The Impact of Organic Certification on Coffee Bean Price and Quality_Why Are Organic Coffee Beans So Expensive?

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One of the most emphasized concepts in specialty coffee is something that ordinary commercial-grade coffee lacks: traceability.

However, with the rise of ethical consumerism, more and more customers, including roasters and consumers, not only demand traceability but have also begun to value organic certification for coffee beans.

So what exactly is organic coffee? Is organic coffee necessarily better tasting? Here we provide you with detailed answers.

What does "organic coffee" represent?

The simplest answer is that organic coffee is coffee produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or chemical pesticides. The fertilizers used by coffee farmers must be 100% organic, such as chicken manure, coffee pulp, fermented compost, etc. If fertilizers contain synthetic nitrogen, phosphates, or potassium salts, the resulting coffee cannot be considered organic and will not receive organic certification.

Time is another factor to consider. A farm must undergo continuous natural organic farming for at least 3 years (100% organic fertilizers and pesticides) to be officially considered truly organic agriculture, ensuring crops are not exposed to any residual chemicals. This also means farms need a sustainable crop rotation plan to prevent soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and natural pest control.

Finally, during the coffee processing and packaging stages, no chemicals may be used.

What's the difference between organic certification and fair trade certification?

This is an excellent question. The central idea of fair trade is to reduce poverty through equalization in international trade, theoretically unrelated to organic principles. However, it's said that over 80% of fair trade coffee is organically grown.

The reason is that most fair trade coffee is produced by independent small-scale farms. These coffee farmers don't have sufficient money to afford expensive commercial pesticides, so in situations without choice, they use locally sourced natural fertilizers and pesticides, thus essentially meeting organic agriculture conditions.

According to data from the Ethiopian Specialty Coffee Association, although locally produced coffee rarely obtains formal organic certification, 95% of coffee can actually be considered organic. We think 95% might be somewhat overestimated, but it's undeniable that many coffees without organic certification are actually organically grown and produced.

It's important to note that coffee certified as organic doesn't guarantee that the working conditions of workers producing this coffee are secure, or that farmers automatically receive minimum price guarantees that could lead to prosperity.

What's special about organic coffee bean cultivation?

Organic coffee needs to be grown under shade. Without dense leaf canopy for shade, sunlight can easily damage the soil, causing nutrients to dry out, at which point large amounts of non-organic fertilizers would be needed to restore nutrients. Additionally, when coffee farmers preserve native trees, besides providing shade, they also positively impact biodiversity.

The organic cultivation process differs greatly from traditional commercial coffee cultivation. Commercial coffee relies on sun exposure, forcing coffee to ripen quickly, often requiring cutting many trees to clear large areas for direct sunlight planting, and relying on synthetic fertilizers to maintain soil nutrients. In contrast, organic coffee cultivation is a lengthy process requiring considerable time.

Where do organic coffee beans come from?

According to data from the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center in Costa Rica, approximately 75% of global organic coffee comes from Latin America. As of 2010, Peru was the main exporter of organic coffee, exporting 423,000 bags (over 25,000 metric tons) of organic coffee beans in 2010 alone. Other exporting countries include Honduras, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Some Asian and African countries, such as Indonesia and Ethiopia, also produce organic coffee.

What impact does organic certification have on coffee price, quality, and flavor characteristics?

Compared to prices received by non-organic coffee producers, coffee producers who successfully obtain organic certification can receive a premium of approximately £500 per metric ton. Due to the time requirements and various limitations of organic cultivation processes, production costs are significantly increased, making this £500 premium clearly an indispensable subsidy for organic producers. Meanwhile, this economic incentive also aims to encourage more producers to adopt organic cultivation methods.

As for coffee quality, it has always depended on many different factors, including coffee variety, soil quality, altitude, rainfall, harvesting and processing techniques, freshness, water quality, and overall cleanliness of processing equipment.

Whether chemical assistance is used or not in the coffee production process actually has minimal impact on the final flavor and characteristics of coffee beans, but it's crucial for coffee sustainability. We at DRW have always strived to support sustainability-related research and initiatives, as organic farming methods are undoubtedly the best approach for long-term agricultural sustainability. Recently, we were honored to be shortlisted for The Guardian's "Sustainable Business Award."

We choose to partner with producers who are meticulous, even perfectionistic, about bean cultivation and production.

When discussing coffee, we absolutely agree with what His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, said in a speech to the UK Soil Association: "Organic agriculture can provide the highest quality and most delicious food without using artificial chemicals or genetic modification technology, while respecting animal welfare and the environment, and also helping to maintain landscapes and rural communities."

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans, while also providing online shop services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

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