
29/1/2025
Lost Sheep Coffee compostable coffee pods
If, like us, you love a good cup of coffee, you may be looking for a way to reduce your impact on the environment when enjoying a cup of your favourite brew.
Compostable coffee pods – like these from Lost Sheep Coffee – may be the answer.
Coffee pod machines have historically had a bad reputation in terms of environmental impact, because of the scale of waste created when using single-use pods that are often made from plastic.
But, interestingly, making a cup of coffee using a coffee pod machine could have less of an impact on the environment than some other methods. This is because the process of growing coffee in the first place emits greenhouse gases – and as coffee pod machines use precisely the correct amount of coffee and water, there's no waste. Meanwhile, when brewing filtered coffee, people generally use around 20% more coffee, and twice as much water, than is actually needed.
That being said, billions of plastic and aluminium coffee pods and capsules end up in landfill every year – where they could take as long as 500 years to break down. It's now possible to recycle coffee pods through schemes like Podback or at local recycling centres – but unfortunately many people just don't bother.

Billions of plastic and aluminium coffee pods and capsules end up in landfill every year
For a more sustainable cup of coffee, compostable pods are the way to go. Lost Sheep Coffee pods can be home composted (or put into your green bin for kerbside collection by your local council) – removing the extra energy and emissions created by the recycling process, which is needed for aluminium or plastic capsules.
There are three different varieties available: Morning, Smooth and Decaf. They're compatible with original Nespresso machines (but not compatible with Nespresso Vertuo coffee makers) and are quick, easy and convenient to use – ideal if you're short of time in the morning. When you've finished your coffee, there's no mess or waste to deal with – the used pods can go straight into your compost bin.
We tried all three varieties and were impressed with the smooth, rich flavours. They are all delicious as an espresso or a lungo, and are particularly good with oat milk.

Morning is a Speciality Arabica coffee from the Rwensoi Mountains, Uganda. With an intensity level of eight, this is a bold coffee with hints of fruit and caramel.
Smooth is exactly that – it has a velvety texture with sweet hints of chocolate and caramel, and an intensity level of seven.
The decaf is impressive, with all the full flavour of a high-quality coffee, but no caffeine. Unlike some decaffeinated coffees, Lost Sheep decaf is free from chemicals.
Lost Sheep Coffee was inspired by the flavours of Australian coffee, experienced by the company's founders Stuart and Sarah during a year-long backpacking trip that included exploring the cafés of Melbourne.
The company focuses on producing high-quality coffee, using traceable beans from around the world which are then precision-roasted in Whitstable, Kent. All of the farmers the company works with are paid fairly – up to four times more than standard Fair Trade coffee prices.
Lost Sheep compostable coffee capsules are one of the most sustainable coffee pods available – as well as being compostable at the end of use, they're manufactured in a sustainable way too. The pods are made by the company's partners using a waste by-product from the paper industry. This by-product would otherwise have been incinerated – instead, it's rescued and taken to a carbon-neutral factory (run on hydro, solar and wind power) where it's made into capsules.
Refreshingly, choosing the sustainable option in this case is affordable. Lost Sheep Coffee pods work out at a similar price to leading brands bought from the supermarket.
So, if you use a coffee pod machine, switching to compostable pods like these is a simple swap that could help you live a more sustainable lifestyle – without sacrificing flavour or quality, or costing a fortune.
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