Coles shakes up coffee wars with organic, compostable coffee pods

There’s no doubt about it, Australians love their coffee. Now, Coles has thrown a juggernaut into the caffeine wars that is also good for the planet.

Move over George Clooney – there’s a new coffee connoisseur in town.

Supermarket giant Coles is launching its own private coffee pod range – that’s also good for the environment.

As coffee lovers face the prospect of paying up to $7 for a cup of their brew at a cafe or restaurant due to global supply shortages, the retailer is offering a more affordable and sustainable option.

Many Australians bought coffee machines through the Covid-19 pandemic as cafes and restaurants were closed and people worked from home.

Rising living costs also prompted a surge in coffee drinkers ditching cafe-bought lattes.

Australians consume around three million coffee capsules and pods every year according to Australian Government figures, with Coles reporting a 30 per cent increase in coffee pod sales over the past two years.

That means an increase in non-recyclable waste, with coffee pods too small to recycle, contributing around 8,500 tonnes of aluminium, plastic and used coffee grounds to landfill every year.

Alice Kennedy, 23, of Brunswick, Victoria, tries out Coles’ new range of home compostable coffee pods. Supplied: Coles

Coles General Manager Grocery Leanne White said their new Urban Coffee Culture label features pods that are made from bio-sourced cellulose and vegetable oils which can break down in the same amount of time as an orange peel.

They are also certified by the Australasian Bioplastics Association.

“We know that very few councils accept compostable packaging in their council food and

organics waste bin, which is why we have worked with our suppliers to find a coffee pod solution which customers can compost at home,” she said.

There are some recyclable pods in the market, but many require consumers to dry them out and return their pods by mail.

Nespresso also offers a coffee capsule recycling program, with more than 22,000 collection points across Australia.

Coles’ pods, which are Nespresso compatible, also cost $4.50 for a pack of ten.

Vittoria Espresso capsules cost $6 for 10, while L’OR Espresso Colombia Intensity capsules will set shoppers back $7 for a 10-pack.

Republica Organic Capsules, which are biodegradable but not compostable, cost $9.50 for 20.

The coffee pod war comes as Cafe Owners and Baristas Association of Australia President David Parnham recently warned said the price for an average flat white could jump to $7 by the end of the year.

Who doesn’t love a homemade cup of coffee when it looks this good?

Australia’s cafes and coffee shops industry is worth $10.5 billion this year, IBIS World reports.

Griffith University marketing specialist Dr Park Thaichon said the low cost of pods and pod machines had increased their popularity as quality improved.

“The smell, colour, and taste quality of the coffee pods are much better than 10 years ago,” he said.

“Coffee pods can be purchased online and have a long shelf life when comparing buying a cup of coffee at a cafe.”