More and more people are consciously paying attention to their consumption. And it makes perfect sense – it protects the environment and conserves resources. As a result, more and more consumers are turning to organic products and, of course, organic coffee. But does organic coffee live up to the arguments of environmental friendliness, sustainability, and a clear conscience? Does organic coffee also taste like an environmentally friendly indulgence, and is it also the better way to grow coffee for the coffee farmers? We'll address these questions and answer them in detail. Enjoy reading!
What is organic coffee?
The term "organic coffee" is subject to strict standards that farmers must adhere to. In terms of cultivation, organic means that it must be done without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. This is better for the environment and protects the health of the workers on the farms. The quality of the coffee is maintained and not unnecessarily burdened by pollutants. The alternative to chemical fertilizers is biological pesticides and herbicides. Farmers also rely on natural fertilization methods such as compost and green manure.
What are biological pesticides?
These consist of natural materials such as plant extracts, microorganisms, or other biodegradable materials. The aim is to control pests more effectively this way than with chemical pesticides, which often also kill beneficial organisms.
Types of biological pesticides
There are several categories:
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Microbial pesticides: Specific bacteria, fungi, or viruses are used against specific pests. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is particularly well-known; it releases a natural toxin that kills certain insect larvae without harming other plants and animals.
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Botanical pesticides: These are derived from plants that naturally contain toxins and thus combat pests. Neem oil and pyrethrins are well-known examples that have a broad spectrum of activity against pests.
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Biochemical pesticides: Pests are controlled through non-toxic mechanisms. For example, pheromone traps, which use sex hormones to attract pests.
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Plant resistance boosters: Also called biostimulants, plant resistance boosters use natural compounds to strengthen the plant's immune system.
The environmental benefits of organic coffee
Growing organic coffee strengthens biodiversity. on farms, it protects ecosystems from monocultures. Cultivated areas, water sources, air, and labor are less burdened by the avoidance of chemical substances and the promotion of synergistic crop growth. Wildlife can continue to inhabit the land, and the soil remains rich in microorganisms.
The health and taste benefits of organic coffee
Because organic coffee is grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers, it is richer in antioxidants. Cultivation in healthy soils also results in a more intense aroma. Many consumers of organic coffee report that they tolerate it better.
How can I recognize organic coffee?
Organic coffees are identified for the end consumer by an EU organic logo, USDA Organic, or Fairtrade certificate. This ensures that the coffee is grown without synthetic additives and has undergone strict quality controls.
Criticism of the organic coffee market
Unfortunately, as always, there are two sides to every coin, and certified organic coffee isn't a panacea. For many coffee farmers, despite their commitment to sustainable farming practices and respect for nature and its inhabitants, obtaining organic certification is simply impossible. Such a label costs money. For small farmers who take their harvests to community washing stations and rely on them to support their families, the conversion and certification process would lead to ruin. Here are some further reasons why not every sustainable coffee farmer receives an organic label:
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High conversion costs: Investing in new equipment and various organic fertilizers may be financially impossible for small farmers. Similarly, changes to cultivation methods may be impractical or represent too great a financial burden for small and medium-sized farms with low margins.
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Time-consuming certification processes: The process can take years. During this time, the farmer must already meet the requirements, but cannot sell their product as organic coffee and therefore cannot achieve higher prices. The bureaucratic burden is also insurmountable for many (keyword: access to education).
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Reduced yields: The conversion and/or restructuring of farms often leads to reduced yields. Whether it's first needing to reduce chemical contamination in the soil or taking effect from shade management, this burden is a death sentence for many farms.
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Fighting diseases and pests: In some regions, certain aggressive diseases such as leaf rust or pests are almost impossible to control without chemical intervention. This would often result in the loss of an entire harvest, plunging farm workers into a severe, often insurmountable financial burden.
