Organic Coffee Vs Conventional Coffee – Intro
You might have heard this buzz phrase while sipping a mocha latte certified organic coffee but what exactly does that mean? And what’s the difference between organic coffee and organic fair trade coffee? Understanding the basics behind the buzz can help you make an informed decision when you buy your next bag of coffee beans.
Organic Coffee Versus Conventional Coffee
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Organic Coffee Vs Black Coffee – Intro
Many people have turned to organic fruits and vegetables (and even meats) in recent years, striving to live healthier, longer lives. You may be one of these people. But did you know that organic coffee is now available, too? If you can’t find it at your local health food store, then you can definitely find it online.
How Organic Coffee Differs From Traditional Coffee
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Organic Coffee Vs Decaf Coffee – Intro
Most people have never given thought to how coffee or tea is decaffeinated. What is the process and is organic coffee decaffeinated differently than regular coffee? First, there is no way to remove 100% of the caffeine from coffee, although it’s possible to get pretty close.
Most decaf coffees are about 98% free of caffeine – enough to be called decaf. Since caffeine is a water-soluble substance, it’s not terribly hard to remove the caffeine using water, but it has to be done right to keep the coffee’s flavor. Water is a major component in any decaffeinating process – usually it is used via a steam method or with the water at extremely high temperatures.
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Organic Coffee Vs. Regular Coffee – Intro
A heaping of organic coffee powder being tossed into your steaming hot milk in the mornings is an experience in itself. That’s not knocking traditional coffee, which also turns tired bodies to life in a matter of minutes. Today, many consumers have switched to organic fruits and vegetables in an attempt to fend off pesticides, live healthier, and to stay environmentally conscious. As a result, the more serious coffee enthusiasts have been forced to pay premium prices for organic coffee as a result of Fair Trade and the complexity of its production. Just how is organic coffee produced that justifies this expense?
To begin, organic coffee production differs from traditional company in that organic coffee plants grow under shade trees, which serve to purify the soil and prevent water contamination. Given the limited number of shade trees, many coffee growers have opted to produce bigger crops in the middle of pesticide and fertilizer infested territory given the larger surface area. Unfortunately, there is no way to produce non-organic coffee without the use of synthetic chemicals that have been known to harm the environment. Since pesticides pollute the soil, much question has been raised over the declining taste of coffee and its effects on health.
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USDA Organic Coffee
Drink USDA organic coffee to be assured that you are drinking healthy organic coffee . The vast majority of coffee consumed in the USA comes from outside of the USA. The exception is coffee grown in Hawaii. Most coffee is foreign grown. And most foreign countries do not reliably guarantee that coffee has been grown, processed, stored, and transported according to organic standards. However, the USDA, the United States Department of Agriculture, provides certification for foreign coffee growers. USDA organic coffee is subject to strict standards and organic coffee with USDA certification is reliably organic.
USDA Organic Coffee
According to the USDA, the following applies to USDA organic coffee as well as to all organic food production.
“… Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled ‘organic,’ a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.”
Organic coffee certification reliably gives you a safe and flavorful coffee.
USDA Organic Coffee Is Free of Impurities
The fact that coffee is USDA organic coffee tells us that sustainable agricultural practices were used and that the organic coffee is free of many of the pesticide, herbicide, and synthetic fertilizer residues that can be found on regular coffee products. In addition USDA organic coffee contains organic coffee antioxidants which are so beneficial in many areas of health such as reducing the risks of diabetes, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. Who would have thought that drinking organic coffee reduces prostate cancer risk or that more organic coffee can lead to less diabetes or that more organic coffee can lead to less colon cancer?
Benefits
However, USDA organic coffee certification has primarily to do with supporting sustainable agricultural practices while delivering a healthier cup of coffee to your breakfast table. No one wants to have to worry about what impurities are hidden in their food or beverages. No one wants to wonder about what insecticide residues are dissolved in the coffee they pick up on the way to work. By relying on USDA organic coffee the consumer is reassured that practical, reliable, and strict rules have been applied to growing coffee, harvesting coffee, roasting coffee, storing coffee, and transporting coffee at each step along the way to your cup of organic coffee. These are the facts about organic coffee . Good oversight reliably leads to good coffee in your cup. Sustainable growing techniques not only lead to good coffee but to a healthier environment.
Organic Coffee Beans – Intro
Organic coffee beans will cost more then your typical coffee at your local store. I love a cup of Joe in the morning to start my day because it gives me the necessary energy to be productive. What makes this special, specific bean so valuable to not only you but the environment is because when grown these types of beans are not produced with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. It’s no secret that you should be prepared to pay more for this type of coffee bean because of the extent and care that goes into producing them.
