☕ Coffee Carbon Footprint Calculator
Estimate the approximate greenhouse gas footprint of your daily coffee habit based on how you take it and how many cups you drink.
How the coffee footprint is estimated
This calculator multiplies an average life-cycle carbon footprint per cup (covering growing, processing, shipping, brewing and, where relevant, dairy production) by how many cups you drink and over what period. These per-cup figures are drawn from published life-cycle assessment studies on coffee and dairy and are averages, not measurements of a specific product.
Why milk changes the number so much
Dairy milk production has a notably higher carbon footprint per liter than growing and brewing coffee itself, so drinks with more milk (like lattes and cappuccinos) generally have a larger footprint than black coffee. Plant-based milks such as oat or soy typically sit in between black coffee and dairy lattes.
- Black coffee: lowest footprint, mostly from farming and brewing energy
- Dairy milk drinks: higher footprint due to livestock emissions
- Disposable cups add a modest amount versus a reusable mug
These are illustrative averages for general awareness and educational purposes, not a certified carbon audit; actual figures vary by origin, transport distance, brewing method and local energy sources.