Best Organic Coffee
In order to explore the best coffees and the best organic coffee, it's best to go back a bit and learn how and where coffee is produced.
Coffee is one of the most popular and widely consumed beverages on the planet, in a market worth $48 billion in US retail dollars alone, to say nothing of private coffee consumption outside of retail environments. It's one of the top 10 most traded agricultural products, and has been for decades.
Believe it or not, in the 1970s, coffee consumption in America was on the decline. Most people drank coffee from cans purchased at the supermarket, and the roasts were light and bland. In 1962, 74% of American adults regularly drank coffee. By 1988, that number was only 50%. By 1991, coffee consumption had dropped from an average of 3.12 cups per day to just 1.75.
Everything changed when Maxwell House coffee changed their marketing strategy to present coffee as special, personal, and valuable. The idea that coffee could come in different flavors appealed to a wider array of consumers, and suddenly specialty coffee, small brands, hand crafting, and higher prices became the order of the day.
This increase in demand and prices had a tremendous impact on the countries, regions, and farmers who produce the world's coffee. Virtually overnight, a small crop became big business.
Where Does Coffee Come From?
Coffee grows best below the equator, in a defined latitude range between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, in a swath called “the coffee belt.” More than 70 countries in this belt export coffee. Is a flowering shrub that can reach up to 15 feet tall, that grows best at higher altitudes, in the shade of taller trees.
The two most widely produced coffee plants are Arabica and Robusta. Arabica tends to be smoother and have a better flavor, and is lighter and has less caffeine. Robusta tends to be more bitter and less flavorful, but has more caffeine and a fuller body.
Importantly, Robusta is also more disease resistant and can be grown at lower altitudes and warmer climates than Arabica. Arabica beans are mostly cultivated in Latin America, eastern Africa, and Asia. Robusta beans are generally cultivated in central Africa, southeast Asia, and Brazil.
As coffee consumption increased, and the value of coffee beans as an agricultural export grew, many farmers moved coffee off of hard-to-reach forested hillsides and grew it at lower elevations, in dedicated coffee fields, for ease of cultivation and harvesting. This transition from coffee as a plant grown in forested mountains to a plant grown on plantations has had an array of far-reaching effects.
Environmental Impact Of Modern Coffee Production
This transition to “sun-grown” coffee in the late 1970s had a range of far-reaching effects.
Coffee grown in the sun in fertilized fields produces more seeds (coffee beans) more quickly than coffee grown in the shade, but coffee grown in the shade produces a higher quality coffee with a better flavor. Growing coffee in the sun not only requires the use of fertilizers, but has led to wide-scale deforestation and habitat loss for wildlife species. Coffee grown in its traditional forested setting creates valuable habitat for many bird species.
A coffee crop also requires a great deal of water, particularly when it is being grown quickly. It takes 37 gallons of water to produce enough beans for just one cup of coffee. Coffee is often produced in countries with a shortage of water, such as Ethiopia, and the combination of high water consumption and high fertilizer and pesticide use can lead to water degradation and pollution in water runoff.
Additionally, coffee grown in these plantation settings has given rise to global concern about the conditions of workers on these plantations. 14 coffee-growing countries are known to use child labor, and many of the manual laborers at these plantations are kept in horrible conditions.
Finally, coffee production is being affected by global climate change. Coffee requires extremely stable temperature conditions in order to thrive. In its natural habitat, elevation and forest would provide additional temperature stability. But today, we are seeing that the “coffee belt” we relied upon for so long is changing, and the regions where coffee can be grown are also changing, with a huge effect on local farmers and economies that rely on coffee exports to survive.
Is Organic Coffee the Solution?
Organic coffee is part of the solution. Unfortunately, in the United States, the designation “organic” doesn't always mean what you think it means.
