László bokor results of a coffee survey taken in

László Bokor: Results of a coffee survey taken in Shrewsbury town centre
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•
140 litres of water are needed to grow one coffee plant.
•
140 litres of water equal 1,120 cups of water = 1 cup of coffee drink.
•
The processing of coffee requires extra water.
•
To make a drink out of the coffee needs a cupful more water. (Spiral effects.)
It is a concern where these 140 litres of water come from to grow the coffee seeds as
Pearce’s calculations are certainly arguable. However, its origin is not an important factor,
but the amount of water used is irrespective as this water is to produce the coffee beans
only. The extra water and energy required by coffee drink preparation has not even been
mentioned yet. (These 140 litres of water also appear in other research papers, such as in
C
HAPAGAIN
, A. K. – H
OEKSTRA
, A. Y. [2007] and where they also mention an extra 34 litres
which amount represents the consumption.) And let us highlight it here once again: most
coffee producers are developing countries and many of the growing areas are affected by
serious water scarcity (UN W
ATER
R
EPORTS
, 2012).
7. Conclusion
Like many other areas, the coffee industry has become an individual sector that ‘designs’
specialities. This is a much bigger step away from the original idea and purpose of coffee
drink itself. Coffee drinking from many aspects has become an existential thing, in lots of
cases a bit of a ‘snob’ culture. Figure 8 is only an example that shows four types of coffee
drinks (out of many dozens) that can currently be purchased in a coffee shop. And a closer
look certainly reveals how many other ingredients can one count that has major environ-
mental impacts. For example: milk, sugar, cocoa, and of course, even more water.
Figure 8: Four out of many coffee drink types from the simple to Espresso, the more water and milk
requiring Cappuccino and Americano, to the highly complex Caramel Macchiato
Source of types and images: C
AFEPOINT
(2015)

Double Green Lines / Issue 1, October 2018 / ISSN 2631-6285 (Online)
Page | 18
As mentioned among the findings, the number of places in Shrewsbury town centre
where one can purchase a coffee drink, within less than two years, has increased from 139
to 152. The Shropshire Council’s Shops Survey in 2012 recorded 88 shops that fell into the
category of “restaurant, café and take-away” type. In 2018, this accounts for 121 shops.
The increase can only be explained, on the one hand, with the coffee drink increasing
popularity and, therefore, demand, and, on the other hand, it is a sign how town centres in
the early decades of the 21 st century has increased the meaning of the tertiary economic
sector (services) and the focus has shifted towards serving more tourism while looking after
capitalism’s main expertise: even more consuming.
It must be realised that the growing usage of plastic and, therefore, the (otherwise
avoidable) global plastic waste issue is just one specific thing among many environmental
concerns. Currently, plastic is the one that is the most highlighted and not without reasons.