The Top 8 Best Organic Coffee: Authentic Review

Have you heard about organic coffee lately and don’t know where to start? We can lead you to your very first purchase.

Or maybe you just want to do better for the environment as a coffee lover. Perhaps you want to treat your health more seriously. Whatever the reason, we can help pick out the best organic coffee beans for you!

Narrow down your options and weigh the pros and cons with our list below.

Our Top 8 Best Organic Coffee Brands

1. Peace Coffee – Best Overall

Key Takeaways:

• Arabica beans
• Originates from Guatemala

Peace Coffee is one of the best organic coffee brands out there. First of all, their all-organic and ethical brand has a ludicrous amount of certifications. Peace Coffee is ethical, USDA certified organic, and 100% fair trade. 

Peace Coffee is a coffee brand that can boast a lot of antioxidants. They grow their Arabica beans at high altitudes, from the same farm, and under the shade. They partner with small-scale farmers, different cooperatives, and commit to being 100% ethical with every brew. 

They have the following coffee options: medium roast, dark roast, light roast, signature blends and flavored coffee.

Both coffee beans and pre-grounded coffee are available. Are you worried about caffeine? They’ve got a decaf option using the Swiss water method.

Want your beans to arrive fresh? You can build your own subscription or subscribe to already existing premium coffee-in-bulk deals. You can customize delivery frequency with your preferred coffee amount, size and grind.

Pros:

• Hand-picked best organic coffee beans
• Shade-grown
• Single-origin
• Fair trade certified
• Partners with small-scale farmers 

Cons:

• On the pricier side

2. The Bean Coffee Company – Best Value

Key Takeaways:

• 100% Arabica
• Originates from a mix of different countries

The Bean Coffee Company is the best for value with its different offerings of roasts, bean types, and coffee sizes.

They offer a light-medium roast, medium roast, and medium-dark roast. 

They also offer unroasted green coffee beans! You can roast them yourself for good freshness.

You can choose from flavored, whole bean, ground, and single-serving coffee. The company also has coffee subscriptions so you can have your coffee pop up by your door.

However, their coffees don’t originate from a single country. They also have no fair trade guarantee, though their coffees are all organic.

Pros:

• Has USDA and California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) certification
• Offers different roast profiles
• Offers coffee subscriptions
• Gluten-free
• Comes in whole beans, ground, and single-serving options

Cons:

• Has single-origin options, but some are multiple blends
• No fair trade guarantee

3. Death Wish Coffee – Best Budget

Key Takeaways: 

• Arabica and Robusta beans
• Originates from India, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala, Sumatra, and Peru

Don’t worry – despite its name, Death Wish Coffee won’t actually kill you. Their high caffeine content, however, can transcend mortality. Think about the buzz you feel from a regular cup of coffee. Now couple that feeling.

That’s how high the caffeine content Death Wish has. Get an instant kick from Death Wish Coffee!

It highlights cherry and chocolate undertones, so the result is never bitter, just flavorful enough to savor.

Both variations, Death Wish and Valhalla Java are certified organic, fair trade, and gourmet. Aside from the two blends, they also offer Pumpkin Coffee, unsweetened cold brew, and slightly sweetened cold brew coffee.

You can even order it as an instant coffee, which the company spray-dries to retain its fresh flavor. Otherwise, they advise getting whole bean coffee for the best flavor and freshness.

There are some drawbacks. Their beans come from a myriad of countries, which can result in some contamination and poorer quality.

They also offer one type of roast alone. It could have been good to taste other flavors while still being highly caffeinated.

Death Wish is great for coffee lovers who want to try a novelty. If you’re the type who badly needs a pick-me-up every morning, treat Death Wish Coffee as a breakfast blend! Make it your go-to partner for any breakfast meal.

Pros:

• USDA certified organic and fair trade certified
• High caffeine content – two times more caffeinated than regular coffee
• Specialty roast or gourmet blend
• Offers spray-dried instant coffee

Cons:

• No special grinding requests
• All blends, which risks contamination
• Dark roast only – no other flavor profiles
• May delay in deliveries

4. Real Good Coffee Co

Key Takeaways: 

• 100% Arabica
• Originates from various places, namely: Sumatra, South America, and Central America 

The Real Good Coffee Co guarantees a good organic coffee experience. 