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Market access: Especially in remote areas, farmers often sell to larger farms or directly at ports for very low prices due to a lack of alternatives. This prevents them from building up financial reserves for investments and everything related to organic coffee certification.
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Lack of knowledge and support: Access to information is particularly lacking on remote coffee farms. The conversion requires comprehensive knowledge of organic farming and methods.
As you can see, implementing the requirements for organic coffee is not feasible for everyone. Small farmers, in particular, face significant economic disadvantages that are completely disproportionate to the potential benefits. Furthermore, the increased prices of green coffee beans due to the certification can deter buyers and send farmers into a spiral of debt.
Is organic coffee always more environmentally friendly?
Organic farming is often associated with sustainability and resource-conserving methods. However, in reality, organic farming methods can also significantly burden the environment. Due to lower efficiency, larger areas often need to be cultivated, which naturally results in greater environmental impact.
Is organic coffee really subject to strict controls?
No, that's simply not possible with the sheer number of certified farmers. Therefore, random checks are carried out. What happens in the meantime? Nevertheless, one should trust in this system!
Organic coffee alternative: Direct trade
Of course, organic coffee is easy to grab from the shelf and makes you feel good. However, we believe there's much more potential for the environment. We've outlined why organic coffee can be a good choice, but also where there's significant room for improvement. Therefore, we'll also show you how you can do something good for the environment without certification and without a guilty conscience. The magic word is: direct trade.
Direct Trade means we know the coffee farmers and maintain relationships with them. This allows us to best understand the local conditions. We see the positive impact coffee cultivation has on the people in the communities, why the coffee is grown in the chosen way, and can simply be sure we're getting the best quality for you. It's also a great feeling for us to know the people who grow and process our coffee so beautifully. For example, our coffee farmer Eric from Rwanda. He founded Community Coffee Rwanda in 2017 and supports smallholder farmers with knowledge and a shared washing station in southern Rwanda. Over 750 coffee farmers bring their cherries there and receive a fair price with which they can feed and support their families. With his project, Eric is particularly committed to supporting children and helping communities to improve their access to education.
Many specialty coffee roasters like us prioritize sourcing our green coffee beans this way. We happily forgo seals and certifications because we know exactly how sustainable our purchasing is and how it positively impacts the local communities. And the coffee simply tastes fantastic!
Conclusion:
Organic coffee certainly has many advantages and is a real goal for many larger coffee farmers to sustainably convert their processes and thus achieve higher prices for their high-quality coffee. However, it doesn't take into account the many problems faced by small farms in remote locations. In the specialty coffee community, we love small farms that practice sustainable and organic cultivation. Many consciously reject certification – higher costs for too few benefits. We often find sustainably grown coffee without chemical fertilizers, with incredible aromas, amazing nuances, and fascinating stories behind the product. That's why we love what we do!
Now that you have been thoroughly informed about organic coffee, how will you decide?
Your SIMON&BEARNS Team
Organic coffee - The environmentally friendly way to enjoy coffee?
More and more people are consciously paying attention to their consumption. And it makes perfect sense – it protects the environment and conserves resources. As a result, more and more consumers are turning to organic products and, of course, organic coffee. But does organic coffee live up to the arguments of environmental friendliness, sustainability, and a clear conscience? Does organic coffee also taste like an environmentally friendly indulgence, and is it also the better way to grow coffee for the coffee farmers? We'll address these questions and answer them in detail. Enjoy reading!
What is organic coffee?
The term "organic coffee" is subject to strict standards that farmers must adhere to. In terms of cultivation, organic means that it must be done without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. This is better for the environment and protects the health of the workers on the farms. The quality of the coffee is maintained and not unnecessarily burdened by pollutants. The alternative to chemical fertilizers is biological pesticides and herbicides. Farmers also rely on natural fertilization methods such as compost and green manure.
What are biological pesticides?
These consist of natural materials such as plant extracts, microorganisms, or other biodegradable materials. The aim is to control pests more effectively this way than with chemical pesticides, which often also kill beneficial organisms.
