Hippyshopper's guide to a greener cuppa

Whether it's coffee or tea that gets your little grey cells out of hibernation each morning, you'll no doubt have been made aware that your habit could be made greener. Written by a hardened caffeine addict, the following guide leaves no stones unturned in making sure you can stay green without having to give up your daily cuppa(s).

1. Always remember to only boil as much water as you need

Aside from the energy and money savings you make from cutting down the time you spend boiling water, remember that a cup of tea made with fresh water is always tastier than using re-boiled water. I wouldn't be able to explain the science behind this for a minute, but I have it on good authority from holders of physics degrees that there's good reason for this. If you don't believe me, try both ways: you'll taste the difference!

Another tip I'd add is to make sure your kettle doesn't have any cracks or leaks -- particularly around the lid. Until recently I used one of the 'astonishing value' type kettles that supermarkets sell for the price of a medium-sized bag of peanuts, and it took me a while to discover why it was taking five minutes to boil: there was a small but perfectly formed hole at the top of the jug that allowed steam to escape and slowed down boiling significantly.

Getting a decent kettle would fix this, so you might want to invest in an eco-kettle. We use this one at Shiny Towers and (other than a few confused looks from new recruits) it seems to work just fine. The Tefal Quick Cup is also a low energy option, but the not-quite-boiled water is not for everyone's cupt of tea (as least, not if you ask some of our readers!)

2. Choose a fairtrade blend

Gone are the days when the fairtrade teas and coffees on offer were (a) the most boring blends on the shelf and (b) prohibitively expensive. All larger supermarkets now sell many different makes and blends of fairtrade coffee and tea, and even most smaller ones will stock a basic variety. If you want to stock up for your home or office, the widest range of fairtrade beverages online is the Traidcraft shop. For more speciality fairtrade and organic blends, Clipper has some fantastic teas, coffees and hot chocolates.

Alternatively, you could do your health a favour and pick a caffeine free, organic tea. Whether you're a fan of green tea (and I know people who swear it keeps you young) or fruit varieties, there are literally thousands to choose from.

3. Keep your drink warmer for longer

How many times have you given up on a cup of tea or coffee for the small crime of going cold? It's not the drink's fault you didn't pay it enough attention, so why not show it some love next time?

There's a great knitting patterns here for a 'sweater' to keep your cafetiere warm, but if you're not up to making one yourself, there are plenty of other drink-warming items to be bought. From good old-fashioned tea cozies to high-tech flasks, there's no reason to let a drink go cold.

If all else fails, remember you can always re-heat your drink in the microwave. This is a low energy cooking method and is much greener than leaving your cuppa for dead and making a new one!

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