Organic vs. Non-organic Coffee: What's the Difference?

People have been drinking coffee for centuries, and it has only become increasingly popular over the years. Organic coffee has recently become more sought after than non-organic for several reasons. One main reason for the growing demand for organic coffee is that consumers have become more health-conscious over the decades. The more health-conscious consumers are likely to be from the Generation Z or Millennial generations, although some people from older generations are also demanding healthier coffee. Non-organic coffee beans are grown and processed using potentially harmful chemicals and pesticides that consumers want to avoid. They're aware of the potential dangers of these pesticides, and they're willing to go out of their way and pay higher prices for better-quality coffee. 

Another reason why demand for organic coffee has increased is due to its many health benefits. Consumers have become more aware of the dangers related to non-organic foods, and coffee lovers want to enjoy their favorite drink while simultaneously deriving benefits from it. They don't want their morning java to impact their health negatively as conventional coffee does. Consumers also want better-tasting coffee that has a more pleasant aroma and organic coffee is not only better-tasting and more aromatic, but if you look in the right places, you can enjoy it without paying the astronomical prices that some retailers charge for organic coffee.

As a result of consumer's increased desire for organic coffee (and also other foods and beverages), grocery stores are doing their best to meet the demand. While some consumers will only purchase organic items, others demand fairtrade and organic coffee. Fairtrade is different from organic because it's a different certification with different guidelines. For food to be labeled organic, it must receive a special certification. According to international standards, the definition of organic is any food or farmed product that adheres to the strict regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Any product stamped with a "USDA Organic" label is guaranteed to be a minimum of 95% organic.  

Fairtrade is a completely separate certification. Fairtrade entails an agreement between businesses in developed countries and farmers in developing countries. This agreement involves producers in developing countries to pay workers fair wages and adhere to high standards in every way, in exchange for higher rates. Any products containing a Fairtrade logo have met all the guidelines to be certified. 

What Makes Coffee Organic?

Organic coffee is grown in soil that is devoid of synthetic fertilizers or chemicals. Depending on the specific country that is certifying the organic coffee, the soil must have been managed using all organic fertilizers for a certain number of years. For instance, to become certified as organic by the USDA, coffee growers must use soil that has not been contaminated with non-organic materials for at least 36 months prior to certification.   

Without the ability to use conventional pesticides and fungicides during the farming of organic coffee, alternative means of pest and disease control must be used. Here are some commonly used methods:

• Perform thorough harvesting: Ensuring that all the beans from a previous harvest are removed, as any remaining beans will attract pests
• Bottle-trapping: This is an inexpensive yet effective method of controlling pests. A red bottle is opened and positioned so that it will attract the bugs that enjoy feasting on coffee trees, which causes harm to them. The color red is used specifically because it attracts certain insects. Once the insect has reached the bottle, the bugs fall into the solution that the bottle contains, rendering them unable to escape
• Correct irrigation: By providing proper irrigation, waterborne diseases can be prevented or greatly diminished
• The use of natural pesticides: Pesticides that are derived from plants and animals are just as effective as the synthetic ones used in non-organic coffee bean farming
• Weed control: By adequately controlling weeds, organic coffee farmers increase their ability to keep pests at bay

Overall Environmental Impact 

There are many differences between traditional farming and organic. Organic farming is beneficial to the environment, while non-organic is harmful. Non-organic farming utilizes as many as 400 different pesticides during their production and processing, and only 26 of them are natural and approved in organic farming. Many people fail to realize the consequences of using these toxic pesticides, not only on the beans but also on the environment. 

The Impact on Deforestation

Non-organic coffee trees have been implicated in cases of deforestation. Deforestation is the conversion of a forest by removing trees for non-forest uses. Non-organic coffee contributes to deforestation because of the full sun that is used to grow the beans, making it necessary to remove copious amounts of trees. As a result, soil erosion, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity ensue. 

Furthermore, the toxic chemicals used to grow and process non-organic coffee beans are a hazard to the environment because coffee bean trees grown in full sun require even more pesticides. Consumers who demand organic coffee don't want to be part of these unnatural practices. They want to enjoy delicious, non-toxic coffee that hasn't contributed to the detriment of the earth. 

Organic coffee beans are grown using ample shade, and these shade-grown beans are cultivated with sustainability in mind. Utilizing sustainable methods helps to conserve forests by using the leaves that fall from the trees as natural fertilizer. These shaded trees also attract birds, who consume many of the insects. This reduces the need for pesticides and makes organic farming easier.  

How Growing Organic Affects Coffee

Many consumers agree that coffee that has been grown organically changes the overall flavor profile. Here is how organically-grown coffee beans taste and smell differently:

• Aroma: The aroma of organic coffee is increased, as the fragrance isn't covered with chemicals, which is what occurs with non-organic coffee
• Acidity: Organic coffee has a reduced acidity level, thanks to the fact that it hasn't been sprayed with fungicides, pesticides, etc.
• Body: As a result of being grown in a chemical-free environment, organic coffee has an enhanced body that many coffee drinkers appreciate 
• Flavor: The flavor is typically more flavorful and sweet due to the lack of bitter-tasting chemicals and toxins

Organic Coffee and Your Health

There are many benefits to drinking organic coffee as opposed to non-organic. Organic coffee is free of toxins, and it contains significantly more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Organic coffee also has a positive impact on the environment, since there is no use of toxic chemicals and fungicides. A healthier environment means a healthier consumer. 