Types of biological pesticides
There are several categories:
The environmental benefits of organic coffee
Growing organic coffee strengthens biodiversity. on farms, it protects ecosystems from monocultures. Cultivated areas, water sources, air, and labor are less burdened by the avoidance of chemical substances and the promotion of synergistic crop growth. Wildlife can continue to inhabit the land, and the soil remains rich in microorganisms.
The health and taste benefits of organic coffee
Because organic coffee is grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers, it is richer in antioxidants. Cultivation in healthy soils also results in a more intense aroma. Many consumers of organic coffee report that they tolerate it better.
How can I recognize organic coffee?
Organic coffees are identified for the end consumer by an EU organic logo, USDA Organic, or Fairtrade certificate. This ensures that the coffee is grown without synthetic additives and has undergone strict quality controls.
Criticism of the organic coffee market
Unfortunately, as always, there are two sides to every coin, and certified organic coffee isn't a panacea. For many coffee farmers, despite their commitment to sustainable farming practices and respect for nature and its inhabitants, obtaining organic certification is simply impossible. Such a label costs money. For small farmers who take their harvests to community washing stations and rely on them to support their families, the conversion and certification process would lead to ruin. Here are some further reasons why not every sustainable coffee farmer receives an organic label:
As you can see, implementing the requirements for organic coffee is not feasible for everyone. Small farmers, in particular, face significant economic disadvantages that are completely disproportionate to the potential benefits. Furthermore, the increased prices of green coffee beans due to the certification can deter buyers and send farmers into a spiral of debt.
Is organic coffee always more environmentally friendly?
Organic farming is often associated with sustainability and resource-conserving methods. However, in reality, organic farming methods can also significantly burden the environment. Due to lower efficiency, larger areas often need to be cultivated, which naturally results in greater environmental impact.
Is organic coffee really subject to strict controls?
No, that's simply not possible with the sheer number of certified farmers. Therefore, random checks are carried out. What happens in the meantime? Nevertheless, one should trust in this system!
Organic coffee alternative: Direct trade
Of course, organic coffee is easy to grab from the shelf and makes you feel good. However, we believe there's much more potential for the environment. We've outlined why organic coffee can be a good choice, but also where there's significant room for improvement. Therefore, we'll also show you how you can do something good for the environment without certification and without a guilty conscience. The magic word is: direct trade.
Direct Trade means we know the coffee farmers and maintain relationships with them. This allows us to best understand the local conditions. We see the positive impact coffee cultivation has on the people in the communities, why the coffee is grown in the chosen way, and can simply be sure we're getting the best quality for you. It's also a great feeling for us to know the people who grow and process our coffee so beautifully. For example, our coffee farmer Eric from Rwanda. He founded Community Coffee Rwanda in 2017 and supports smallholder farmers with knowledge and a shared washing station in southern Rwanda. Over 750 coffee farmers bring their cherries there and receive a fair price with which they can feed and support their families. With his project, Eric is particularly committed to supporting children and helping communities to improve their access to education.
Many specialty coffee roasters like us prioritize sourcing our green coffee beans this way. We happily forgo seals and certifications because we know exactly how sustainable our purchasing is and how it positively impacts the local communities. And the coffee simply tastes fantastic!
Conclusion:
Organic coffee certainly has many advantages and is a real goal for many larger coffee farmers to sustainably convert their processes and thus achieve higher prices for their high-quality coffee. However, it doesn't take into account the many problems faced by small farms in remote locations. In the specialty coffee community, we love small farms that practice sustainable and organic cultivation. Many consciously reject certification – higher costs for too few benefits. We often find sustainably grown coffee without chemical fertilizers, with incredible aromas, amazing nuances, and fascinating stories behind the product. That's why we love what we do!
Now that you have been thoroughly informed about organic coffee, how will you decide?
Your SIMON&BEARNS Team