How to Choose the Best Organic Coffee? (Complete Buyer’s Guide)

The best organic coffee brands are not easy to find. I drink all types of coffee from instant and drip to decaf. And it’s shocking to me why I haven’t tried the best organic coffee yet.

But that’s about to change now.

With this post, I want you to choose organic coffee wisely.

The length to which organic coffee can go is exceptional. Coffee becomes organic after a series of tests and inspections. These can be for USDA organic labels. And to make sure the coffee beans are free from any chemicals.

To know more about what makes coffee organic, read on below.

Photo credit: longevity.media

Switching to any organic food is challenging. To make matters even more difficult, you’re deciding to switch to organic coffee. This means you have to especially look for brands that are popular and certified.

Most people, during their first few weeks of making the switch, go back to standard coffee. Why? It’s because sticking to one coffee brand is so darn difficult. But not anymore!

4 Things to Know When Buying Organic Coffee

What does organic mean? It implies growth without the use of pesticides. But it’s not as simple as that. What also matters is where you grow the coffee and how you process it. So if you want to know more about organic growth and processing, please keep reading.

  1   About Organic Standards

Photo credit: groundsforchange.com

Here’s the ugly truth. Organic standards differ all across the globe. Most countries have either created their own or are trying to establish one. This explains the difference, doesn’t it?

The good news here is that the majority of European countries share the same standard. But it’s not the same as the UK’s as a matter of fact. So taking regulations into account seems like a complicated task. As the “organic” label means different things in different countries!

In America, for instance, here’s what the organic standard of USDA indicates. It is used to suggest that the crop is grown based on American organic standards. Irrespective where on the planet it comes from!

I’m sure all this sounds confusing to you. Coffee farmers think so too!

Growing coffee according to organic standards of your country and the country you sell to is crucial. That’s the only thing you need to remember here.

  2  About Organic Growing

This section might sound a bit familiar. Farming without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers. That’s known as organic farming. But again, it’s not as simple as that.

What I mean to say is that differences exist here too.

The amount of time the land is free from chemicals before the crop is grown is what differs.

In some countries, you have to wait for 3-5 years for the residues to leave the soil completely. On the other hand, other countries alter the way they treat the crop instead.

But here’s what’s misleading.

Believing that organic farming doesn’t involve any pesticides or fertilizers! Now that’s quite a popular misunderstanding. For the crop to be healthy, both pesticides and fertilizers are essential.

The only difference here is that natural fertilizers are a part of the process. Such as compost, coffee pulp, or chicken manure.

Photo credit: homegrounds.co

What about pest control? This aspect is a tad bit difficult to understand and handle. Let me explain.

Modern production of coffee consists of growing under the open natural sunlight. This is very useful for maximizing the crop. However, it leaves the cherries and plants exposed to pests.

So it’s only common sense to opt for the traditional method of organic growing. And that is to cultivate the plants in partial shade. Such a technique encourages the thriving capacity of natural bird and insect life. While also producing a feast of crop-destructing pests!

Organic Farming Versus Non-Organic

  3   About Organic Processing

Photo credit: mariadelpintado.com

Dry or wet-processed coffee, the manufacturer should avoid the contamination of beans. At whatever stage! So certain factors should be taken care of. Such as the bags pickers store the harvest in. Along with the sacks the processed beans come in.

But as far as processing goes, the simplest method for organic coffee is dry processing. As opposed to wet, the dry technique takes a shorter time. And that too without using chemical additives for speeding up the processing!

You should also know that wet processing demands water consumption. And that in itself poses a huge environmental problem. The same can be said about disposing of by-products.

  4  About Organic Roasting

Photo credit: idyllwildcoffeeroasters.com

The best organic coffee is one that is roasted in a machine that toasts nothing but organic beans. If the roaster is subjected to any other application, the coffee beans cease to be organic. No matter where they originate from!

When you toast non-organic stuff, chemical residues are common. The result of which is the transfer of these chemical residues to organic beans. So it’s necessary that organic roasters don’t have any additives or chemicals. Throughout the process of roasting!

It’s important for the beans to come out untainted and pure. Much like how they were before they entered the roaster. That means no performance-enhancing roaster drugs either!

Now that you know how the best organic coffee is manufactured, it’s time to address some common concerns.

Photo credit: haymeadowfarm.co.uk

Why do you think so many people opt for an organic diet? It’s because choosing organic means welcoming food produced without any chemical additives. And if that’s not considered a healthier option, I don’t know what is!

The best organic coffee is packed with antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. These help in clearing out the already existing chemical load present in your system.

If you’re a coffee fanatic, you know all about the health benefits of drinking coffee, don’t you? And the thing with organic coffee beans is that they cut down potential side effects.

2. What are the environmental benefits of organic coffee?

Coffee that’s grown organically is cultivated in shade.

Growing under the natural sunlight requires the destruction of forests. Tall plants and trees are cut down so nothing stands in between the crop and the sun. Such type of farming affects insects and animals too.

But when crops are cultivated in shade, it means they thrive under the shade of trees and plants. You’re not destroying the homes of beasts, bugs, and birds either.

3. Can organic coffee be decaf?

Photo credit: organicfacts.net

Here are the two organic decaffeinating methods of coffee. The first involves the use of Swiss Water. While the second uses the Carbon Dioxide technique. All other methods introduce chemicals to eliminate the caffeine.

An even better piece of news is that both the methods mentioned above taste the best. So your taste buds don’t have to settle just because you decided to go green.

Now you know why organic coffee is better. And how the best coffee brands offer 100% Organic and authentic beans.

Buying organic now has become more important than ever. So it’s necessary to take a look at the safety certifications and packaging details. Don’t you think so?

Related Tips and Tricks from SheLovesBest Lists:

1. The Best Meats to Smoke in Your Backyard (Top 10 List)
2. Do K-Cups Go Bad And Expire? (Expiration, Storage, All You Need To Know)
3. What Is The Best Ranch Style Beans Substitute? (Ingredients You Need)
4. Best Way To Reheat Wings: 3 Proven Methods
5. What Is The Best Cut Of Meat For Jerky And How To Slice The Meat?

Sources:

• Strategy to Choose the Best Organic Coffee
• Choosing the Best Organic Green Coffee Beans