage for tiny capsules isn't always efficient.

"K-cups bog down the entire waste management system," Hocevar said. "They make things more expensive to recycle that would otherwise be easy and inexpensive such as aluminum cans."

There's a petition on KillTheKCup.org to help bring attention to the growing waste produced by K-Cups.

Now in its ninth year, the NEXTies, presented by Event Santa Cruz, honors some of the area’s best and brightest. Out of 1,700 nominations this year, the NEXTies honors 16 individuals, businesses and nonprofits that focus on progressive, community-building work.

2018 MOST INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: STEEPED COFFEE

Launched to the public through a Kickstarter campaign, the brainchild of Josh Wilbur is a single-use coffee in a renewable and biodegradable Steeped Bag, with the ritual of tea. While it may sound simple, it actually took Wilbur years to develop a coffee steeping bag. The packaging is all compostable, and the coffee is ethically sourced—providing the purest and most Santa Cruz way of getting that warm cup of specialty coffee.

Residents of the greater San Diego area, rejoice! Dark Horse Steeped Coffee Packs are now available! Get the Odd Harmonics or Fruit Party blends delivered straight to your door by ordering here.