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Fair Trade and Organic Coffee
For many people, choosing a bag of coffee comes down to the strength, the flavor, or even the cost. You should really be looking out for terms like Shade-Grown, Fair Trade, and Organic. Aka, what’s the story behind the bean? These stories will have you inspired and hopefully giving your current coffee a second thought.
Having an idea of what goes into your morning cup is not only better for you, but better for the environment and the farmers as well. Let me explain.
Dirty Coffee
Coffee today is not as glorious as it seems. Behind the beautifully designed bags come ethical, sustainability, and environmental issues, plus much more.
To start, there is a frightening amount of pesticides sprayed on coffee crops today. Because of this, we are being exposed to and poisoned by the residue. Not to mention, these chemicals are ruining ecosystems, soil, and essentially entire forests.
Secondly, farmers are being paid pennies on the pound. After many hard months of harvesting, the farmer is often losing money, when it’s all said and done.
Additionally, soil is being stripped of nutrients, wildlife is dying and chemicals are polluting the water and the land.
While coffee is problematic, there are a few things we can do to better support the workers and the industry in general. For starters choosing Fair Trade, Shade Grown or Organic coffee.
Coffee Certifications and What They Mean
SHADE GROWN
Shade Grown (or sometimes labeled bird-friendly) coffee grows exactly like it sounds, in the shade. Or more specifically, under a natural canopy of larger trees. This growing method supports ecosystems by protecting forest and biodiversity. Coffee was grown this way traditionally, and thankfully, many companies are making their way back to this method today.
Little to no shade increases the use of pesticides and toxic fertilizers. Shade Grown coffee supports the natural ecosystem, but it also allows you to sip without a side of death. That being said, let’s discuss organic coffee.
ORGANIC
Firstly, USDA organic coffee is important for many reasons. Let me start by saying that coffee is one of the most heavily chemically treated crops in the world.
Choosing organic is always the way to go. It keeps you safe from nasty chemicals, but it also keeps the beans and the soil healthy, as well. It’s a domino effect.
Gourmesso Coffee explains that crops are rotated to manage pests and compost is used to fertilize soil. Organic farmers also take into consideration the wildlife and water resources, in order to better protect them.
In summary, if you can make one switch with your daily cup, I’d recommend you drinking organic coffee. Better farmers, better processes, better beans, better antioxidants, BETTER COFFEE.
FAIR TRADE
Like the organic label, fair trade stands for so much including sustainability, fair economy, and little to no chemical treatment. Not to mention, fair trade provides support to the families and communities involved in growing our coffee. With such high standards, a more ethical and future sustaining process is created.
The Fair Trade International says “the Fairtrade Minimum Price guarantees that farmer cooperatives earn at least $1.40 per pound (or $1.70 for organic), plus the additional Fairtrade Premium of 20 cents per pound, that they decide for themselves how to invest. Together that’s 65% more than the average market price of $0.97 cents per pound over the first six months of the year.”
All that said, let’s dive into some pretty incredible brands.
Better for You – Organic Coffee Brands
Peace Coffee
Certificates: Shade Grown, Fair Trade, USDA Organic, B-Corp
The Company
Starting off the list strong (ha, get it) is Peace Coffee. Peace Coffee is fair trade and organic coffee brand that originally started as a way to help American farmers during the 1980’s family farm crisis. This idea of course blossomed into many more countries, supporting many more farmers and families.
These small-scale farmers are part of local cooperatives that help them organize, advocate for their rights, and share profits. Working in a group has really been beneficial to these farmers. Their system is fair, transparent and sustainable.
In addition, my favorite thing about this brand is, if you live locally, Peace Coffee delivers your order via bike. Bike deliveries started when the company originated and the delivery riders haul an average of 2000 pounds per week! What a unique and eco-friendly way to distribute coffee.
