alpenglow; a reddish glow seen near sunset or sunrise on the summits of mountains.
Two friends had an idea to bring a dream to life in the most unlikely yet inevitable of places – the backcountry. Alpenglow founders Cheyenne and Brigit's paths crossed while working as backpacking guides for Colorado Non-Profit, Women’s Wilderness. As mountain guides and years spending time in the great outdoors, Cheyenne and Brigit realized the importance of starting your day with a cup of hot coffee. Unfortunately, the single-serve, instant coffee options available weren't up to a eco-conscious coffee lover's standards—bitter and mostly made of single-use plastics, and traditional roasting methods weren’t feasible due to the limited space and weight. .
So the question stood: How can you sustainably bring fresh, quality coffee to the backcountry? With that, Alpenglow Coffee was born.
FAQs
Why brew bags?
We understand the environmental impact of single-use coffee pods, which is why we have taken a different approach. Our brew bags are made from biodegradable materials that break down naturally, leaving no harmful residues behind. Simply add hot water, let it steep, and voila! According to recent research carried out by a UK based coffee brand, 39,000 capsules are produced worldwide every minute with 29,000 ending up in landfills (Elisa Sanci, NYT 2021). Though processes are progressing and many Nespresso and K-cups are being more environmentally friendly or recyclable, energy intensive processes are still harmful to the environment. With our brew bags, all you need is water. From farm to cup, we prioritize eco-friendly practices, supporting organic farming and direct trade partnerships.
Where are your brew bags manufactured?
Alpenglow has partnered with Steeped Coffee, with operations, specialty coffee roasting, and manufacturing taking place in California, USA. Quality control, ethics, sustainability, and happy workers are all ingredients to what gives us our unique character. Made in the USA.
Is your coffee ethically sourced?
Direct trade is a very different approach to coffee sourcing. Instead of approaching importers who buy coffees (Fair Trade and not) from around the world, direct trade roasters work out deals with farmers directly. This allows us to ethically source each bean through growing relationships and buying practices that far exceed Fair Trade minimums.
How many cups of coffee can you get out of one brew bag?
2-3 cups of freshly roasted coffee.
What is compostable packaging?
Compostable means that a product is capable of disintegrating into natural elements in a compost environment, leaving no toxicity in the soil. The certification is for commercial/industrial/municipal compostable facilities, which are places where the perfect balance of heat, moisture, and oxygen is created to break down organic and plant-based materials. Alpenglow brew bags are made using a renewable, plant-based, non-GMO, certified commercially compostable material, which includes the filter, string, and tab.
Click here to learn more about composting
Who makes your ceramic products?
Alpenglow ceramic products are all handcrafted and designed by our very own co-founder, Brigit Stattelman-Scanlan. Every product is made with love and detailed craftsmanship for the Alpenglow community.
Do you have Light Roast, Dark Roast or French Roast? Whole bean?
COMING SOON!