They grow all-organic coffee. Their mission is to commit to sustainability, quality, and affordability. They have different blends: breakfast blend, Donut Shop blend, French Roast, and Organic Dark. These blends are light roast, medium roast, and dark roast, respectively. Get every bit of their full-bodied flavor options.

However, unlike other coffee brands, they don’t offer flavored organic coffee.

For those with Keurig or Nespresso equipment, The Real Good Coffee Co offers 100% recyclable compatible pods. For your convenience, you can choose from 10, 36, or 72-count pod packages. 

Their customizable coffee subscription deals can help you explore your preferred flavor profiles.

Get the 2-pound whole bean options, or the Nespresso and Keurig pods. You can mix and match the coffee you like and specify the grind size.

The larger deals have more discounts, and The Real Good Coffee Co offers free shipping anywhere you are! Once you get a subscription box, this can be your new go-to coffee brand.

Pros:

• 100% organic
• 100% recyclable coffee pods
• Comes with Nespresso-compatible and Keurig compatible pods
• Different flavor profiles
• Kosher

Cons:

• No fair trade labels or certifications
• Not single-origin – mixing of beans from different origins raises the likelihood of contamination concerns
• No specifics on when they roast the beans before sending them out – just says they pack it fresh

5. Tiny Footprint Coffee

Key Takeaways:

• Arabica
• Originates from Costa Rica, Sumatra, Colombia, Rwanda, and more 

Take the small step to a better, more flavorful, and more ethical coffee experience.

Do you like your coffee with a dark roast, but can’t handle the burnt, acid taste some brands have? Tiny Footprint Coffee is one of the best organic coffee brands, and it can be your solution.

Excellent gourmet coffee is possible through the handpicked, organic coffee beans.

Roasting in small batches gets rid of the burnt taste you hate, replacing it with silky smooth flavors.

The resulting cup is deep and dark, with a hint of fruity sweetness. Once you order, they pack new, fresh coffee before shipping it to your home. You can customize the grind size! They come in 100% biodegradable bags, too. 

While the flavors are exquisite and the coffee itself ethical, there are no other roasts available apart from medium and dark. 

So, unless you want your coffee dark, this might not be for you. Prepare as a French press, cappuccino, or cold brew blend. If you want the flavor and none of the caffeine, get the water processed decaf option. 

Pros

• Carbon negative 
• Shade-grown
• Expert roasters do small-batch roasting
• Rain Forest Alliance certified
• Biodegradable coffee bags

Cons:

• Only medium-dark roasts are available, so there are no flavor varieties

6. Cafe Don Pablo: Organic Subtle Earth Gourmet Coffee

Key Takeaways:

• 100% Arabica
• Originates from Honduras

Subtle Earth Gourmet Coffee stays true to its name.

With expert coffee roasters doing small-batch roasting, the flavor and aroma retain their full-bodied smoothness with a subtle depth.

Subtle Earth boasts a bit of dark chocolate, honey, caramel, and cocoa in their coffee.

You can choose the coffee grind type, from whole bean coffee to espresso ground.

If you’re worried about the effects of acidity and caffeine, don’t worry. Subtle Earth’s organic coffees are all low-acidity and come in decaffeinated options.

Again, they use Swiss water processing to decaffeinate their all-organic beans!

There are some drawbacks, however. While they are organic-certified by the CCOF, they don’t participate in the fair trade system. They participated in another trading system and linked out to it, but the website was defunct.

If you like your coffee sweet, smooth, and silky, this coffee gives everything your taste buds could crave in a cup.

Pros:

• Expert coffee roasters do small-batch roasting
• Organic certified by CCOF, non-GMO
• Coffee bean options are light roast, medium roast, medium-dark roast, and dark roast
• Low-acidity and ground to your liking
• Available as decaf

Cons:

• Does not participate in the fair trade system
• Low acidity may equal bland flavoring

7. Kicking Horse Coffee

Key Takeaways:

• 100% Arabica coffee
• Originates from Indonesia, Africa, and Central and South America

Kicking Horse Coffee is one of the great coffee brands for flavor and variety.

It has been one of the best organic brands in Canada for years! It’s no wonder, as the fresh, smooth, and sweet experience Kicking Horse gives is unparalleled.

It’s both USDA and fair trade certified. Not only is it tasty, but you’re also sure they’re all ethical coffees too and get that Kick-ass blend.

