016: Plant-Powered Energy and Immunity Coffee that Tackles Food Waste with Paul Evers

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The cascara is the better half of what the coffee plant has to offer. We see even greater potential with cascara and the last thing that should be done is throw it to waste.”</span></em> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">-Paul Evers</span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Episode Description: </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Coffee is one of the most loved beverages around the world. According to data, around two billion cups of coffee are consumed every day! It’s not surprising, therefore, that it has become a multi-billion dollar industry. However, the question still arises, “Are we really utilizing 100% of coffee’s agricultural value?” </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Coffee is made from coffee cherries. Yes! Coffee actually comes from a fruit. Each pulp covers two beans, sometimes one, called a peaberry. Processing starts with separating the beans from the “CASCARA”, or the pulp. The beans are then roasted, brewed, and extracted depending on how strong or mild you want your coffee to be. What happens to the pulp, you may ask? Because there is little demand, the cascara is left to ferment, converted to fertilizer or animal feed, or thrown into a landfill. Needless to say, that accounts for billions of food waste and millions of metric tons of carbon emissions. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thankfully, more and more companies are acting to solve a significant portion of this problem. One of them is</span> <a href= "https://letsriff.com/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Riff</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">. Co-founded by Paul Evers,</span> <a href= "https://letsriff.com/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Riff</span></a> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">aims to impact the planet by “creating possibilities out of coffee beans and the whole dang coffee plant!” Riff created plant-based products that provide energy and immunity. Their energy+ drinks and cold brews come in fun flavors, are gluten-free, vegan-fri