VOA新闻杂志2023--Seattle Business Tries to Create ‘Beanless Coffee’

Seattle Business Tries to Create ‘Beanless Coffee’

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. But it takes a lot of plants to produce the world's coffee supply each year. This production process is having lasting¹ environmental² effects.

Farmers seeking to expand have to cut down old trees. In addition, many old coffee farms are not producing as many beans because of warming temperatures linked to climate change.

This leads coffee bean growers to move higher up hills and mountains in search of cooler areas to plant new trees. Cutting down old trees in order to plant new crops or build homes is called deforestation. And deforestation, along with the burning of fossil³ fuels, is a leading cause of climate change.

The effects of coffee production on the environment have led one company to create a "beanless" version⁴ of the drink. The Seattle-based company is called Atomo Coffee. It has already received more than $50 million in investments⁵.

Atomo's product tastes like coffee and is prepared in the same way – by pouring water over a fine grind⁶. But it is not made with beans. It is instead made with plant material, such as seeds from a date. Caffeine for the product comes from waste during a process used to remove caffeine from tea.

"Coffee is causing deforestation at a pretty alarming rate - almost up to 10 (New York) Central Parks a day," Andy Kleitsch recently told Reuters. Kleitsch started Atomo Coffee about five years ago. He said the world's coffee "machine" never stops, it is "always looking for more land, and that's what we're trying to stop."

Studies show that by 2050, about half the land currently⁷ used to grow coffee could be unproductive.

Atomo hopes to do for coffee what engineered meat products such as Beyond Meat have done for meat alternatives⁹.

The company has been testing out a kind of coffee called "cold brew¹⁰." It uses over 90 percent less water than regular coffee and is produced with reduced carbon¹¹ pollution as well. The company is also in the process of making a hot coffee product.

Atomo hopes coffee shops will consider offering¹² its beanless coffee to buyers who show interest in the product.

But the beanless version comes with a cost. Atomo's coffee will sell for about $20 for one half kilogram¹³. Regular coffee is usually $10 to $14 for the same amount.

Words in This Story

fossil fuel –n. fuel, such as coal or gas, that is formed in the earth from dead plants or animals

caffeine–n. a substance¹⁴ found in coffee or tea that makes you feel awake

alarming –adj. information that creates concern or a feeling of danger

rate –n. the speed at which something happens over time

 

alternative⁸ –adj. not usual or traditional

1 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

2 environmental   

adj.环境的

参考例句：

• A global environmental meeting is going to be held here.一个全球环境会议将在这里举行。
• We need to cure our environmental problems.我们需要解决环境问题。

3 fossil   

n.化石，食古不化的人，老顽固

参考例句：

• At this distance of time it is difficult to date the fossil.时间隔得这么久了，很难确定这化石的年代。
• The man is a fossil.那人是个老顽固。

4 version   

n.版本；型号；叙述，说法

参考例句：

• His version of the events is pure supposition.他对这件事的说法纯属猜测。
• What is your version of this matter?你对这件事情的看法 怎么样？

5 investments   

n.投资( investment的名词复数 )；投资额；（时间、精力的）投入；值得买的东西

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile, investments are at great risk. 由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All their money was tied up in long-term investments. 他们所有的钱都搁死在长线投资上了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 grind   

n.（常贬义）用功的学生，书呆子；vt.磨，磨碎

参考例句：

• Would you please grind a pound of coffee for me? 请给我磨一磅咖啡好吗？
• Do you find learning English a grind?你觉得学英语是一件苦差事吗？

7 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

8 alternative   

n.两者挑一的，可供选择的；adj.选择性的，二中择一的

参考例句：

• There was no alternative for them to vote in favor.他们别无选择，只有投票赞成。
• She had no alternative but to ask for a few days'leave.实在不得已，她只好请几天假。

9 alternatives   

选择的余地( alternative的名词复数 )； 可供选择的事物； 取舍； 非传统（或他择性）生活方式的追随者（或鼓吹者）

参考例句：

• You can be paid in cash weekly or by cheque monthly; those are the two alternatives. 你的工资可以按周以现金支取，或按月以支票支取。二者可选其一。
• He was faced with two alternatives -- death or submission. 他面临两种选择--死亡或者投降。

10 brew   

v.酿造，调制

参考例句：

• Let's brew up some more tea.咱们沏些茶吧。
• The policeman dispelled the crowd lest they should brew trouble.警察驱散人群，因恐他们酿祸。

11 carbon   

n.碳元素

参考例句：

• Diamonds are pure carbon.钻石是纯净的碳。
• Carbon is an element,while carbon dioxide is a compound.碳是一种(化学)元素，而二氧化碳则是一种化合物。

12 offering   

n.提供，奉献物，牲礼

参考例句：

• What is your competition offering?你的竞争者提出的条件是什么？
• The police are offering a big reward for information about the robbery.警方出大笔赏金要求提供那起抢劫案的破案线索。

13 kilogram   

n.千克，公斤(略作kg)

参考例句：

• Apple costs five dollars a kilogram.苹果每千克5美元。
• The kilogram is the international standard of weight.公斤是国际通用的重量标准。

14 substance   

n.物质，实质，主旨

参考例句：

• There isn't anything of real substance in her book.她的书中没有任何真正实质性的内容。
• How long will the substance take to salt out?这种物质需要多长时间来盐析？