Does Eco-Friendly Coffee Really Make a Difference?
June 5, 2010 | Filled Under Food
If you are examining your life and wondering where you need to become more green and environmentally conscious, one simple solution could actually be within your daily cup of Joe! Many people don’t realize that the choice in their coffee product makes a difference in the effect on their health and the environment, especially with coffee being the second most exported commodity worldwide, next to oil. For this reason, large areas of rainforest are often cleared out of the way to make room for coffee plantations, so it is important to be mindful in the type of cultivation that your cup of Joe has gone through.
First of all, shade grown coffee should be at the top of your list. This is where coffee trees are grown under the large canopy of bigger shade trees, which provide natural protection, as well as a habitat for native birds. The reason that this is helpful is because the shade grown method will often need little or no pesticides for the growing process since the birds will work as a natural insect repellent. On top of that, large areas of forest don’t need to be cleared away because the coffee plants will be growing under larger trees. This also provides a wonderful benefit to the coffee drinker because when coffee is shade grown, the flavors grow more slowly and develop more deeply for a better taste overall. Win-win!
The important thing to keep in mind is that shade grown coffee must be certified, otherwise, it may not have been grown within the standards. It is essential for all coffee drinkers to support shade grown coffee since it can be more expensive than the sun grown coffee plantation alternative. If you want to continue to see coffee out there that is good for the environment, you have to do your part and buy some too!
For a great selection of all things coffee, check out Bethany North’s website, http://thecoffeebump.com.
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