Brewing Benefits of Coffee

Sustainable Benefits

Because coffee plants are susceptible to disease and insect damage, many growers spray them heavily with persistent, toxic pesticides. When conventionally grown coffee is decaffeinated, you may ingest not only chemicals used for growing but also questionable substances used to remove caffeine—all of which are prohibited in certified organic coffee, which is decaffeinated by the carbon dioxide or the Swiss Water method.

There’s no doubt that coffee plants grow faster in full sun, but they produce best in an ecosystem with a variety of forest and fruit trees that provide shade and critical habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. The high-yield, full-sun approach, sometimes referred to as technification, actually costs more per kilogram since growers must buy fertilizers and pesticides. Offering little food or shelter, these sun plantations attract few birds and wildlife to control pests, and the soil’s nutrients are quickly depleted.

By contrast, traditional small farms replicate the structure of the natural forest—canopies shade the understory of coffee bushes, while insect and bird varieties rival those in tropical forests. Biodiversity thrives on sustainable shade plantations, and birds, animals, ants, spiders, and other natural controls keep pests in check. Mulch and leaf litter add nutrients to the soil, and other crops provide sustenance for the grower and his family.

Grounds for Change

Informed consumers can make every cup count when choosing their coffees. To get started, read and understand the following labels:

Certified Bird Friendly: Shade coffee plantations, where migrating birds seek shelter and sanctuary during our northern winters, are a threatened habitat, and the growth of sun plantations is a major reason for the decline in the migratory bird population. The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center notes alarming decreases in their numbers, due in part to sun plantations. Certified Bird Friendly coffee must also be certified organic and grown without persistent, synthetic chemicals.

Fair Trade Certified: Another way to make your choices count, fair trade ensures that farmers earn a living wage by marketing their beans in co-ops and avoiding middlemen who siphon off profits. Standards promote using sustainable farming methods that are safer for humans and the environment and protect farmers and their families from exposure to harmful agrochemicals. Fair trade requires environmental stewardship; most but not all fair trade-certified coffee sold in the U.S. is also certified organic.

Certified Organic: If you want the best coffee for your health, certified organic is a great place to start. Grown without toxic and persistent chemicals, organically grown plants thrive in natural ecosystems that provide shade canopies. Neighboring crops preserve soil health, and pests and disease are controlled naturally. Farmers must have a sustainable crop rotation plan to prevent soil erosion and nutrient depletion.

Shade grown: Beyond the benefits for migratory birds and other wildlife, shade-grown coffee often tastes better because shade has an effect on coffee similar to that of growing it at high altitudes. Growth is slower, resulting in the production of more sugars and chemicals responsible for flavor. In addition, shade farms can produce coffee beans for up to half a century, while sun plantations are useful for no longer than a decade.