London
Seattle-based startup Atomo Coffee is launching the world’s first beanless coffee, using superfoods and upcycled ingredients to mimic the molecular structure of coffee. The company’s beanless coffee is aimed at reducing the environmental impact of coffee production, which is contributing to deforestation and climate change. Coffee farms, particularly those growing the arabica variety favored by baristas, are moving uphill to find cooler climates, destroying forests in the process.
Atomo Coffee’s proof-of-concept cold brew beanless coffee has been shown to produce 93% fewer carbon emissions and use 94% less water than regular coffee. The company expects similar environmental benefits for its new hot beanless coffee. The innovative approach has attracted $51.6 million in investment.
The company plans to target coffee shops initially, with its roasted beanless coffee priced at $20.99 per pound, compared to the $10-14 per pound typically paid by coffee shops. Atomo is also in talks with major coffee companies to explore scaling up production and supplying them with its innovative coffee substitute.
Climate change is a significant concern for the coffee industry, with studies indicating that up to half of the land currently used for coffee production could become unproductive by 2050 due to changing climate conditions. Reducing the environmental impact of coffee production is critical for the industry’s long-term sustainability.
