For decades, premium coffee machines competed on features and bells and whistles. Now, the mark of luxury is what the machine lacks: plastic.
Growing concerns about microplastics and environmental sustainability are driving a wave of plastic-free coffee pods and machines from major manufacturers. According to a 2025 poll by environmental group 5 Gyres, nine in 10 Americans are concerned about the effects of microplastics on the planet and their bodies, even as more research is needed to determine actual harm. Studies have shown that coffee pods shed microplastics.
Keurig, which popularized single-serve plastic K-Cups in the 1990s, launched the Alta machine in October with compostable AltaRounds pods developed since 2020. The Alta bundle with glassware and pods costs $499. Phil Drapeau, senior vice president for Keurig’s Future Coffee Systems unit, told CNN that the company has “heard clearly from customers that they want more sustainable products and specifically less plastic and plastic waste.”
Lavazza introduced Tablì in June, a $129 machine that uses compressed coffee tablets instead of plastic-aluminum capsules. The Italian company calls it its “largest investment yet” in the United States as it targets doubling revenue to $1 billion by 2029.
Caraway released a $495 stainless steel and glass machine last month with no plastic in its brew path. CEO Jordan Nathan said the custom-made glass and steel parts made development challenging, but the design responds to growing kitchen health concerns. Caraway noted that demand has been so strong the machine sold out until January.
All three products have sold out quickly after release, signaling strong consumer appetite. Peter Giuliano, senior adviser for research at Specialty Coffee Association, told CNN that the appeal combines health worries about microplastics, environmental concerns, and a perception that “metal and glass are more ‘luxury’ than plastic.”
However, Melissa Valliant, director of communications for 5 Gyres, noted that Lavazza and Keurig products still use plastic packaging that “ends up in a landfill, incinerator, or our environment after use.” Keurig previously faced criticism over its pods, settling a 2022 class-action lawsuit alleging misleading “recyclable” marketing claims for $10 million, though the company denied wrongdoing.
The shift reflects a broader consumer trend of trading up on home coffee equipment since the pandemic, driven by health-consciousness and sustainability concerns spreading through social media and scientific discussion.
Key facts
- Nine in 10 Americans are concerned about microplastics’ effects, according to a 2025 5 Gyres poll
- Keurig’s Alta bundle costs $499; Lavazza’s Tablì machine costs $129; Caraway’s machine costs $495
- Keurig’s new AltaRounds pods have been in development since 2020
- All three new products sold out quickly after release
- Keurig settled a 2022 lawsuit for $10 million over allegedly misleading recyclable K-Cup marketing