The Product
Peace Coffee has a large selection of options including your standard light, medium, or dark, as well as, a specific cold brew blend. Aside from whole bean and ground, you can purchase this coffee in pod forms, that are compostable and perfect for Keurig machines.
Volcanica Coffee
Certifications: Shade Grown, USDA Organic, Rain Forest, Fair Trade (certificates vary)
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The Company
Volcanica Coffee is an exotic coffee brand sourced from the best volcanic regions around the world. For two generations, this family-owned company has imported the highest quality coffee beans roasting them fresh, weekly.
The Product
Volanica Coffee has hundreds of options to choose from. While that might sound overwhelming, you have the opportunity to choose any certificate, any roast, specialty flavors, coffee from regions or even specific farms.
How unique is it that you can try organic coffee from a specific farm or estate. Or that you can KNOW the farmer that harvested the beans. In fact, if you want to, you can understand the process in which the bean underwent to provide you the very cup you sip. How unique.
Purity
Certifications: USDA Organic, Smithsonian Bird Friendly, Rainforest Alliance, Mold Free, Regeneratively and/or Biodynamically Farmed
The Company
Purity believes coffee is one of the healthiest foods in the Western diet. Through their research, founders of Purity coffee understand the incredible benefits of drinking coffee (and want to shout it from the rooftop). Specifically, when it comes to healing the body and disease prevention.
Purity has a very rigorous protocol each bean goes through. From careful inspections, to lab testing for mold, to precise roasting to preserve the antioxidants (an important factor in preserving those health benefits). They are committed to producing the highest quality organic coffee out there.
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The Product
Purity Coffee comes in the form of whole bean, coffee pods, and even single serve sachets. It is important to note, they don't offer ground coffee. Additionally, this company offers a Swiss Water® Processed Decaf (shade-grown) option which has dark chocolate and vanilla notes.
Mayorga
Certifications: USDA Organic, Shade Grown, Non GMO, Renewable Energy Powered, Farmer Direct
The Company
My favorite coffee, Mayorga started by a Latin American man who spent his childhood traveling Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, & Peru. High quality, 100% organic coffee that is driven with a purpose. This company operates with sustainability at its forefront.
In like manner, Mayorga is fighting to eliminate poverty in Latin America and focused on supporting the native producers. Learn all about their partners, the process, the location, and the people behind the scenes on their website, as you choose your bag.
The Product
After you learn all about the source and farmers involved with your purchase, choose between whole bean, coarse, medium, or fine grind.
Groundwork Coffee
Certifications: Organic, B Corp, Direct Trade
The Company
Obviously, Groundwork loves the idea of putting in the hard work to get a little bit closer to your dreams. Realizing failure, let down, and pivoting will happen along the way. Because that's exactly how it happened for Groundwork over 30 years ago.
Despite that, working hard to develop long term partnerships, this company faced the difficulties that came alongside organic coffee, and put in the effort necessary to overcome those challenges.
Additionally, Groundwork buys directly from the farmer, cutting out the middleman. This is to ensure good, livable wages.
The Product
Choose your origin, your size, and your roast and enjoy the delicious profiles of this direct trade, organic coffee. Use this link to get $10 off.
Tiny Footprint Coffee
Certifications: Shade Grown, Organic, Kosher
The Company
Last but not least, Tiny Footprint Coffee is the world's first carbon negative coffee company. They say "for every pound that’s sold, we donate a portion of the proceeds to fund reforestation in Honduras." These new trees will then, overtime, extract more and more CO2 out of the air. These shade-grown beans are sustainably sourced from small family-owned farms around the world.
Part of their sustainability efforts include biodegradable packaging, composting coffee grounds, as well as, efficient coffee burners and lighting. This brand is really going the extra mile.
The Product
Select a coffee by roast, or location, and dive into the story behind the bean. Each farm or specific farmer has a story.
I am more than happy to share these companies with you and encourage you to check them out.
Read more about how to make your coffee drinking habit more eco-friendly or even zero-waste!
