Which Coffee Has the Least Pesticides?

QUESTION: Which coffee has the least pesticides? I just learned about the pesticides some coffee can contain and want to avoid it. — Demetrius T.

ANSWER: In short, organic coffees will have no chemical pesticides. Conventional coffee, on the other hand, gets treated with more chemicals than most of the other foods in the world. It makes sense that you’d try to avoid consuming these chemicals and pesticides in your coffee. Nobody wants to worry about toxins and chemicals in their cup when they’re trying to enjoy their coffee. In this article, we’ll explain the difference between organic and conventional coffee, we’ll talk about shopping for organic coffee, and we’ll recommend some organic coffee brands that have no chemical coffee pesticides.

Organic vs. Conventional Coffee

There are two main reasons to be concerned about the pesticides and chemicals that conventional coffee crops are treated with. First, the person drinking the coffee may worry about how the chemicals will affect their body and their health. Second, they may worry about how the pesticides and chemicals used on conventional coffee crops affect the environment and the health of the people who work among the coffee trees. These people are tasked with spraying the conventional coffee crops with chemicals and also handle the beans while they are harvested. The chemicals also get into the air and water, affecting the nearby communities.

These concerns are justified. Conventional coffee crops are treated with more chemicals than most other crops. Recent estimates show that each acre of coffee trees is treated with 250 pounds of pesticides and chemicals.

You may have seen studies that show the roasting process lowers the level of toxins in coffee by about 85 percent. If this is accurate, the remaining 15 percent of chemicals in conventional coffee is still substantial enough to be a concern. There is currently no maximum residue limit for the pesticides used on conventional coffee crops.

Organic coffee, on the other hand, is not treated with chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. The crops are instead treated with organic fertilizers, like coffee pulp, compost, or manure. The organic coffee beans grown with these methods have more antioxidants in them, making them healthier than conventional coffee beans.

In addition to being healthier for you and not being treated with chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, organic coffee beans are also healthier for the planet. Organic growing practices don’t leave chemical residues in the fields behind them. They also don’t cause runoff of chemical pesticides into the surrounding land.

Organic coffee farming often goes hand in hand with growing in the shade. As opposed to conventional growing practices, which can include deforestation, organic shade growing practices help encourage healthy forests and fight climate change and pollution.

Every time you choose organic coffee, you’re promoting sustainable farming methods that support the environment and use no pesticides. Next we’ll talk about what to look for when you’re shopping for organic coffee.

Don’t Forget About Biodynamic Coffee

If you want to go a step further than organic, search for biodynamic coffee brands. Biodynamic farming takes the concept of organic farming much further and also focuses on the long term rejuvenation and improvement of the land.

Shopping for Organic Coffee

Look for coffee that is certified organic. It’ll have the USDA Organic certification. This means the coffee was grown without chemical pesticides and other worrisome practices, like genetic engineering and synthetic fertilizers. You may also find smaller coffee farms that use organic farming practices but are not certified.

You might also look for the phrase “shade-grown coffee” on packaging or product descriptions. There’s no certification for it at this time. Other certifications you can seek out include the Smithsonian Institute Bird Friendly and Rainforest Alliance certifications. The Rainforest Alliance protects both the environment and the farmers who work with the crops. The Bird Friendly certification works to preserve bird habitats.

Recommended Top Organic Coffee Brands

Here’s a shopping guide to the best organic coffee beans brands with no pesticides. Read about the organic coffees we recommend and choose the ones you think you’ll like best to add to your shopping list.

AmazonFresh Organic Fair Trade Peru Ground Coffee

Reviewers comment on the tasty flavor of these coffee beans. They’re also a sound choice economically. The Peruvian coffee beans are 100 percent Arabica, making them low in acid and a good option if you’re sensitive to stomach issues.

Cafe Don Pablo Subtle Earth Gourmet Coffee

Cafe Don Pablo’s Subtle Earth brew marries two opposite ends of the flavor spectrum—bitter and sweet—in one delicious cup. The sweet overtones of honey and caramel help balance out the heavier bitter notes.

