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Coffee Cups Are Next

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Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#311
post #294

As a European I really don't get take-out cups, in most Western Europe there are two options: either you have the 3 minutes it takes to sip on a cappuccino or hot tea, or you drink an espresso standing (both in a ceramic cup). If you see someone walking around with a pint of hot beverage, it's a safe bet they are American. I heard some American friend that it's part of American culture to control climate: drinks must…

> you drink an espresso standing

I believe this really more of an Italian thing

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#312

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty much anywhere you go outside of larger cities in Scotland(if you like outdoorsy stuff like I do) has warnings that tap water is supplied directly from the nearest stream/river/lake and is unsafe to drink untreated. I'm perfectly happy to drink tap water nearly anywhere in the UK but any time we go camping in Scotland bottled water is a must because safe tap water is a rarity.

This is nonsense, I grew up in Scotland and travelled widely and I’ve never seen such a notice.

Stayed up in Glencoe literally 2 months ago and these notices were everywhere. Same when we camped next to Loch Ness, Loch Lomond and in Cairngorms.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#313
post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where the hell are you from "as a European"? In Germany you can get a take-out almost anywhere they sell coffee. Vending machines are ubiquitous. It's not just for "Americans". Having a coffee takes more than three minutes, especially if it's still hot. People don't necessarily have that kind of time in the morning. Or maybe they prefer to drink their coffee at a different place than where they purchased it.

I'm in Italy, but I've seen it throughout Southwestern Europe. If you are in Rome or in Paris, to-go coffee is advertised exclusively in English and cannot be found outside of tourist hubs. FWIW vending machines are popular here too, but they use small plastic cups with no lid.

Happy to hear that Italy maintains some proper coffee-drinking culture :)

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#314
post #294

As a European I really don't get take-out cups, in most Western Europe there are two options: either you have the 3 minutes it takes to sip on a cappuccino or hot tea, or you drink an espresso standing (both in a ceramic cup). If you see someone walking around with a pint of hot beverage, it's a safe bet they are American. I heard some American friend that it's part of American culture to control climate: drinks must…

You are missing: car culture

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#315
I think there is an easy solution: More expensive (like USD 1) foldable cups, that are expensive enough that people will actually re-use them.

In Sweden we have a model I like a lot, which is a modern, foldable version of a traditional saami drinking vissel called "kåsa": https://www.dentakit.com/foldingcup.html

They are often sold in hiking / outdoor shops etc. I'm sure someone could create a nice version suitable for take-away coffee.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#316
post #294

As a European I really don't get take-out cups, in most Western Europe there are two options: either you have the 3 minutes it takes to sip on a cappuccino or hot tea, or you drink an espresso standing (both in a ceramic cup). If you see someone walking around with a pint of hot beverage, it's a safe bet they are American. I heard some American friend that it's part of American culture to control climate: drinks must…

> either you have the 3 minutes it takes to sip on a cappuccino or hot tea

It makes a lot of sense to distribute your consumption of caffeine over a longer period of time (say an hour) rather than consume it all at once.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#317
post #290

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At this point we’re supposed to carry the following non-disposable items with us, or pay at every step during the day: - shopping bags - coffee cup - water bottle - straws Who wants to carry all this garbage? Nobody. Give us all a break.

It's ironic that you're calling non-disposable items garbage. Genuine question, because everyone's life is different, is it really that big a deal? I bring shopping bags with me when I go grocery shopping. They're more comfortable to carry than the disposable plastic ones. Often they just lie in the boot of the car where they don't take up much space. The backpack I bring to work is big enough to fit the handful of t…

It still is garbage, only some people demanded more resources to be spent on making the items so they can be claimed reusable.

In order to follow the movement I would need to carry a backpack of some sort, all the time and all places, or be ready to pay up. I would need to use probably more plastic bags than today, just to prevent spills and contamination from the coffee cups and straws. Gone would be freedom to change plans, leave home with no bags to carry, everything would become pre-planned. All of that for what outcome? Efforts of western countries focusing on cups and straws are a charade with no measurable impact; meanwhile some countries in Asia dump their waste into oceans by tons each minute. Our effort and resources would be better spent helping those countries improve faster, not trying to fix our 0.000001 % share. Most bang for the buck it’s called.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#318
post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where the hell are you from "as a European"? In Germany you can get a take-out almost anywhere they sell coffee. Vending machines are ubiquitous. It's not just for "Americans". Having a coffee takes more than three minutes, especially if it's still hot. People don't necessarily have that kind of time in the morning. Or maybe they prefer to drink their coffee at a different place than where they purchased it.

I'm in Italy, but I've seen it throughout Southwestern Europe. If you are in Rome or in Paris, to-go coffee is advertised exclusively in English and cannot be found outside of tourist hubs. FWIW vending machines are popular here too, but they use small plastic cups with no lid.

Effectively not being able to sit and sip my coffee with cigarettes in peace for few hours was biggest cultural shock when I was in Bari, and I'm just over the pond.

Still fun. :) Hi from Croatia.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#319
post #294

As a European I really don't get take-out cups, in most Western Europe there are two options: either you have the 3 minutes it takes to sip on a cappuccino or hot tea, or you drink an espresso standing (both in a ceramic cup). If you see someone walking around with a pint of hot beverage, it's a safe bet they are American. I heard some American friend that it's part of American culture to control climate: drinks must…

When I was living in France the concept of take away coffee was absurd to me, it's not really a thing except at Starbucks, but we don't have many. I was doing very well without it. Since I'm living in UK (Europe or not europe you decide :D), take away beverages are everywhere, and I'm myself guilty of asking for it sometimes.

I remember a friend of mine from Perth trying to explain me why a specific model of car was not selling well enough there because it was designed without a cup holder. It sounded very strange to me, but now I understand.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#320
post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At my workplace there are occasions when some people just push their own glasses, cups or bottle waters up touching the nozzle. It is so unsanitary. When we have the disposable cups this kind of issue wouldn’t happen.

"It is so unsanitary." Is it really that bad? As in, so bad it justifies the amount of waste the alternatives produce? I'm sure it's not the worst thing you deal with on a daily basis i.e. door handles are pretty gross.

> I'm sure it's not the worst thing you deal with on a daily basis i.e. door handles are pretty gross.

Keyboards.

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