When it comes to chemicals sprayed on crops to ward off pests and diseases, non-organic coffee beans are often more frequently treated with these chemicals due to a greater prevalence of threats. These chemicals can impact the human body in several negative ways. Decaffeinated coffee is riddled with even more chemicals that are used to remove the caffeine from the coffee, increasing its dangers even more. Here are just some of the health-related effects of being exposed to the toxic materials used in the production of non-organic coffee:

1. Cell mutation and organ toxicity
2. Fatigue
3. Liver and kidney disease
4. Nervous & reproductive system damage
5. Diabetes and blood sugar and metabolism control problems

How Growing Organic Affects Coffee Consumption

Organic coffee bean farmers must typically pay higher prices to grow their products, and the yield is often less than non-organic. This is because non-organic coffee growers use synthetic products to promote higher yields, while organic farmers allow their coffee bean crops to grow naturally, without enhancers. 

Growing organic coffee beans has a much greater impact on farmers than growing non-organic. The first way in which farmers are impacted by growing organic is that they're able to harvest organic coffee beans sooner because their improved health allows them to mature faster. However, another way that farmers are impacted by growing organic isn't positive. Since the farming of organic coffee beans requires alternative methods of pest and disease control, the process is more laborious and time-consuming for the organic farming of coffee beans. 

Cost of Organic Certification

The specific cost of organic certification will depend on many different factors. On average, an organic coffee bean operation can expect to pay anywhere from $200 to several thousands of dollars to become certified by the USDA. Some things that must be taken into consideration to determine the cost of this certification are:

• The size of a business
• The complexity of a business
• The specific type of operation

Costs for Consumers

Since growing organic coffee beans is a more extensive process for farmers, consumers will pay higher prices at the store. On average, consumers can expect to pay as much as 25% - 35% or more for organic than non-organic beans. However, the specific price difference will depend on many different factors, including the country in which the coffee beans were manufactured, the brand, and much more. There may be instances in which you can find organic coffee beans that are equivalent to non-organic coffee bean prices.  

How to Choose Organic Beans

When choosing organic beans, it's important to take your time and perform adequate research. There are a variety of choices available, which is why familiarizing yourself with what is available before choosing a specific brand is recommended. You should ensure that the product has a USDA sticker certifying it as organic. Also, make certain that the coffee beans that you choose contain the amount of caffeine desired. Some individuals are sensitive to caffeine and can only tolerate low levels, while others can only function when they drink coffee with the highest amounts of caffeine. There are four different levels of caffeine in coffee beans, from very low to very high. Here are the different levels:

• Excelsa: This type of organic coffee contains the lowest amount of caffeine, and provides approximately 1 gram of caffeine per 100 grams of coffee beans
• Liberica: Liberica contains a bit more caffeine than Excelsa, which has about 1.23 grams of caffeine per 100 grams of coffee beans
• Arabica: Arabica contains the second from the highest, at about 1.61 grams of caffeine per 100 grams of coffee beans
• Robusta: If you want as much caffeine as possible, Robusta will provide you with 2.26 grams of caffeine per 100 grams of coffee beans

The organic coffee beans that you decide on in the beginning might not be your favorite. You might find it necessary to sample different beans before you can decide which brand or brands you like best. 

As you can see, there are many differences between organic and non-organic coffee and if you're seeking healthier, better-tasting coffee that has been sustainably produced, then you should opt for organic. 

FAQs

Here are the answers to some questions that consumers frequently ask regarding organic and non-organic coffee:

1. What about all-natural coffee? Is it the same as organic?

Unfortunately, all-natural coffee is in the same category as non-organic. In order to be considered organic, coffee (or any other consumer product) must be properly labeled. If you seek organic, don't settle for all-natural, because oftentimes "all-natural" is simply a label that tricks consumers into thinking they're buying a healthy product when it's actually not as healthy as they believe.

2.  Do organic and non-organic coffee beans contain the same number of calories?

Yes, organic and non-organic coffee beans contain the same number of calories, which is 0. Coffee only has calories in it when you add ingredients like milk, sugar, and cream to it. 

3. Can I get organic coffee at local coffee shops?

While popular big-name brands like Starbucks won't offer organic coffee in their restaurants, some of them sell organic coffee beans at stores and online. Many small, privately owned coffee shops offer organic coffee, but these are usually located in larger cities. Your best bet when it comes to getting organic coffee is to brew it yourself at home. That way, you know exactly what you're getting. 

4. Is paying more for organic coffee really worth the cost?

For many consumers who seek organic coffee, it is worth paying the extra cost to have peace of mind knowing they're consuming coffee that's rich in antioxidants and vitamins as opposed to pesticides and toxins. If your goal is to purchase coffee that is tasty as cheaply as possible, and you're not concerned whether it's organic or not, then paying more for organic may not be worth it for you. 

5. Will organic coffee cause more dehydration?

No. Any type of coffee, whether organic or conventional, can have diuretic effects, but these effects aren't strong enough to cause dehydration unless you drink extremely large amounts of coffee.