These types of beans are typically grown with cattle manure, mulch of coffee cherries, and fruit peels. Organic fertilizers give the soil much needed nutrients to produce these special beans and this really enhances the flavor. Certification is critical in identifying in what is organic, be sure when purchasing coffee beans that are organic the package is certified by the National Organic Program or Quality Assurance International.
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Organic Tea Brands – Intro
There are literally hundreds of tea companies, ranging from mainstream brands that produce the tea bags available in most supermarkets, to small shops and mail-order companies specializing in loose-leaf tea. There are fewer companies, however, which specialize in organic tea. As the organic movement becomes more popular, more tea companies are beginning to increase their offerings of certified organic teas, while others remain resistant, claiming that organic teas are inferior in quality and higher in price.
Why buy organic tea?
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Organic Whole Bean Coffee
Organic whole bean coffee may be the best way to preserve organic coffee antioxidants when buying organic coffee. Antioxidants are chemicals that inhibit damage done to the human body by chemicals called free radicals. The health benefits of antioxidants are many and, in fact, organic coffee contains antioxidants capable of reducing the chances of getting diabetes, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. An often overlooked problem with antioxidants is that these chemicals themselves breakdown with time and improper storage conditions. To preserve antioxidants in foods such as organic coffee they should be kept at less than 68 degree Fahrenheit and out of the light. Ideal containers are dark and products such as organic coffee should ideally be kept in a closed cupboard.
Antioxidants themselves oxidize with time. This is they degrade with exposure to the oxygen in the air. Thus keeping healthy organic coffee in an airtight container will help. Also reducing the available surface area reduces the ability of oxygen in the air to get to the coffee. Here is where organic whole bean coffee is less likely to oxidize as rapidly as ground organic coffee. The antioxidants are protected by the outer parts of the coffee bean. By preserving organic whole bean coffee as the whole bean until just before grinding and preparing coffee the coffee aficionado not only preserves the taste but also preserves the health benefits of the coffee.
It has been only in the last few years that researchers have found that antioxidants in organic whole bean coffee have definite health benefits. It has been known for years that a chemical in the human body called phase II enzymes inhibit the development of colon cancer. Now researchers have found that more organic coffee can lead to less colon cancer. It turns out that an antioxidant called methylpyridium is produced as a breakdown product when organic coffee is roasted. It is a breakdown product of another antioxidant called trigonelline.
The health benefits of organic whole bean coffee do not stop with the colon cancer to coffee connection. More organic coffee can lead to less diabetes as well. A documented study recently published demonstrated that women who drink four or more cups of coffee a day have less than half the risk of developing type II diabetes as women who do not drink coffee. Coffee increases the body level of a chemical called sex hormone-binding globulin. Higher levels of this chemical are directly related to a lower incidence of the most prevalent form of diabetes, a disease that plagues over 20 million Americans.
The story of organic whole bean coffee health benefits continues research that demonstrates that drinking organic coffee reduces prostate cancer risk as well. Men who drank six or more cups of coffee a day had a substantially lower risk of developing lethal prostate cancer when compared to those who weren’t coffee drinkers according to recently published research. So, keep you whole bean organic coffee covered, in cool place, and do not grind it until you are ready to make a cup of good, healthy organic coffee.
Starbucks Organic Decaf Coffee – Intro
The sight of a bustling Starbucks in the morning, drive-through lines ten cars deep, people inside tapping their toes impatiently as the espresso machines whir, is enough to overwhelm even the most advanced coffee drinker. When it’s finally your turn at the counter, you freeze; there are just too many options, and the lady behind you is getting pushy! Ordering coffee at Starbucks can be challenging, however, knowing the lingo and understanding your basic options will make you more comfortable when that barista finally takes your order.
First, we must break down the Starbucks menu into groups to help categorize available drinks. To first separate the beverages, we should look at what coffee drinkers really care about…is there caffeine in it, or not? While most of us know that any coffee drink can be ordered with decaf coffee or espresso, some people fail to realize that Starbucks offers drinks that actually have no coffee or coffee products in them. While this is good for children or people who do not like coffee, a Starbucks novice who really wants a coffee drink may order a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino not realizing that it’s just vanilla beans and cream mixed with ice! Coffee products are: brewed coffees, iced and hot espresso drinks such as cappuccinos, mochas, lattes, and macchiatos, and frappuccino light or regular blended coffees. Tea products will also have caffeine, including chai tea which is commonly made into a chai tea latte. Products offering no coffee are: flavored hot chocolate drinks, any crème drink such as the vanilla crème or pumpkin spice crème, frappuccino juice blends, and frappuccino crème drinks as well. Now, many of these names sound similar, so be sure to read the menu carefully if you are confused about a pumpkin spice crème versus a pumpkin spice latte (the latte is the one with the espresso!).
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