Organic coffee is coffee that is grown without the use of any synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, in good soil, without the help of genetically modified organisms, processed and packaged without the use of any chemicals.
Organic Coffee: Health Benefits
Apart from the caffeine content, organic coffee is healthier than regular coffee. It does not contain any toxic residues of synthetic fertilizers, artificial flavors, or dyes. Thus, these harmful substances cannot enter our body, unlike regular coffee, which often contains these chemicals in abundance. But this does not mean that organic coffee can be drunk in unlimited quantities.
Other Benefits of Organic Coffee
Organic coffee also offers environmental advantages. Since no chemicals are used in production, processing and packaging, it does not pollute the environment. There is also no risk of poisoning animals, rodents, birds, since the product does not contain toxic chemicals. As a result, this coffee contributes to preserving a healthy environmental balance.
How is Organic Coffee Processed?
Organic coffee is processed using either a dry or wet process. Dry cleaning is essentially the separation of the beans from the dried coffee cherries. The cherries are dried using a machine or sun-dried. Wet processing is an expensive and time-consuming process that uses a lot of fresh water for washing. Despite this, it is one of the most reliable methods for producing high-quality, large-shaped beans.
Best Organic Coffee Varieties
Organic coffee comes in several forms, depending on where and how it is grown.
Shade-Loving Varieties
These varieties are grown in the natural shade of tropical forests, on rough soil. The growth is slow, but the coffee grown this way is tastier and more aromatic. The biggest advantage of these varieties is that no forests are cut down for this and, of course, no chemicals are used. There are several varieties of organic shade-loving coffee. They include organic rough (village), organic traditional and organic specialty (with a little shade).
Kona Coffee
This type of coffee is grown in the rich volcanic soil of the Kona region of Hawaii. These varieties are highly dependent on soil fertility (enriched with volcanic ash and lava), organic fertilizers, and biotic pest control. This coffee has a distinct flavor and aroma due to the climate and soil of this region. Although Organic Kona coffee is a delicacy in itself, the Pea-Berry variety is considered the best. Always look for a Kona coffee certificate. Many scammers sell regular coffee as Kona.
Organic Decaffeinated Coffee
Organic Green Coffee
This type of coffee is obtained from fresh unroasted coffee beans. No chemicals are used in the processing (fermentation, washing, etc.). The taste of organic green coffee depends on the quality of the soil, the altitude of cultivation and the climate. Green coffee is a rich source of antioxidants, which contains chlorogenic acid – it is much more effective in neutralizing free radicals than the antioxidants found in green tea.
This improves metabolism, and in addition, the presence of coffee acid helps to restore strength and relieve fatigue. Here are some of the most famous varieties of green coffee: Blue Mountain Cenaproc, Colonial Caranavi, Peaberry, Kenya AA, Tarrazu, Yirgacheffe, Antigua.
Types of Coffee
The varieties discussed above are specific types of coffee. Below are the two main types of coffee grown in different regions:
Arabica
This is the most widely used and widespread type of coffee in the world. Almost all coffee beans that come from Arabia, East Africa, Asia and Latin America belong to this variety. Everyone has their own opinion, but most coffee lovers believe that Arabica is much superior in quality to Robusta.
Robusta
Varieties of this species are common in Central and West Africa.
All types of coffee mentioned above can be used in the production of the best organic coffee.
Gourmet Coffee Varieties
This is the highest quality, grown naturally, without the use of any artificial chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. The coffee is then flavored with various organic flavors, such as vanilla, mint, almond and caramel. The flavor can be added by spraying or soaking the beans in it.
Organic Coffee Bags
These are small filter bags containing ground natural coffee, essentially something like tea bags. They are intended mainly for people who do not have time to brew normal coffee, but still do not want to drink “3-in-1”.
How to Choose and Store the Best Organic Coffee?
Here are some tips you should follow if you buy organic coffee:
- If you buy coffee beans, try to grind them just before brewing to get the best flavor and aroma. If possible, buy fresh beans and roast them yourself at home.
- If you can afford it, always buy “100% organic coffee” beans. Not “contains organic” coffee, but 100%!
- Pay attention to the uniformity of the size, shape and color of the grains. The presence of colorless, wrinkled and small grains indicates poor quality of the product.
- Check the production date and expiration date of your coffee.
- Never store your coffee, ground or whole beans, in the refrigerator!
Organic coffee is quite common in the world, but not as much as regular coffee. Of course, this is primarily due to the low productivity of such a product. No artificial fertilizers are used in cultivation, and the harvest is not so large. However, the demand for the best organic coffee is growing, and therefore more and more farmers are starting to engage in organic farming.
