What is Organic Coffee? Factors and Conditions That Constitute Organic Coffee

Coffee enthusiasts familiar with Blue Mountain coffee have likely noticed the frog emblem on the wooden barrels containing Blue Mountain coffee beans. Among FrontStreet Coffee's many Blue Mountain coffee barrels, the green frog pattern stands out, catching one's eye. What exactly does it represent? It has a certain connection to the organic coffee we're discussing today.

The frog emblem is the certification symbol for Rainforest Alliance certified coffee, advocating for sustainable development between humans and the natural environment. The cultivation of organic coffee also embodies this concept of sustainable development, emphasizing the maintenance of soil fertility, prevention of soil erosion, and creation of a healthy ecological environment. It pursues harmonious development between humans and nature.

Organic coffee, just as we often mention with organic tea, carries the same meaning. So what is the organic definition related to coffee? FrontStreet Coffee will now guide you through understanding the relevant knowledge.

Components of Organic Coffee Certification

Organic certification for crops—in this case, coffee—has four fundamental components:

1. No use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. This means nothing manufactured or chemically derived can be used. There is a short list of acceptable synthetic inputs, but generally, most of everything used must be non-synthetic.

2. How the soil is managed. Most rules about organic agriculture are about soil management. This includes things like how you maintain soil health, how many nutrients and what kinds of nutrients are in the soil.

3. Coffee beans grow on trees that can take root and remain in the same location for decades.

4. How farmers manage pests and diseases. Organic pest management includes introducing predator species or using cover crops.

Regardless of your plans. To obtain organic certification, you must have strict management plans and keep very detailed records.

What's the difference between "Organic Certified" and "USDA Organic"?

They are very similar. All organic certifications in the United States are obtained through the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and must comply with USDA regulations. Crops outside the United States can also be certified through USDA standards. Different countries can have different certifications. For example, Japan has its own certification, but most of the tenets are the same. Most other major international certifications, like Japan's, have equivalent status in the United States—meaning the USDA states these products can be labeled as organic, even if the standards used for certification aren't technically USDA standards.

Is there organic certification specifically for coffee?

No, organic certification falls into two categories: crops and livestock. Coffee falls under the crop category and must meet all the requirements from the first question to obtain organic certification. Interestingly, to sell a product as certified organic, everyone in the supply chain must be certified. This means that as processors, we, along with exporters, importers, and carriers, must all be certified. This maintains the integrity of the coffee throughout the process.

What must a "processor" do to obtain organic certification?

Organic and non-organic coffee must be separated, ensuring no external factors affect the coffee, and this applies to all coffee.

Why provide non-organic coffee?

The desire to support farmers who want to transition and not reject farms where organic certification is economically infeasible. Sometimes it's difficult to get farmers to transition based on their past practices. These are just a few reasons for using non-organic coffee.

Is organic certification an economic burden?

Organic certification can be expensive. You must pay registration and inspection fees, and it can be very time-consuming. People pay extra for certified coffee, but it takes time, so it's not always clear if it will pay off economically. Buying certified organic coffee is also more expensive, which means slightly higher prices for consumers.

Which is better: organic or non-organic coffee?

No, you can't really taste the difference between organic and non-certified organic. What's important with organic is what happens over time. This means considering which coffee will taste better in 10 or 15 years. You must also consider their future profitability based on the farmer's certification or lack thereof.

Because coffee is the seed of a fruit, when pesticides are sprayed, they are sprayed on the outside of the fruit, not directly on the beans. After they are picked and processed, coffee beans are roasted at very high temperatures—ensuring nothing undesirable survives.

Organic is also safer for workers because it minimizes the risk of workers applying substances to coffee trees.

Important Notice :

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