What is the difference between organic and conventional coffee?

Coffee lovers are demanding people, there is much to be said about its flavors, aromas and nuances. However, one of the biggest differences between organic and conventional coffee is before it reaches your cup. To put things in perspective, coffee is one of the world's most traded commodities - with more than 12 billion kilos of coffee produced annually.

However, the awareness that their choices have repercussions on the planet, in recent years, has led consumers to prefer organic foods to try to safeguard the Earth; as well as all foods, we now also find organic coffee on the market . To be defined organic, coffee, like all other products, must comply with international rules that start from cultivation up to packaging, such as:

• Fertilisation, in which only natural fertilisers and no chemical fertilisers must be used;
• The protection of the plantations from any parasites that must take place only through the use of other insects capable of eliminating the harmful ones;
• Harvesting and sowing that are carried out according to traditional methods.

What is organic coffee?

Organic coffee can be defined as the type of coffee produced without the aid of chemicals such as pesticides, additives or herbicides. The cultivation and seeding takes place in the shadow of tall trees that provide moisture and shelter from the sun to create a perfect climate that helps the production of a high quality coffee; moreover, this process tries to contribute to the improvement of the substrate, using techniques that make it more fertile and do not impoverish the mineral properties of the soil. 

Many organic brands have launched new products and blends: ground and non-ground, capsules and pods, organic coffees that have been made with honestly grown coffee beans, without pesticides or fertilizers can be found in different formats. Furthermore, in the case of organic coffee in pods , the capsules used are generally compatible with the format of the most famous brands but, unlike these, they are generally made with potato starch, to facilitate their disposal in the trash without the need to separate.

The production methods of both organic and normal coffee are what lead us to the most significant difference for the consumer: the price.

The fact that the production costs of organic coffee are higher than the traditional system, in addition to being small-scale production, ends up being translated into more expensive prices in relation to normal coffee.

Certification of organic coffee

There is no mandatory requirement for certification of organic products sold domestically in Australia. Many organic businesses/products, however, choose to be certified by an organic certification body such as NASAA Organic to underpin truth in labelling requirements and promote consumer confidence. Organic standards used in Australia are generally owned and managed by private organisations. Domestically marketed organic products are commonly certified by one of Australia’s six private certifiers who base their certification standards on the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce Edition. Our organic coffee range is also certified by NCO to ensure our customers of the legitimacy of the claim.

Who says organic coffee is better than conventional coffee?

As you have seen, organic labels do not impose restrictions in terms of taste. While they attest to environmentally friendly growing conditions and the absence of harmful substances, they are not able to guarantee the good taste of the coffee. For instance, organic certification doesn’t address essential factors like the quality grade of the coffee beans or testing for mold and mycotoxins. The organic label also doesn’t ensure that coffee manufacturers have roasted their beans with the safest methods to avoid unsafe byproducts and preserve coffee’s healthy antioxidants.

So what should you do?

The organic coffee market has grown in line with the demand from people who want to drink coffee that makes them and the planet feel good. Industries can and do change based on the choices that consumers make in stores choosing one product or another. Having said that, there are established coffee brands that you can trust with conventional coffee. We have a range of organic options across all our brands, roasted fresh daily in house. It’s our mission to bring specialty grade beans from around the world and roast them in house in small batches to produce the very best coffee we can for our customers.