Organic Shade Grown Coffee

Food and drink all over the world is going green, and organic espresso coffee is no exception.  More and more companies are providing organic alternatives in their favorite blends, making it easier for people to add this healthy drink to their kitchens.

Organic certification for coffee beans, as well as other food products, is based on how the crop is grown.  There are strict standards for organic products that begin even before the crop is planted. 

Fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, and other chemicals can’t be used to protect the crops from damage, or to promote growth.  However, there are some organic products that can be used instead, as long as they’re on the approved list provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The soil being used must also be free from chemicals for three or more years.  This keeps the crop free from the chemicals and additives that may have been used in previous crops.

There must also be a buffer between the organic crops and any non-organic crops, which prevents any chemicals from cross contaminating the organic crops.  The site is also subject to routine inspections to make sure the standards are being maintained.

These are the most common standards for organic products, and there are others that may vary depending on where the coffee is grown.  Organic coffee is also often grown in the shade.  This prevents the sun from bleaching out the nutrients in the coffee, and a cover of shade helps prevent the erosion of topsoil, which occurs in many traditional crops.  The trees also provide homes to birds that can control the insect population without the use of pesticides.

Most people know organic coffee is better for the environment because of how it’s grown, but it also has health benefits that not everyone knows about.  Since coffee grown organically is free from chemicals and additives, the pure antioxidants and nutrients in the coffee are preserved, and then passed to you when you drink it.

Some people don’t buy organic coffee because of the cost difference, but since more and more companies are providing organic alternatives for their coffee, the cost difference is minimal.  The popularity has also provided a variety of coffee blends and flavors in organic, even decaffeinated blends.  Fortunately, most coffee companies now offer organic alternatives for popular blends, so it isn’t as difficult to drink green coffee as it once was.

For those who seek to live a greener lifestyle, coffee fits in nicely.  More and more coffee companies are growing organic beans to roast into different blends, and working to grow crops that are better for the environment, provide better coffee for their customers, and follow the evolving tradition of organic coffee.