What Is Organic Coffee?

5 min read JUL 08, 2022

Many people are beginning to make the switch from conventional coffee to organic, but what exactly is organic coffee? How is it different from conventional coffee?

In a nutshell, it’s grown with different farming methods than conventionally grown coffee. These methods restrict the types of fertilizer and insect repellants farmers can use when growing their crops. This has an effect on the resulting taste since the beans are exposed to different chemicals and compounds throughout their lives.

With so much differing information available online, we wanted to clear things up and present you with the facts of the matter so you can make the best coffee choice for you and your family.

What this article covers:



Organic Coffee Vs Regular Coffee

is organic coffee better

Coffee is one of the most widely traded commodities in the world. The demand is high: in fact, it’s the most consumed drink in the world after water and tea. And we understand why: coffee is delicious.

It’s important to consider where our coffee comes from though. There are environmental impacts that come into play when growing, harvesting, and shipping coffee beans across the globe. 

There are also health impacts that we want to keep in mind when we choose what to put into our bodies.

There is a demand for over 12 billion pounds of coffee annually. This demand is hard to keep up with, so farmers adjust their farming methods for greater yields. 

To keep up with the demand, regular and organic coffee is treated in a variety of ways. Some of these chemicals include pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. 

Organic farming restricts what kinds of fertilizers and sprays farmers can use on their crops. This eliminates potent insecticides like glyphosate which have gotten a bad rap in recent years. While there is no credible evidence that glyphosate and similar synthetic pesticides have a negative effect on human health, it’s something some people choose to avoid.

Is Organic Coffee Better?

organic coffee vs regular coffee

There is a lot of debate about whether organic farming and its products are better for us than conventionally grown food. The scientific evidence on this matter is inconclusive at best, but many people choose to go organic out of an abundance of caution.

This doesn’t mean that organic produce is entirely untreated, however. Farmers still have to use fertilizers and insect repellants to get the highest yield from their crops and farmland.

Where conventional farmers will use products like glyphosate (Roundup), organic farmers must resort to chemicals that are not synthetically derived. This includes things like neem oil and copper sulfate. 

Where conventional farmers use artificial fertilizers like gypsum, organic farmers are restricted to using naturally derived products, mostly cow and chicken manure to boost their crop yield.

Benefits of Organic Coffee


Many people argue that because organic coffee isn’t exposed to synthetic chemicals, it’s better for us.

While the debate around the health benefits of organic over conventional coffee beans is still ongoing, there are some definite steps we can take to make our organic coffee more healthy.

The first is to cut down on the amount of sugar you add to your drink. Sugar is high in calories without providing much in the way of essential vitamins.

Another way is to be careful with how much milk or cream you drink. A little bit is fine, but as with everything else, moderation is important.

Is Organic Coffee Good for you?

benefits of organic coffee

All of the benefits you get from conventionally grown coffee you can also enjoy from organic coffee.

Coffee is rich in antioxidants which play a crucial role in preventing cancer. Antioxidants bind with ionized oxygen molecules (free radicals) in your bloodstream. Without antioxidants, these free radicals bind with acids in your DNA, leading to cellular damage.

It’s also rich in complex compounds like polyphenols and flavanoids. These are the components of coffee that give it its distinctive taste, but they’re also rich in micronutrients that your body needs for basic functions.

The caffeine in coffee has been shown to boost metabolism which helps to burn fats. If you want an extra boost, try an organic iced coffee. Your body has to heat up cold drinks to effectively metabolize them, which causes you to burn a few extra calories when you drink them.

Does Organic Coffee have Caffeine?


Organic coffee contains roughly as much caffeine as conventionally grown beans. What matters most in regards to caffeine content is the region where the beans are grown. Beans grown in higher altitudes tends to have less caffeine than those grown closer to sea level.

If you don’t want to be kept up all night, you can get a caffeine-free variant of organic coffee. Lifeboost Coffee organic decaf coffee beans are a great option.

You can use organic coffee to make all the same drinks you’re used to. One of our favorites is made with organic espresso coffee beans.

What Makes Coffee Organic?

organic coffee benefits

The key differences between organic and conventionally grown coffee are the types of treatments the crops are exposed to and the practices used to grow them. 

To make sure the product you buy is organic, look for the “USDA Organic” seal on the packaging. Some products will skirt this certification by claiming that their products are “organically grown” without this seal. However, this means they will often avoid following all of the stringent guidelines set out by the USDA.

Is all coffee organic?


Most of the coffee grown globally is done using conventional agriculture. Only a small percentage of coffee is grown organically (around 10% in 2020).

Whether organic coffee is worth it or not is entirely up to you. You should balance up the pros and cons, bearing all of the differing information in mind.

No matter what your decision, Lifeboost Coffee has something you’re sure to love. We’ve got a host of flavored and decaffeinated coffee beans that are hand-picked and low-acid so they’re easy on your stomach.

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