A Seattle-based startup called Atomo Coffee is set to introduce the world’s first beanless coffee. This innovative venture, backed by investors who support Beyond Meat, seeks to address the pressing issue of deforestation caused by the expansion of coffee farms. The coffee industry’s shift to higher altitudes in response to climate change has led to the destruction of forests, and Atomo Coffee is poised to make a difference.
Atomo Coffee has attracted substantial investment, with backers contributing USD 51.6 million to support its mission. Instead of traditional coffee beans, this pioneering brew relies on superfoods and upcycled ingredients to replicate the molecular structure of coffee. By doing so, it aims to mitigate the adverse environmental consequences associated with conventional coffee farming.
Climate change is driving coffee farms to seek cooler climates at higher elevations, resulting in the clearing of forests to make way for these plantations. This process exacerbates deforestation, which in turn accelerates climate change, creating a troubling feedback loop. Studies suggest that by 2050, approximately half of the land currently used for coffee cultivation will become unproductive due to climate change.
Atomo Coffee’s CEO and co-founder, Andy Kleitsch, highlights the alarming rate at which coffee production contributes to deforestation. He likens the relentless expansion of coffee farms to a never-ending machine constantly seeking more land. Atomo’s goal is to disrupt this cycle by offering a sustainable alternative.
The startup has already demonstrated the potential benefits of its innovation. Their ‘proof-of-concept’ cold brew coffee exhibited impressive environmental credentials, including a 93 percent reduction in carbon emissions and a 94 percent decrease in water usage compared to regular coffee. In 2022, this invention was recognized as one of the 200 best invention.
Atomo Coffee’s hot beanless coffee, which also incorporates upcycled ingredients like discarded date pips, is expected to deliver similar environmental advantages. While the initial focus is on coffee shops, where the wholesale price is set at $20.99 per lb, Atomo is in discussions with major global coffee companies to explore supply options.
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