Start your yoga career now: Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher Training in London Begins September
KeepCup
Bridget Walsh on 16 September, 2011 | 
When it comes to what you put into your body, people have many different stances & perspectives, including those who don’t seem to have a real stance at all. Within the yoga community, there is definitely more awareness about the food and drink we consume, probably because we tend to be more in touch with the processes and productivity of our minds and our bodies.
Like many of life’s pleasures, coffee can be a point of contention for people. Some people think it’s the devil’s brew. Others couldn’t possibly comprehend functioning without it. Whether it’s a double shot espresso that is your caffiene hit of choice, or a half strength, de-caf mochaccino with extra soy-milk, the market for well-made hot beverages (including hot chocolates and tea, the British staple) is rife in London. With everyone so busy and important these days, the rise of the takeaway cup is rampant.
Even if a caffeine kick does align with your own yogic values, a disposable takeaway cup, that will most likely end up in the landfill, simply should not. Being in London, you are probably addicted to life on the go in some capacity, so what is the answer to the question of sustainable coffee on the fly? One word: KeepCup.
Sarah Mills is a part time yogi who also works for KeepCup UK.
So, what the heck is a KeepCup?
“The KeepCup is the world’s first reusable, barista-standard coffee cup, designed for lovers of the planet and of great tasting coffee. You get to completely design your individual cup, so it becomes something you love. It fits under the groups of a coffee machine, it doesn’t need to be preheated, the silicone band can be branded so you can promote your company or business, it’s lightweight, durable and an all round wicked product!”
Like me, Sarah is passionate about the KeepCup product, and it’s mission.
“KeepCups help create awareness of what needs to be done to make positive changes in our world. You see someone holding their KeepCup and you think, “That’s one less takeaway coffee cup in the trash”. Your KeepCup becomes part of your daily ritual, along with your coffee or tea, I don’t know about you but I feel out of balance when I don’t a coffee during the day.
The cup and lid are made from the safest of all food grade plastics, (non-leaching and BPA free polypropolene 5, for any plastic-nerds!). The cups have been product tested for up to 5,000 uses, which for your average coffee drinker is about 4 years worth, so think of all those paper cups being saved!
Having started in Australia then expanding to the New Zealand market, KeepCup is now making waves here in the UK. Londoners may or may not know this, but Antipodeans (kiwis and ozzies) have a reputation for being pretty massive coffee nerds, which is why the KeepCup has been a natural progression in the Australsian markets. But how has the response been here in the UK?
“There is a pretty big shift happening in the UK coffee scene. People are starting to notice specialty coffee roasters. They are learning about the processes of coffee, the different brew methods and where their coffee has come from. This is creating an excitement around coffee that really fits with KeepCup.
In Australia and NZ, people saw the product, knew it would work with their espresso machine, saw that it would cut down on waste and that their customers would “get it”. It’s reaching that stage now in the UK. People are seeing the cup and starting to ask more questions. We are starting to feel the momentum build now!”
It’s true that the re-usable coffee cup has been around for a while, decked out in thermos sheen or Starbucks branding. But the KeepCup is different. It is designed for a market that knows and appreciates their coffee, and for people that know that being conscious consumers doesn’t have to mean compromising on style. It is designed for true Baristas and coffee-making connosieurs, sick of re-usable cups that don’t fit or hold their creations, compromising on the quality of their products.
With that in mind, KeepCups are available in a range of sizes to cater for different purposes and markets (and of course, each piece of the cup is coloured and customisable, even brandable!).
“4oz – XS which have just launched in the UK. This is for your hard core espresso drinker, your piccolos, macchiato and also for the kids, babycino anyone?
8oz – small, perfect size for a long black/Americano or the antipodeans favourite, the flat white.
12oz – medium, most popular size in the Uk, good for a latte, cappuccino or long Americano
16oz – large, the biggest of the lot, for those who like to supersize their drinks!”
You can get your KeepCup from a range of coffee shops & stores around London including Climpson and Sons, Rough Trade, Dose espresso, Design Museum, House of Fraser, Daily Grind, Urban traders, Taylor St Baristas and more. You can also order them online and have access to the full range of colours: http://www.keepcup.com/design-my-keepcup
To get involved in the KeepCup movement, and enjoy your daily coffee with a side order of Yamas and Niyamas, find & follow them online at:
http://www.keepcup.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/KeepCup/77751765776
http://twitter.com/#!/KeepCup