USDA-certified organic |
|---|
Generally speaking, a USDA certification for organic means that only organic fertilizers and pesticides were used on a crop within 3 years of harvesting. However, there can be exceptions to this rule that still gain the USDA “organic” designation. |
Organic Food Production Act (OFPA) |
|---|
The OFPA regulates how crops are handled after harvest and discourages the addition of inorganic preservatives and chemicals, but these regulations are not very strict. |
Organic certification |
|---|
For an imported coffee to be certified organic, it must be grown on land that wasn't exposed to synthetic pesticides for 3 years prior to harvest, be grown with a buffer between coffee and conventional crops, and be grown as part of a crop rotation system to prevent erosion and soil depletion. |
While the United States imports tens of thousands of tons of organic coffee every year, and it's the most valuable organic imported crop in terms of dollars, it still represents only about 3% of our overall coffee market.
What is the Most Responsible Organic Coffee?
For coffee to be as responsible, ethical, and guilt-free as possible, it should be:
Organically produced |
|---|
Limiting the use of fertilizers and pesticides protects the watershed and reduces negative environmental impact. |
Sustainably produced |
|---|
While the sustainable coffee movement is just beginning, it's an important consideration. Continuing the practice of deforesting the environment and depleting the water supply is not sustainable agriculture, even if no chemical fertilizers or pesticides are being used. |
Fairly traded |
|---|
While the current “fair trade” designation isn't perfect, it's the best standard we have right now for making sure that coffee is being grown and harvested in a way that isn't unfair for the workers. |
That is a lot to ask for a cup of coffee, and not all coffee brands will be able to meet all three criteria. This doesn't necessarily mean the company isn't socially responsible: it is often the case that these designations are difficult to achieve all at once and still produce coffee at the volume and price necessary to satisfy the market. But they are good things to watch for when you compare brands and taste organic coffee.
Also, to be purely selfish and not think about the planet for a moment, organic coffee often simply tastes better. Grown in their natural environment, the beans take longer to mature, and develop a deep, complex flavor without as much acidity. Of course, the finished taste of a cup of coffee has as much to do with the roasting and brewing as it does the origin of the beans, but organic coffees generally come out far ahead in taste tests.
Best Brands of Organic Coffee
Equal Exchange Mind Body Soul
Equal Exchange is about as responsible and ethical as coffee can be, for a truly guilt-free cup of coffee. The Equal Exchange Mind Body Soul combines dark and medium roasts, for a blend that is rich and smooth, with hints of cocoa and mild berries, and delights the most discerning coffee tasters. The Mind Body Soul blend is:
USDA certified organic, sustainable, shade-grown coffee
Authentically fairly traded, with farmers forming an equal part of the cooperatively owned company
Equal Exchange is one of the most ethical coffee companies around, and the Mind Body Soul blend is praised by experts and amateurs alike. It's a great organic coffee.
Doma Coffee The Chronic – Super Dank
Doma Coffee has their own cult following, and for good reason. Multiple experts claim that The Chronic blend is literally the best coffee they have ever had. The Doma Coffee Chronic – Super Dank is a darker roast of the original Chronic blend, with notes of cocoa, walnut, and warm spices.
Doma Coffee is a family owned business based in Post Falls, Idaho, and partners with coffee growers in Central and South America for ethical trading and growing practices. The Chronic – Super Dank is:
USDA certified organic
Fairly traded
Suitable for espresso-style brewing
Doma takes roasting seriously, and all their coffees are freshly roasted-to-order, to reach you in peak condition.
Doi Chaang Signature – Single Estate
Vancouver-based Doi Chaang Coffee is a unique partnership between the Akha Hill Tribe of coffee growers in Thailand, and the roasters and sellers in British Columbia, who split company profits equally. They call this practice “Beyond Fair Trade” and the partnership produces economic growth in the mountain villages of Thailand and the highest quality coffee for consumers in North America.
The Doi Chaang Signature – Single Estate is a blend of small, individually roasted batches of beans combined for medium body and smoothness. It has hints of wood, chocolate, and cardamom-like spice. The Signature – Single Estate blend is:
USDA-certified organic
Beyond fair trade, supporting environmental and economic sustainability in partnership with growers
Doi Chaang has won numerous awards for innovation, fair trade, and good corporate citizenship. It's a guilt-free cup of coffee.