They offer both ground and whole bean coffee, which come in many variations. However, these variations are blends and originate from different places.

Another complaint is that the pre-ground coffee may not arrive fresh, becoming stale on their stock shelves before arriving at your home. Pre-ground coffee compromises both the freshness and flavor.

Pros:

• USDA certified organic
• Fair trade
• Available in whole bean and ground versions
• Offers light roast, medium roast, and dark roast variations
• Roasted in Canada

Cons:

• Mixed blends and originates from different countries, which risks contamination
• Grounded coffee may not arrive fresh – no specifics on when they grind the coffee before delivering it
• Mediocre flavoring as a result of the preground coffee

8. Marley Coffee

Key Takeaways:

• 100% Arabica coffee beans
• Jamaica, Ethiopia, and Central America

Marley Coffee is committed to ethical, good coffee. Their coffees are either Rainforest Alliance Certified or USDA organic.

While the options are limited, it still covers all the roast variations.

This coffee company offers light roast, medium roast, medium-dark roast, and dark roast. There’s also a decaffeinated version processed with Swiss water.

Some roasts are available in pod forms: 12 and 24-count pods. Some roasts offer ground versions, and there are whole, organic beans offered as well.

This brand may not be for you if you regularly drink coffee to stay awake or as part of your morning routine. The flavor profiles are not for everyone, and the pod versions can run out quickly.

Pros:

• Fair trade certified
• Grown through the One Tree Planted organization
• Single-serve capsules are recyclable
• Decaffeinated coffee is available
• USDA organic

Cons:

• More fruity and aromatic flavor profiles, which may not be for everyone

What Is Organic Coffee?

We’ve all noticed organic food taking over shelves in supermarkets.

There’s a heightened demand for food and beverages that enhance our health while leaving little environmental damage. From plant-based food to vegetarian diets, organic food is on the rise.

It’s no surprise that coffee has become part of it. The United States alone has statistics of over 150 million daily coffee drinkers.

We choose different coffee beans, blends, or go out to try specialty coffee beverages. Conventional coffee leaves a big carbon footprint and can require a lot of chemicals.

Organic coffee strikes a difference.

No Chemical Treatment

With conventional coffee, you can’t escape the number of chemicals. Some naturally occur. However, many chemicals in coffee are a result of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and insecticides.

The Conventional Coffee Process

The chemical treatment starts with coffee crops. Then, the process takes place. You take the coffee fruit, peel off the shell, and have the seed.

Farmers soak, ferment, dry, and roast the beans. There are claims that this kind of process “burns off” the chemicals in the beans, so your cup of coffee is unlikely to hold any of it.

However, these studies don’t have strong conclusions.

Firstly, where do those chemicals go? It’s hard to believe they just “burn off” without a trace. There is no guarantee the chemicals don’t transfer to a regular consumer.

As we are unsure about your regular cup of coffee being safe to consume, maybe the insecticides aren’t that hazardous.

That’s not the case. The chemicals used are on varying levels of hazards, going from moderate to severe.

This is a safety gap that organic coffee fills.

The Organic Coffee Process

Instead of chemical fertilizers, farmers use organic fertilizers such as coffee pulp, husks, chicken manure, or compost.

Efficient, eco-friendly, and harmless, organic, and bio-fertilizers are also more cost-effective.

In the event of weeds, farmers can choose all-natural solutions as well. Conventional coffee growing methods use chemicals to kill those off.

No Toxicity for Farmers and Consumers

We’ve already mentioned above that organic coffee fills in a safety gap for consumers. The number of chemicals used may turn the whole combination into a dangerous “cocktail.”

Chemicals in your coffee may be carcinogenic and cause hormonal imbalance.

However, consumers aren’t the only ones at risk. Farmers, due to chronic exposure, are in danger as well. They prepare, load, and administer the pesticides themselves, resulting in direct contact.

Acute toxicity symptoms include respiratory problems, allergic reactions, and diarrhea. Long term exposure may lead to a myriad of different diseases.

These diseases include Parkinson’s disease, asthma, depression and anxiety, and cancer.

Little Environmental Damage

With no pesticides used, organic coffee promises little harm to the environment.

The use of pesticides has a significant environmental impact. Yes, it does kill different pests and weeds effectively, but it brings a host of other organisms down with it.

