Introduction to Organic Coffee Bean Cultivation Characteristics: The Impact of Organic Certification on Coffee Price, Quality, and Flavor

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The Concept of Traceability in Specialty Coffee

One of the most emphasized concepts in specialty coffee is something that regular 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 also begin to value the organic certification of coffee beans.

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

What Does "Organic Coffee" Mean?

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, peeled coffee pulp, fermented and matured compost, etc. If fertilizers contain synthetic nitrogen, phosphates, or potassium salts, the coffee grown cannot be considered organic and will not receive organic certification.

Time is another factor to consider. A farm must undergo at least three consecutive years of completely natural organic farming (100% organic fertilizers and pesticides) to officially enter true organic agriculture, ensuring that crops do not come into contact with any residual chemicals. This also means that 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 contact with any chemicals is allowed.

What's the Difference Between Organic Certification and Fair Trade Certification?

This is a good question. The central idea of Fair Trade is to reduce poverty through equalization in international trade, theoretically unrelated to organic principles. However, it is said that over 80% of Fair Trade coffee belongs to organic cultivation.

The reason is that most Fair Trade coffee is grown and produced by independent small farms. These coffee farmers do not have enough money to afford expensive commercial pesticides, so in situations with no choice, they use local natural fertilizers and pesticides, thus essentially meeting the conditions for organic agriculture.

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 coffee. 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 a coffee certified as organic does not guarantee that the working conditions of workers who produce this coffee are secure, nor that farmers automatically receive a minimum price guarantee that would make them wealthy.

What's Special About Organic Coffee Cultivation?

Organic coffee needs to be grown under shade. Without dense leaf 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 have positive effects on biodiversity.

The organic cultivation process is very different from traditional commercial coffee cultivation. Commercial coffee relies on sun exposure, forcing coffee to ripen quickly, so often many trees must be cut down to clear large areas of land for planting coffee under direct sunlight, relying on synthetic fertilizers to maintain soil nutrients. In contrast, organic coffee cultivation is a lengthy process that requires more time.

Where Does Organic Coffee Come From?

According to data from the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center in Costa Rica, approximately 75% of the world's 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 producers who grow non-organic coffee, coffee producers who successfully obtain recognized organic certification can receive a premium of approximately £500 per metric ton. Due to the time requirements and various other limitations of the organic cultivation process, production costs are significantly higher, so this £500 premium is clearly an indispensable subsidy for organic producers. At the same time, this economic incentive hopes 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 the overall cleanliness of processing equipment.

In the coffee production process, whether chemical assistance is used or not has little impact on the final flavor and characteristics of the coffee beans, but it is crucial for coffee sustainability. We at DRW have always strived to support sustainability-related research and initiatives as much as possible, after all, organic farming methods are the best approach for the long-term sustainability of crops. Recently, we were honored to be shortlisted for The Guardian's "Sustainable Business Awards."

Our Commitment to Quality Partnerships

We choose to cooperate with producers who are very careful, even meticulous, about the cultivation and production of their beans.

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

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