Camano Island Coffee Roasters Organic Medium Roast

Camano Island’s medium roast is USDA certified organic and also has a fair trade guarantee. Only the top one percent of harvested beans make it into this premium roast. It’s a medium roast coffee that’s strong enough to satisfy those who love dark roasts, yet light and bright enough for those who steer away from coffee that’s too strong or bitter.

Cameron’s Coffee Roasted Whole Bean Coffee Organic French Roast

These affordable beans get high marks for flavor from reviewers. The aroma is rich, and the coffee is flavorful and silky smooth. They’re also extremely affordable.

Coffee Bean Direct Dark Ethiopian Yirgacheffe

This dark roast has received certification for organic as well as fair trade. If you like a little bitterness in your cup, this one’s for you. However, the slow roasting brings out lighter fruity notes to keep the strong flavor from being too much.

Equal Exchange Organic Ground Coffee Breakfast Blend Medium Roast

Equal Exchange’s Breakfast Blend is a good low-price option that uses 100 percent Arabica beans. In addition to being tasty, that means this organic coffee is a good choice for those with sensitive stomachs.

Ethical Bean Coffee Sweet Espresso Medium Dark Roast

As its name suggests, Ethical Bean only works with fair trade farmers who grow their coffee under natural shade. You’ll notice lots of sweet notes, including toffee and even baker’s chocolate.

Java Planet Colombian Organic Medium Dark Roast

In addition to being certified organic, this dark roast is also certified fair trade, Rainforest Alliance certified, guaranteed non GMO, and Smithsonian Institute Bird Friendly. The rich-tasting coffee is also delicious on its own.

Jeremiah’s Pick Coffee Organic Mocha Java Ground Coffee

This Arabica Java blend has flavor notes that are a little bit spicy and a little bit sweet. If you like spicy notes in your coffee, you’ll find that’s fully developed here instead of just an afterthought.

Jo Espresso Coffee

For a medium roast, Jo Espresso’s coffee has a decadent, dark flavor with rich, earthy notes and no bitterness. The coffee is fair trade certified in addition to certified organic and has additional certifications from entities including the Rainforest Alliance and Roaster’s Guild.

Jungle Coffee Gourmet Coffee Beans

This single origin coffee from South America is wet roasted in small batches for big flavor. The resulting coffee is smooth in texture and low in acidity.

Larry’s Coffee Larry’s House Blend

Larry’s House Blend pairs sweet notes of chocolate and caramel with the unexpected flavors of pepper and tobacco. It’s a single-origin coffee grown in the shade in North Carolina, and in addition to being organic, is kosher and bird friendly.

Lifeboost Dark Roast Organic Coffee

Lifeboost’s dark roast isn’t just organic. It’s both GMO free, certified fair trade, and mycotoxin free. The coffee is also specialty grade, which means it rates in the top three percent of coffee in the world and claims to be one of the healthiest coffee brands available.

The Bean Coffee Company Mocha Java

The Bean Coffee Company’s Mocha Java coffee is USDA certified as well as certified by the California Certified Organic Farmers. In addition to the Mocha Java option, The Bean Coffee Company also offers a Vanilla Bean flavor and Aloha Bean. The 100 percent Arabica blend is roasted in small batches.

Two Volcanoes Gourmet Espresso Beans Guatemala Dark Roast

Two Volcanoes is organic, single origin coffee from Guatemala. The flavor is strong and woodsy, yet rich and bracing.

Volcanica Bolivia Peaberry

Volcanica Bolivia’s peaberry option has floral and cocoa notes along with a sweet aroma with undertones of lemon and a chocolate-flavored finish. The rich-flavored coffee has a complex taste with a syrupy mouthfeel.

What we’ve learned is that organic coffee is the best option if you’re looking for the least pesticides in your cup. We discussed the different types of certification (USDA certified organic as well as Smithsonian Institute Bird Friendly and Rainforest Alliance certification) and the importance of shade grown coffee. Then we recommended some of the best options out there for organic coffee that has no pesticides. Now you’re ready to shop for organic coffee with confidence.