One Small Step: Keep A Reusable Cup (or 2) In the Car
Peggy’s great list post the other day got me thinking about this small step. In the comments Peggy noted that her coffee shop trips are often unplanned and thus she doesn’t always take a reusable coffee cup. I keep extra cups in the car. It’s a habit left over from my traveling days. Before the boy arrived I used to travel a lot, using my car as a tent. I even spent one summer and some other random seasons living out of the back of a truck (a futon fit nicely). Because of this I kept a few dishes in the car; camp pot, coffee mugs, water bottles, etc.
While you may not need a pot or plates, you can grab a nice basket, an old box, or an extra reusable bag, and fill it with a few essential cups, depending on your family size. A couple of coffee cups and water bottles will do nicely. Because I’ve been using reusable coffee mugs for about ten years, I have a decent collection. Each time I end up using one, I’ve trained myself to replace it asap. I get home, take the dirty mug inside, and just very quickly toss a new clean mug back into the car.
The same for water bottles; use it replace it. You can use water bottles on the go for other items too - like if your kids are begging for fast food (ugh) - on the rare chance we get fast food, Cedar can fill his reusable cup with fountain drink.
This small step takes a little work, because you’ll need to train your head to replace cups, but once you do it a while, it’s like cake. Once you master this small step, you’ll be able to save the use of disposable cups wherever you go.
[Images via Jennifer’s random road trip adventure series - more interesting than coffee mug pictures I figured]
Tags: , coffee mugs, disposable cups, green step, reusable coffee mugs, reusable water bottles, reuse cupsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: One Small Step, Reduce, Reuse
11 opinions for One Small Step: Keep A Reusable Cup (or 2) In the Car
Dagny
Jun 17, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Great tip! I have many random useless things that sit in my car, but not cups. I’m going to throw a few in now :)
Dagny
http://www.onnotextiles.com
organic apparel
Peggy
Jun 17, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Great tip!
So, I very rarely eat fast food, but you can’t really do the drive-through with your own cup, right? I can see it now… trying to explain you have your own cup through that horrible speaker system. Well, drive-through windows make you idle more and emit more carbon, so they’re not so good anyway, I guess.
Have you had any troubles with size issues? For example, does Starbucks know how to make a Tall without their tall cups?
jennifer
Jun 17, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Well, if you go inside, you can take your cup in. You’re right about drive up windows though.
I was a barista for years when I was young, and have always had barista pals - one reason I have a lot of cups, and any good barista can make any drink in any cup. If they need their own company cup to make a drink they suck.
I usually carry big mugs, and that way, if I want a smaller or larger drink, I’m covered. But Portland is a different world when it comes to coffee and reuse. Everyone is a total snob here about coffee and cups are a big deal too. If you don’t have your own cup at some places around here, you get major dirty looks.
Peggy
Jun 17, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Speaking of Portland coffee, do you love Stumptown? I ordered from them a few times, but I do get tired of paying shipping.
The ONLY coffee place near me is Starbucks : (
Oh, I didn’t know you were a barista! I should have guessed since you grew up in the NW.
jennifer
Jun 17, 2008 at 6:44 pm
One, I don’t think anyone bloggy knows I was a barista. It was back in the day, before social work even. But I liked it, because I LOVE coffee. Also, after I quit, my boyfriend was still a full time coffee barista, and our friends, so coffee just stayed in my world.
Two, here is my big secret. I live here, and have not had ST coffee. It came after I went to Humboldt, so I missed the big coming. Before that it was all Coffee People and Seattle’s Best being the rage. I sort of missed the bus. Now that my secret is out, everyone in pdx, will group up, mob me, and kick me out of the NW - hope you’re happy Peggy.
kisha
Jun 17, 2008 at 7:33 pm
lol. I have straw, spoons and other random stuff in my car but not cups mostly because it’s so dusty here. But I think i will just put them in the diaper bag that is under the seats. The starbucks thing I bought a cup from them a few months ago and when I think I will be anywhere near them I take my cup, just toss it in the cooler along with everything else.
marye
Jun 17, 2008 at 8:17 pm
The other thing is this. Most coffee shops, Starbucks included, have for here glass cups. I have to have them because of my touch sensitivity so that is how I know. You can get a frappaccino in a glass cup no problem. You have to ask for it though and most of the time they don;t like it because they have to do dishes…But I think it is good for them. :)
Peggy
Jun 18, 2008 at 12:54 am
Jennifer, next you’re going to tell me you haven’t had Moonstruck Chocolate either. Yip, I bet you haven’t!
You should try Stumptown. Of course, I may not have tried it if it wasn’t across the street from my hotel.
Marye — LOL on you saying they need to do dishes, but I think you’re right. Sales are down. What else have they to do? Just kidding.. please don’t shun me any Starbucks workers lurking.
Kisha, maybe we should just all start carrying picnic baskets in our cars. : )
Jennifer
Jun 18, 2008 at 12:58 am
@Peggy, I’ll one up you by saying that I haven’t even heard of Moonstruck - sorry.
Also, I don’t care if Starbucks workers shun me - I hate their coffee, it’s overcooked. I can’t believe Marye likes them. If we have to have Starbucks at our take over the world headquarters, there’ll be problems.
Like Marye, I think they should do dishes too; or possibly close down.
Peggy
Jun 18, 2008 at 10:42 am
Jennifer,
Oh, no way! No Moonstruck for you? They are famous for their truffles.
I think Marye likes Starbucks as more of a get away from the house/kids sort of thing - not so much the coffee. In places that aren’t as hippie as where you live, Starbucks can be the only choice for a quick meeting place. I’m not saying I like it that way, but we can’t ALL be Portland ; )
jennifer
Jun 18, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Dang - have I become a Northwest / North Coast snob. It would seem so. Well, I suppose there are worse sort of snobs to be.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: