The organic coffee market has grown by 4.5% in the last five years across Europe and continues to grow in popularity. So why do people choose organic coffee over non-organic coffee? 

Organic coffee is great for your health and for the environment. Here’s our guide to the best organic coffee you can buy. 

What is organic coffee?

Regular coffee is intensively farmed on open fields. This requires the use of fertilisers to boost growth and pesticides to manage pests. Organic coffee farmers will plant naturally and use natural pest management practices so that they don’t have to use chemicals. They can still use natural compost which is beneficial to the soil. And natural plantings are better for biodiversity than monoculture. 

Benefits of organic coffee 

Organic coffee is high in anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals. Research suggests that it can be used as part of a healthy diet, to improve your gut microbiome, reduce cancer risk, improve your cognitive functions, and can even help maintain weight loss. It uses no chemicals which reduces your exposure to harmful toxins which might affect your health. 

What are the best organic coffees?

Well of course we think our coffees are the best organic coffees!

The highest quality coffees are grown at altitude and are known as Speciality High Grown (SHG) coffees. That’s why we choose to work with growers in the cloud forests and sell only single origin coffee. 

Arabica coffee beans have a well deserved reputation as superior coffee beans. That’s why our organic coffees are all 100% Arabica. 

Our organic ethos continues with the processing and roasting. For our decaf coffee the beans are washed in fresh mountain water using the Swiss Water method. The roasting is critical to the flavour and taste of the coffee. Lighter roasted coffees have less caffeine and more antioxidants in them. 

The biggest advantage to our organic coffee is the benefit to the environment. As well as sustainable land management practices, our growers contribute to local reforestation projects that increase biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions. 

Our organic coffees

La Sierra Cloud Forest Coffee is available in decaf and caffeinated coffee. It is grown near the El Ocote biosphere in Mexico. The flavour is that of praline with a nutty, milk chocolate and citrus profile. 

Rio Coco Cloud Forest Coffee from Nicaragua supports local reforestation projects. This medium roast coffee is citrusy with milk chocolate and peanuts and a velvety mouthfeel. 

Gishwati Cloud Forest Coffee is a medium-dark roast coffee with the taste of almond, dark chocolate and dried dates. Gishwati-Mukura national park and biosphere is in Rwanda. 

Mount Elgon Cloud Forest Coffee is grown near the national park from which it takes its name. This Ugandan organic coffee is a medium-dark roast with hints of pear, honey and toasted dark chocolate. 

Kilimanjaro Cloud Forest Coffee is grown on the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. This dark roasted coffee has notes of cacao, dried fruit and pepper spice. 

Why buy organic coffee?

Organic coffee has many advantages to health and happiness. It has less toxins due to organic farming and processing standards. This adds to the health benefits of drinking coffee. 

Secondarily, it supports local economies and individual farmers who are working to provide their families with a better life.

Finally, and perhaps more importantly, it is better for the environment. Organic farming does not release toxins into the soil and waterways. It improves biodiversity and supports reforestation which can act as carbon sinks and offset carbon emissions. It is more sustainable for the long term future.