What Makes Coffee Organic?

If you are a devoted coffee drinker, then it becomes imperative that you start to search for the best varieties of coffee that are also good for the earth, such as organic and fair trade roasts. But what actually makes a coffee organic? If you are going to begin to invest in organic coffee beans and roasts, then I am here to tell you all that you need to know about organic coffee and the best choices that pack the most taste.

Organic coffee is actually harvested with eco-friendly methods that have very little impact on the environment. For coffee production, this means that organic harvesting will not deplete the fertility of the soil and will use very little chemicals or pesticides for the crops. There are actually certification organizations that oversee and regulate these organic processes for harvesting coffee. For a coffee actually to be labeled and sold as organic in the United States, it must abide by the US standards for the organic coffee production, which means that they harvest the crops without synthetic pesticides for at least three years. The regulations also specify that they use crop rotation methods to protect the soil from erosion and to keep the nutrient content high.

Currently in the United States, organic coffee sales have risen significantly in the past several years, and they are estimated at over $100 million. Right now, there is over 80 million pounds of organic coffee being exported in the United States for our coffee consumption and enjoyment. The majority of the organic coffee comes from numerous regions such as Costa Rica, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Hawaii, and Zambia. There are over 40 countries producing organic coffee to date, and the top three are noted to be Ethiopia, Mexico, and Peru. If you are looking to purchase an organic coffee, they are available to you caffeinated and regular, flavored, instant, and even in ice creams. The organic coffee market has truly exploded, and it is something that is becoming more and more popular since true coffee lovers and connoisseurs are constantly looking for the safest and best production of their Java.

Since many conventional coffee decaffeination methods use harsh chemicals that are steamed out during the roasting process, organic coffee is actually decaffeinated in the Swiss Water Method, where an extract is used to draw the caffeine out of the coffee beans, often resulting in 95% decaffeinated beans. The decaffeination process in organic coffee must adhere to organic regulations so they do not use harmful solvents in the process.

When you are looking to purchase organic coffee for your home consumption, know that the organic labels guarantee that the coffee product is made with 95% organic certified ingredients. Some popular organic coffee brands include Elan Organic Coffees, Caffe Ibis, and Green Mountain Coffee. Green Mountain Coffee is a leader in organic coffee production because it is award winning and focuses on eco-friendly coffee production. If you are looking for the same taste and flavor without harmful additives or chemicals, then I wholeheartedly recommend that organic is the way to go. Drink on!