Best Organic Dark Roast
Death Wish Coffee
For lovers of strong coffee, there is simply no substitute for Death Wish Coffee. Death Wish is not only the world's strongest coffee, pleasing lovers of dark, strong coffee with a rich, deep taste that is smoother than many dark roasts, but it's socially responsible as well. Death Wish Coffee is:
USDA certified organic
Fairly traded
Committed to sustainability
Death Wish is another brand with a cult following, and this coffee packs more caffeine per ounce than anything short of espresso. If you like your dark roast really dark, you may have a death wish.
Best Organic Light Roast
Cafe Don Pablo Subtle Earth Organic Gourmet Light Roast
For an organic light roast with wonderful flavor, there is no one better than Cafe Don Pablo. Cafe Don Pablo Subtle Earth Organic coffee has a rich flavor with hints of honey, cocoa, and caramel, with a clean, low-acid finish.
Cafe Don Pablo has a unique relationship with their coffee producers in Columbia, where the company grows, picks, and processes its own coffee beans, ensuring they are at the highest quality and grown organically and sustainably. The Subtle Earth Organic Light Roast is:
CCOF-certified organic, non-GMO
Pesticide free with no chemical inputs
100% Arabica beans
While some people find that this roast is too light for them, those looking for a truly light roast with low acidity and rich coffee flavor love Cafe Don Pablo, and it's an ethically run company to boot.
Best Organic Decaf And Half-Caff Coffee
It can be difficult to find truly organic coffee with reduced caffeine, because coffee is often decaffeinated using chemicals. But if you want delicious coffee with less caffeine and no harsh chemicals, here are your best bets:
No Fun Jo Deca
No Fun Jo Decaf is consistently rated highly by professional tasters, and it's a great way to satisfy your desire for rich, delicious coffee without the caffeine. No Fun Jo Decaf is 100% Arabica beans, roasted to medium dark perfection, then decaffeinated using the Swiss Water process. Jo Coffee is:
USDA-certified organic, non-GMO, and chemical free
Fair trade certified
The No Fun Jo Decaf is a great choice for a delicious, satisfying cup of coffee with no caffeine and no chemical processing.
Fresh Roasted Coffee Organic Mexican Half Caff Coffee
The Fresh Roasted Coffee Company Organic Mexican Half Caff is a great choice for reducing caffeine intake without sacrificing delicious coffee or introducing unwanted non-organic products into your diet. This single-origin mild roast coffee has a clean finish with notes of walnut and brown sugar. The Mexican Half Caff is:
USDA Organic
Swiss Water Process decaffeinated
Fresh Roasted Coffee Company is also certified by the Rainforest Alliance, fair and directly traded, and uses bird-friendly farming techniques. It's a great choice for reduced caffeine organic coffee.
Best Organic Espresso
Ethical Bean Coffee Sweet Espresso
Ethical Bean takes pride in coffee that is delicious to drink, good for the earth, and good for the people who grow it. Their Sweet Espresso blend is artisan roasted, for a velvety feel with notes of earth and fruit. Ethical Bean Coffees are:
Certified organic by the USDA and Canada
Fairly traded and sustainably produced
Ethical Bean is also B Corp certified, dedicated to making the world a better place. Isn't it great that you can have incredible espresso and help take care of the planet too?
Best Organic Coffee for Health
A number of alternative coffees are being made, with special ingredients to improve your health while indulging in your coffee habit. While some of the health claims may be overstated, it's an interesting way to improve your health every morning. Here are some of the top-rated healthy coffees:
Rain International Fused Black Coffee
Rain International takes hand-picked organic coffee beans and infuses them with a proprietary blend of black cumin, pomegranate, grape, and grapefruit seeds. The essential oils and micronutrients of the seeds are extracted and infused into the structure of the coffee, resulting in a coffee with a host of beauty and wellness benefits.
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee
Mushroom coffee is widely praised for its health benefits, and Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee with Lion's Mane and Chaga is among the best of them. This certified organic coffee is brewed to support creativity and focus, as well as boosting the immune system. Even though each cup contains two mushrooms, the brew tastes just like ordinary coffee and has garnered rave reviews all over the web.
