An Introduction to Organic Coffee Beans
Organic coffee is the ultimate premium coffee experience. It’s also one of the most misunderstood and confusing coffee experiences out there. What exactly is “organic” coffee? Is it just another marketing term like “fair trade,” “single-origin,” or “direct trade”? Or does organic coffee have some special properties that make it stand out from the rest? In this article, we’ll answer all your burning questions about organic coffee and introduce you to the world of organic coffee beans. We’ll start with a quick overview of what organically grown coffee is, and why it matters so much to quality-conscious drinkers. Then we move on to cover some general principles about why organics matter in general (and not just for food).
What Does “Organic” Actually Mean?
When you see “organic” coffee on a menu or bag, you might be tempted to think that it’s “healthier” or “better for you” than non-organic coffee. Unfortunately, that’s not exactly true. You see, the “organic” label actually has nothing to do with the health benefits or nutritional value of the coffee itself. Instead, it’s simply a catch-all term that tells you the beans have been grown in a certain way. So what is this “certain way”? The “organic” label is actually just a way of regulating the use of pesticides and fertilizers in growing and harvesting agricultural goods. Basically, if you want to call your coffee “organic,” it has to be grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or sewage sludge.
Why Should You Care About Organic Coffee?
As we’ve seen above, the label “organic” has nothing to do with the taste or nutritional value of the coffee itself. So what exactly are the benefits of organic growing? Why is it important for coffee growers to forego synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and GMOs? The main reason to care about organic growing is that it’s better for the environment and for future generations. That’s because synthetic pesticides and fertilizers (both of which are commonly used in non-organic coffee growing) pose a large threat to the environment. In fact, almost all synthetic pesticides are harmful to some degree. Some of them are lethal for small creatures (such as bees), while others can cause significant harm to larger organisms like fish and birds. Most synthetic pesticides also have a sizable negative impact on the overall environment. They can harm the soil, pollute nearby groundwater, and even persist in the atmosphere. That means they get into the food chain through plants and insects, and then move up through the food chain through the bodies of animals that eat those insects and plants. The end result is that synthetic pesticides and fertilizers end up in our bodies too. That’s why many people feel that organic growing is really important. With organic growing, growers use non-toxic methods, like building their soil, rotating plants, or using natural fertilizers like compost. That way, they can control pests and weeds without harming the environment or endangering the health of people and animals.
Reasons to Drink Organic Coffee
If you’re still not convinced that organic coffee is worth the trouble, here are five more reasons to drink organic coffee. When you drink organic coffee, you’re choosing to support environmentally sustainable farming methods. You’re also helping to support small-scale farmers who might not be able to afford organic growing themselves. Organic coffee is less acidic, so it’s gentler on your stomach. When coffee is roasted, it naturally forms a significant amount of acid. That acid is what makes coffee taste bitter, and it can irritate the lining of your stomach if ingested in high enough quantities. Organic coffee is generally less acidic than non-organic coffee, which means it’s less likely to cause heartburn, indigestion, or other stomach upsets. Organic coffee is lower in toxins than non-organic coffee. When coffee beans are roasted, they form a few different types of toxins. The amount of toxins in coffee is actually pretty low, and most people don’t need to worry about them too much. Still, it’s nice to know that organic coffee contains less of these toxins. Organic coffee is better for the environment and better for your body. When you drink non-organic coffee, you’re taking in all of the pesticides and toxins used in growing and harvesting the beans. With organic coffee, you get a clean, safe cup of coffee that’s good for the environment.
Conclusion
Organic coffee is a special premium experience. It’s not just a nice marketing term — it represents a different way of growing coffee, one that’s better for the environment, the growers, and the coffee drinkers who drink it. That’s why we recommend that people who really care about coffee drink organically. That’s not to say that non-organic coffee is bad, but if you really care about your coffee, you should buy organic. If you’re buying coffee like this, you’re also buying into a system of production in which growers are paid more for their product, given better conditions, and can focus on quality rather than quantity or profit. If you’re looking to try something new, or you want to upgrade your coffee experience, we highly recommend investing in some organic coffee.