regular coffee? Is the cost worth it?These may be some of the questions that you
think about when you hear or read the words "organic coffee." Here are some
facts that you should know about organic coffee.Organic coffee is not really a
new idea. Organic coffee farming is actually the original way to grow coffee.
Consider it as part of the trend of going back to the old ways. People are
beginning to realize that perhaps the older methods and traditional ways are
better than the newer and modern methods.But why is the coffee called "organic
coffee"?Organic coffee is named "organic" because it is grown using methods that
have very little environmental impact, which means that organic coffee
production causes very little harm to nature.This limited impact on the
environment is part of the huge appeal of organic coffee. Over the past few
decades, people have become more aware of the damage they cause to the
environment, partly because of mass media exposure and partly because people
themselves can already sense some environmental changes. People now try to do
their part, including drinking organic coffee, to preserve the environment.But
how is organic coffee farming different from ordinary coffee production?In
standard production, farmers need to clear a huge area of land. They cut down
trees and other shade-providing foliage. They do this land clearing because more
sunlight means more coffee beans. This impact of the environment means that our
ever-decreasing forestry will be diminished even more. Migratory birds will no
longer have resting places and thus, their chances of survival lessen.In
contrast, in organic coffee production, the farmers don't cut down the trees.
They allow the coffee beans to grow in the shade. That's why organic coffee is
often called "shade-grown" coffee.To truly understand the benefit of organic
coffee production, we must keep in mind that coffee is mostly produced in
tropical areas like Brazil, countries that contain dense vegetation and forests.
Thus, by using conventional methods of producing coffee, we put these precious
resources at risk. And we all should know how valuable trees are.Organic coffee
production also minimizes the usage of toxic chemicals as fertilizers and
pesticides. Instead, they make use of systems to replenish the soil and maintain
its fertility. The resulting product is a better tasting and higher quality
coffee. However, to be sold as organic coffee in the United States, certain
standards must be met during production. These standards are established by the
Department of Agriculture. These standards require:* That a sufficient buffer
has to be placed between the organic coffee and the nearest crop.* A sustainable
plan must be put in place to combat pests, rotate crops, and to prevent soil
erosion.* That the land where organic coffee is grown should not have been
exposed to any prohibited chemicals within the last three years.These points are
just some of the rules and standards ordered by the United States in order to
certify organic coffee.What about your decaffeinated needs? No worries. There is
a special process to decaffeinate organic coffee.This method is known as Swiss
water. It uses only water to extract caffeine from organic coffee.Organic coffee
isn't only for drinking, its superior quality is also selected by confectioners
to make coffee-based treats. You don't really have to drink a cup in order to
enjoy organic coffee.So there you have it, some of your concerns might be
alleviated by these facts. If however, you remain skeptical about organic
coffee, feel free to learn more about it.