Fit Brew Vitamin Infused Coffee
Wouldn't it be amazing if a coffee actually boosted your metabolism? Fit brew incorporates several metabolism-boosting ingredients into their coffee, blending organic coffee with extracts of green tea, guarana, and inositol to provide antioxidants and boost energy and focus. Fit Brew also has blends of vitamin-infused coffee to support calmness, clarity, flexibility, immunity, and energy.
Kimera Koffee Nootropic Infused Ground Coffee
The Kimera Koffee Nootropic coffee is infused with nootropics to boost brain power and athletic performance. It has Alpha GPD, Taurine, DMAE, and L-Theanine blended with artisanally grown, single-source coffee. People love the sustained energy, focus, and performance of this coffee.
Best Organic Whole Bean Coffee
Many coffee lovers prefer to purchase coffee in whole beans, and grind them as needed. Keeping them in a whole bean state preserves more of the freshness and flavor of the beans, and grinding only as much as you intend to brew ensures the best tasting coffee. Here is the best organic whole bean coffee:
Kicking Horse Coffee Smart Ass
Kicking Horse Coffee is the #1 best-selling whole bean coffee in Canada, known for their passion for the highest quality beans. Not only are they the best-selling organic, fair trade coffee in Canada, but they are also consistently rated as one of the best workplaces, with exceptional values and 20 years of doing the right thing for their customers and for the planet.
The Smart Ass blend is a bright, nutty, fruity medium roast designed to wake you up in the mornings. Kicking Horse Coffee is:
Certified organic by the USDA and Canada
Fairly traded
Committed to environmental preservation and community causes
Rated as superior by customers, experts, and community groups, Kicking Horse Smart Ass blend is a superior whole bean organic coffee.
Many of the other coffees reviewed above are also sold as whole beans, and are all excellent blends from the best coffee brands, including:
Best Organic Coffee in K-Cups
Newman's Own Special Blend Medium Roast K-Cup
Newman's Own offers organic coffee in K-Cup pods that are consistently rated highly by reviewers for taste, convenience, and social values. The Special Blend is made with 100% organic Arabica coffee in a medium roast that is bold yet refined. Newman's Own is an exceptional company, and their coffee is:
USDA-certified organic
Fair Trade Certified
100% of company profits are donated to charity
The Newman's Own Special Blend is a fantastic way to enjoy organic, guilt-free coffee from your Keurig.
Many of the organic coffees reviewed above are also available in K-Cup pods, for even more options for guilt-free, delicious K-Cup coffee. Other Keurig-compatible organic coffees include:
Cost of Organic Coffee
There is a longstanding stereotype that organic coffee is more expensive than traditionally produced coffee. However, that belief is based on a misconception of the value of coffee. The truth is, coffee costs more when it is:
Grown in natural, optimal conditions
Harvested at optimal ripeness
Dried naturally instead of chemically
Roasted in small batches for greater evenness and consistency
All these processes take more time and care, and therefore more labor, and therefore increase the price of the coffee. But these coffees also simply taste better, and provide a more satisfying experience. The fact that these methods tend to be organic and socially responsible is a byproduct of the care and attention to quality that these specialty coffees require.
So of course they cost more than mass-produced, mass-roasted, mass-distributed coffees that you can buy on supermarket shelves. They are a completely different class of product, with a different cost analysis. Coffee doesn't cost more just because it's organic. It costs more because more human time, care, and attention went into it. And that time and care shows up in every cup, and is worth every penny.
Conclusion
There are many reasons to buy organic coffee. A few of them are:
Organic coffee reduces water pollution
Organic coffee doesn't deplete the soil
Organic coffee helps to preserve wildlife habitat
Organic coffee tastes better, with fewer chemicals used in its production
And today, you can get coffee that is not only organically grown, but produced in a way that uses environmentally sustainable and fair labor practices both in the countries where coffee is grown, and in the places where it is roasted, packaged, and distributed.
Organic coffee doesn't necessarily cost more than other specialty coffees, and it's the right thing to do. And with such an array of choices of flavors, roasts, blends, and varieties from all over the world, it's easier than ever to enjoy an ethically sourced delicious cup of coffee. Enjoy!
Leave a Reply