Organic Coffee - Here's to Your Health and the Health of the Planet!

We often hear about organic-this and organic-that, but most people don't know what that term means or why is it important to our ever-changing world. In food related matters, organic refers to the way a product is grown. Organic agriculture utilizes conservation practices that protect water, air, and soil - all of which are certainly is an investment in the future of our planet. Additionally, organic products are grown without using chemically based pesticides and fertilizers. By choosing to purchase products such as organic coffee, you are essentially doing a good thing both for yourself and for the planet. Organic coffee growers go to great lengths to insure there are no synthetics, preservatives, or additives in their product. In doing so, they produce some of the best coffee in the world.

Organic coffee is the healthiest form of coffee available. The rich bodied, whole coffee bean is full of antioxidants, has no synthetics, preservatives, or additives, and contains natural enzymes. If that isn't enough, when the organic whole bean is ground and brewed properly, the taste transcends any other conventionally grown coffee bean. Organic coffee growers can be found around the globe, from Kenya, Africa, to Kona, Hawaii. The whole bean product comes to us from Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Columbia, and Ethiopia. Whole coffee beans can be blended with other flavors and can be caffeinated or not. An amazing product and certainly the best way to start the day!

Deciding how to go about getting the best cup of brewed organic coffee begins with an understanding of the equipment necessary to make the perfect cup. Most people know whether they are looking for a cup of black coffee or something a little more sophisticated, like a latte or espresso. No matter the outcome, it all starts with the bean and the coffee grinder. The grinder is used to turn the roasted coffee beans into a usable form and the consistency of the grinding needs to match the brewing method. A simple rule of thumb is to use a coarse grind for coffee exposed to heated water for a longer period of time. A fine grind is used for brewing espresso coffee. Essentially, when using a coffee grinder, a person can control the length of time and degree of grind, thus ensuring the best cup of coffee for their personal taste.

The next step to the perfect cup of organic coffee is deciding upon the coffee maker or espresso maker to best meet individual preferences. There are lots of great products on the market and it bears researching the top machines available to help produce the award-winning cup of latte, or espresso. There really aren't words to describe the aroma of the perfectly ground and brewed cup of organic coffee. The overwhelming satisfaction of treating yourself to the perfect roast and blend of organic beans is sublime. Experimenting with the different types of organic whole beans available is fun and rewarding as well!

Spend your time and money on the perfect whole beans, the right coffee grinder and a great coffee machine. You won't be sitting in the drive through line at the local coffee joint once you make this investment! Your organic coffee adventure awaits you.

By Chris Robertson

Organic Coffee - Does It Taste Any Better?

Traditional coffee like Folders and the popular Spanish brand Nescafe have maintained that familiar, consistent great taste over the years. Despite pesticides and fertilizers harvested in the large, commercial coffee plantations they grow on, it manages to suit an average person's tastes as evident by its sales. In justifying the high prices for organic coffee, many people point to its tastes as one of the main reasons. Does organic coffee taste better than traditional coffee?

To begin, organic coffee tastes better than traditional coffee because of the growing methods farmers use. Factors that weigh heavily with improved taste include shade grown and organic farming methods that are in force today that promote healthier soil, clean water, and habitats for birds that provide pest control. As an added bonus, organic coffee receives a taste boost if it is high-grown. Organic coffee under shade trees are the definition of "premium" in that fewer coffee cherries are produces unlike traditional coffee that grow under the sun. Because of this, organic coffee cherries grow slower and finer, and the difference is passed on to your I Love New York mug.

Another reason why organic coffee tastes better is because of the incentives farmers receive for producing it. With an average of 15 cents more per pound, producers are more inclined to keep their trees in top shape and harvest them better. Organic coffee producers also place a higher emphasis on harvesting, many of which is done by hand to assure the best beans are processed. This is a must, considering coffee trees have cherries going through different development cycles. The harvesting process also separates regular beans from the finer ones. All in all, because of the more intricate care placed with growing organic coffee, taste is improved tenfold.

