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What should we know about organic coffees?

13/09/2022
by coffees.gr

With an audience increasingly demanding, constantly searching for new flavors and having requirements from their cup, organic coffee beans have come to the market. What do we need to know, as coffee lovers, about organic coffees?

By the term "organic" we mean products which, at all stages of their production, have not been burdened with chemicals such as herbicides, insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers. In general, the production of organic products follows natural processes, resulting in both a better and richer taste, but also more laborious production conditions and a smaller crop. In all countries of the world, there are organizations that certify organic producers and confirm that their products qualify as organic, by checking whether the relevant procedures have been followed.

Because of their superior quality, but also the difficulties of growing and producing less, organic products are sold at prices far more expensive than conventional agricultural products. Although they are usually associated with people who follow a healthier lifestyle, organic products often have a difference in taste that is noticeable, especially in the case of fruits and vegetables. Still, their production methods are definitely more environmentally friendly, following the principles of sustainable development.

All of the above, which is generally applicable to organic products, naturally apply to coffee. Enjoying our espresso, we tend to forget that coffee is a natural product that requires tedious cultivation and painful collection and processing until it reaches our cup. Organic coffees are coffees from (small, most often) plantations that follow the relevant organic farming methods. But what should we know when choosing organic coffee?

 

What should we know when choosing organic coffee?

 

Organic coffee must be certified: While choosing a well-known  coffee brand, it is certain that the label will tell the truth, it's right not to just stick to the "organic" label. Every product that is described as organic is obligatorily certified by an organization that checks the accuracy of this claim. The organic coffee we have chosen has to be certified in a prominent place in order to be sure of the grains that will end up in our cup.

Many organic coffees are single origin: In the majority of cases, organic coffees that are marketed are single-οrigin ones, that is, they are made of coffee beans of a specific geographic origin and perhaps of a particular plantation. The main reason is that in order to arrive at a organic blend, coffees produced by many, different certified plantations should be mixed, a process that proves to be particularly difficult. In addition, organic coffee usually has more emphasized its physical characteristics - so most companies choose to market it as it is, without altering its taste profile by mixing it with other varieties.

There are, however, the exceptions: Lavazza's Tierra Bio Organic is a 100% Arabica blend of certified organic plantations from Africa, Asia and South America.

Most organic coffee is Arabica: The Arabica variety, because of its taste complexity , and the fact that it is clearly more profitable for growers because of the more expensive price, almost monopolizes the field of organic coffee. It is not excluded that we come across a biological coffee belonging to the Robusta variety, but in all cases, organic coffee is, in the vast majority, Arabica.

Does organic coffee have a difference in taste?

Although overseas there are publishers who are declared organic coffee enthusiasts and gourmets who swear that the difference is particularly great, many consumers may not see a particular difference in their mug since the final result is due to many factors, such as the extraction method but also whether the steps are right. Undoubtedly, a organic coffee is a coffee that has definitely been produced, collected and processed with care, and this has an impact on its taste and quality, which are superior to common blends, but also a quality blend or a good single coffee origin can have excellent taste, even if it is not organic.

Still, as almost all of the coffees are Arabica single origins, we need to be prepared for coffees with their organoleptic characteristics highlighted. This, although generally desirable, hosts many coffee lovers, especially espresso, who prefer the more balanced flavor of blends - all of which is a matter of personal taste when talking about coffee.

 

Is organic coffee better for our health?

If the term "healthier" means the absence of additional chemicals, fertilizers, etc. that characterize all organic products, then organic coffee is no doubt a healthier option than conventional coffees. If, on the other hand,  we mean possibly lower caffeine content or trying to describe a lighter lighter coffee for the stomach, this is not the case. A biological coffee may be light and sweet, but this is not due to organic farming but to its more general variety. A biological coffee can be quality and palatable, but this does not alter its caffeine content or its effect on our body.

 

Organic coffees are definitely a worthwhile choice, worth considering - a trial will convince even the most skeptical palate. On the other hand, it is important for our cup to end up with only the best coffee, it is not organic - the coffee we deserve!