Organic coffee is grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides, but the definition may vary by region. It can be more expensive due to lower yields and the exclusion of genetically modified plants. Fair Trade coffee guarantees economic rights to farmers. Pesticide exposure can occur if served with non-organic milk and sugar.
Organic is a term generally legislated by each country or region separately. Broadly speaking, organic coffee would refer to coffee beans grown, as defined by law, without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. There may be variations in this definition. However, since many coffee farmers use these products in large quantities, many people prefer to find organic coffee.
One of the reasons organic coffee is held in such favor is due to the way the coffee is made. With both a French press and an automatic drip, the water covers the coffee grounds, quickly or slowly, and this is the same water that will become coffee and that people will drink. The thought that beans may be exposed to high numbers of pesticides or other chemicals contributes to the idea that a person is simply running or pouring water through a pesticide-laden product to create a beverage. Some people find that, when taken in this light, the idea of coffee is simply not that appetizing.
Sure, it can be a luxury to buy organic coffee. First, not using chemical fertilizers can result in lower grain yields in each crop. Similarly, a lack of pesticide use can result in fewer perfect beans to sell. Both of these factors tend to contribute to a higher coffee price. The price per pound can vary in final sales, but it’s not unusual to pay between 15-20 US dollars (USD) for a pound.
Another reason for low yielding organic coffee, which can affect the price, is that many states insist that organic excludes the use of any plant that has been genetically modified (GMO). Several companies that grow coffee beans do so in areas where they need to grow in the shade of the rainforest and cannot expand their growing areas to produce more. These companies therefore produce less coffee than other companies. Those not interested in researching the organic coffee label can use plants that are genetically engineered to produce more or to grow in environments unavailable to non-GMO plants.
As concern about buying organic coffee has increased, many people are also stressing the importance of using Fair Trade coffee. This coffee is also more expensive but guarantees some economic rights to the farmer by organizing groups of farmers into cooperatives. Farmers who sell directly to the world market cannot even live. For purists, another potential issue is the shelf life of organic coffee. Pesticide exposure can occur quickly if coffee is served with a dollop of non-organic milk and a tablespoon of pesticide-laden sugar. Those buying organic coffee to avoid pesticides can luckily find organic milk and sugar too, if that’s a concern.
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