Populations of nearby animals decrease. Even beneficial insects die off. As natural pest-deterrents leave to find new habitats, chemical pesticide use increases.

As the lack of tree cover increases the likelihood of water runoff, chemicals penetrate the soil and end up in the local water supply.

Coffee cultivation methods can affect the environment wrongly as well.

To meet demand, sun cultivation has become the norm. As a result, farmers clear acres to cultivate more coffee plants under the sun. This doesn’t just lead to environmental damage but coffee quality as well.

Higher Coffee Quality

Before, coffee always grew under the shade of forest canopies. Sun-grown came later. 

This kind of cultivation is ideal for coffee crops. Arabica, for example, grows better in lower temperatures.

If planted at a high altitude, the shade works with the height to slow bean growth. These beans grow dense. The more dense beans are, the more flavor and acidity they possess.

The result of coffee grown in the shade is a high-quality, more flavorful cup of coffee.

To be shade-grown, the area of cultivation must have numerous tall trees as a canopy. The amount of trees makes the ecosystem thrive. The soil contains more nutrients for the coffee crops’ growth!

Beneficial insects and natural pest-deterrents help with the crops’ resistance and survival. Pollinating insects also encourage more coffee cherries to grow!

Things to Look for as a Dabbling Coffee Drinker in Organic Coffee

So, you want to take your coffee consumption a step further. Or maybe our list above convinced you to invest. Here are our top tips and buying guide for coffee!

Check the Labels

There are many organic certifications. However, USDA is the one that matters most. This means that workers document all processes and have them acknowledged and inspected every year.

Rainforest Alliance Certified is a legitimate label, too. It also helps if you can check out websites and see what information they offer about their practices.

With our list above, every single one of them is certified by USDA. Check out their linked websites to know more about their missions on sustainability and ethical working practices.

Look for Fair-Trade Certification

Keep an eye out for fair trades. Look for certifications with your chosen coffee brands.

This certification protects small-scale farmers and workers. This way, they can maintain livelihoods and health. 

Workers can invest in controlling their future, products, and utilities.

The brands we list have these certifications. Check them out and verify for yourself!

Check Where Your Coffee Comes From

Where your coffee originates affects its taste. In this list, we listed where each brand sources its coffee is grown.

For example, the world’s largest producer of coffee is Brazil. Your drink can have more of a caramel undertone. However, they’re also large users of pesticides.

Central America is where most American coffee comes from. They’re all well-balanced Arabica, with a hint of fruity flavors. South American coffee, meanwhile, may taste nutty and sweet.

So, knowing where your coffee is grown from doesn’t just ensure you get the flavors you crave badly.

You can also be sure if it’s truly organic or not. If the high reports of dangerous pesticide use deter you, there are other more flavorful and ethical coffee options.

Make Sure The Brand Stores Organic Coffee Beans Properly – and You Should, Too

Store all your beans in opaque, air-tight containers. This type of container should be the case for all the brands you buy from, as well.

You don’t have to freeze coffee, but if you do, make sure the packaging is air-tight! We mean really air-tight. Some home container brands still let in oxygen.

Thaw them out for an hour before using. Don’t just put the beans in a fridge – they can absorb all odors, like baking soda.

We advise you to keep the containers in cool, dark places. Remember opaque containers. While beans may be beautiful to look at, the light and warmth can compromise their taste and freshness.

Buy just the right amount of beans. You don’t want them to get old and stale, losing all flavor.

Again, you don’t want to compromise freshness. It’s better if you can ensure the brand sends out freshly roasted coffee.

They even grind the coffee right before shipping it out to you. Freshness is a key to the most flavorful coffee you can get.

Conclusion

Winner: Peace Coffee

How can they not win? They have every base covered: ethical, sustainable, all-organic, with freshness guaranteed. It’s quite a mouthful, but it’s true!

Runner Up: The Bean Coffee Company

We just had to add them. Everything is ethical and they offer a solution to every need. Do you want different types of coffee, flavor profiles, or specific grinding sizes? It’s no sweat. Have them arrive right by your door.

That’s a wrap for our guide to the best coffee you could get!

Remember, you don’t want to be caught buying something fraudulent as the “healthy” food trends rise this coming year. Always check the labels.

We hope you enjoyed this review!

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