It’s not an uncommon office experience to head into the break room for your second cup of low-end coffee only to find the pot empty. In this situation, you have a few options to get your caffeine kick: you could make a new pot (too much work), head to Starbucks (too much money), or go without (unacceptable), but are any of these options really worth the effort? Don’t you wish there was an easier way to get just one cup of coffee without having to resort to that sub-par, bitter instant stuff? And forget about using a Keurig–that’s just terrible for the environment and we all know it.
A socially conscious coffee company, Libra Coffee, has the answer to your coffee-addicted prayers. Their new line of Pourtables, enables you to have coffee anywhere you have access to hot water and a mug. What makes this product stand apart from other instant coffees is the fact that Pourtables are not actually “instant,” but are specially-engineered portable drip coffee packs.
Each Pourtables comes in a vaccuum-sealed package that contains one serving of coffee contained in its own filter. The filter is constructed with two thin cardboard arms attached to the sides that stretch over the outer rim of your coffee mug, securely suspending the coffee and filter. Then, it is just a matter of pouring in a few ounces of cold water to prime the grounds, followed by six or more ounces of near-boiling water. The water will drip through the coffee and filter, finding its way into your cup. Once your brew is finished, simply discard the filter and enjoy.
Pourtables are great for travel, camping, work, and even home. Heading out on a road trip and desperately want to avoid eight-hour old gas station coffee? Simply stop at that gas station and use the hot water dispenser found near the coffee station that you definitely won’t be using. Then, simply add hot water and go! Got a long flight but hate the idea of drinking airplane coffee? Ask a flight attendant to fill up your mug from the hot water station and relish the jealous looks of your seatmates. Take a Pourtable with you on your next camping trip and wake up to easy, fresh-brewed coffee every morning.
But Libra Coffee isn’t just about convenience–it is also about giving back.
According to Eric Medina, founder of Libra Coffee (and holder of a Master’s degree in the subject), their coffees are ethically sourced from the indigenous peoples of Guatemala and Colombia who have, “worked extremely hard to earn an organic certification.” Unfortunately, certified organic coffee can’t help the coffee producers when it comes to accessing clean water. As Medina notes, “In Guatemala during the dry season, people must drink from contaminated water sources. These are the same waters where others wash their clothes, take baths and even throw trash. For those downstream, this water is all they have to rely on, and often leads to E. coli poisoning and disease. E. coli will make national headlines in the U.S. for meat contamination, but it goes unnoticed in poverty-stricken countries.” For Medina, this is unacceptable.
Thus spawned Libra Coffee’s stated mission to be “fair and responsible.” Libra Coffee wants to give back to the communities from which they source their coffee beans, and so, for each 10-pack of Pourtables ($20) sold, $1 will go toward providing clean water filters to the coffee producers. “Libra Coffee gives water filters to the communities we source from,” Medina says, “so they don’t have to worry about how to get clean water. Each filter has the power to provide clean drinking water to 100 people for up to five years.”
Libra offers more than just Pourtables; it also sells monthly subscription bags full of gourmet, organic, coffee beans. If you’re interested, check out their “Find your Flavor” quiz that allows you to select your various coffee preferences (texture, acidity, sweetness). Once the quiz is complete, Libra Coffee will inform you what flavor profiles you’re most likely to enjoy. There’s no minimum purchase and no cost for shipping, so go for one bag or 50. It’s up to you and the severity of your caffeine addiction.
Libra Coffee’s Pourtables are available now on their website.