By Scott Wilson

Differences Between Organic Coffee Beans and Regular Coffee

A lot of pesticides are used in regular coffee production, which is one of the main differences between traditional coffee and organic green coffee beans. Normally, coffee plants are treated with pesticides before harvest to safeguard against weeds and insects. After being harvested, traditional green coffee beans are treated with even more chemicals.

In the past, coffee was grown in natural environments underneath shade trees where the plants could grow without human interference. Today, large-scale coffee growers have abandoned this method and instead chop down trees and plant coffee in large fields. This change in methodology has brought forth the need for pesticides and fertilizers to ensure favorable yields. The chemicals with which coffee plants are treated seep into the ground and affect soil quality as well as the quality of the coffee beans.

Organic coffee beans are grown in a completely different way. Instead of destroying shade trees to make room for larger growing plots, organic coffee farmers utilize these trees so that the coffee plants may grow in a protected area. This, and the use of birds to control insects, eliminates the need for harmful chemicals and is known as shade tree farming. The results are higher quality, more flavorful coffee beans.

The USDA has a set of standards for organic foods and in order for a product to be certified as being organic, it must meet the USDA's regulations. Organic coffee growers must not use synthetic pesticides and must rotate their crops every several years to preserve soil nutrients.

Even though organic coffee is usually grown on a smaller scale than traditional coffee and its farmers must adhere to strict USDA guidelines, the cost of organic coffee is actually not astonishingly higher than the price of regular coffee. Keep this in mind when you are choosing a new brand of coffee to try. The easiest way to buy organic green coffee beans is online, where a variety of roasts and flavors may be found.

By Steve Turley

Discovering Organic Coffee

Many people have turned to organic fruits and vegetables (and even meats) in recent years, striving to live healthier, longer lives. You may be one of these people. But did you know that organic coffee is now available, too? If you can't find it at your local health food store, then you can definitely find it online.

How Organic Coffee Differs From Traditional Coffee

The coffee plant has traditionally been grown in the company of shade trees and other food and cash crops. This approach made for healthier soil and prevented water contamination. Unfortunately, many coffee growers have abandoned this approach in favor of larger crops and hence larger profits. However, synthetic pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers have become necessary to maintain these crops, and along with them the taste of the coffee has suffered, the soil has suffered, and no one knows the potential impact they may have on the future health of the coffee consumer.

In addition, the loss of the shade trees has had a direct impact on migratory song birds. While an obvious connection may not immediately come to mind, the relationship has actually been symbiotic. These birds used the shade trees as their habitat as they migrated, and as a result they provided a natural defense against many of the bugs and pests that can ruin a coffee crop. Without them, pesticides must be used to do the job.

Unlike the large, commercial coffee plantations, organic coffees are generally grown on small farms with plenty of shade cover. There are plenty of migratory birds to control insects, and pesticides are unnecessary. In fact, the United States requires that organic coffees be grown on shaded land and be completely chemical free for three consecutive years.

Tips For A Great Cup of Organic Coffee

Whole beans should be used within a week of purchase in order to enjoy the full flavor of the coffee.

Avoid vacuum-packed coffee, even organic vaccum-packed coffee. The process of vacuum packing cannot be done immediately after roasting. The coffee must sit for nearly a week before it can be vacuum-packed. This degrades much of the flavor.

Coffee beans should be stored in an airtight container, not on the shelf in the paper bag you brought them home with from the store. And in order to enjoy the full flavor of the coffee, you should grind only the amount you intend to use just before brewing.

Whole coffee beans that will be stored longer than a week should be placed in an airtight glass container that's kept in the freezer.

As with any coffee blend, organic or not, grind the beans according to the brewing method you intend to use. Keep in mind that if you grind your beans too fine your coffee may end up bitter and muddy; if you don't grind them enough, your coffee may end up flavorless.

Often overlooked, many people consider the most important step toward a good cup of coffee to be the proportion of water to coffee. Experts recommend 2 tablespoons for every 6 ounces of water.

In Conclusion

While you will pay more for organic coffee, just as you'll generally pay more for organic fruits and vegetables, choosing organic coffee promotes the environment, the health of the coffee grower, and your health, too. Just as important for coffee drinkers everywhere: organic coffee tastes as good if not better than non-organic coffee.

By D. Silva