Your Cup of Joe Could be Better...

If you are anything like me, you look forward to that nice hot cup of coffee (or in my case espresso) in the morning to start your day off right. Now most people are very particular about what type of coffee they drink; Starbucks, Seattle's Best, Folgers, etc. Have you ever thought of where that coffee comes from? How it is grown? Or even if it really is the "best tasting" brew as most of the labels claim? I invariably drink the best coffee ever grown, and that I can say with scientific certainty.

Coffee itself is grown on a small tree or shrub that grows fairly low to the ground. Naturally, it cultivates underneath taller trees, about 30 meters worth, and resides slowly ripening in the shade. Since shade grown coffee takes longer to ripen, it naturally makes the flavors more bold and complex. There are many benefits to growing coffee the way nature intended it to be grown. Shade reduces chances of pathogen infections which can wipe out whole coffee farms at an alarming rate. Shade also reduces weed growth, thus meaning coffee growers do not have to use as many harmful chemical pesticides (although most shade grown coffee is certified organic, meaning they do not use any pesticides). Although sun grown coffee produces high yields, it also calls for all taller trees to be eliminated, which creates much less biodiversity. "Biodiversity engenders ecological stability."

"Rustic" is the term used to describe the most natural growing conditions in the coffee world. This means that the coffee is grown under many levels of taller trees as well as grown without any pesticides or chemicals. Rustic most closely mimics the natural world. Studies have shown that the bird biodiversity on a rustic coffee farm is much higher which in turn means that the pesky insect levels (the birds food) are much lower. Some farms sans shade have shown a 70% increase of the horrid Coffee Berry Borer, who seems to love coffee beans even more then we do. Some studies show that after a shade growing area is converted into the higher yield sun growing area, the bird biodiversity decreased at a ratio of 10:4, or 60%. And it is not just about the birds, bats also watch over these farms at night. Shade farms attract bats, which eat pesky rodents such as insects, mice, spiders, and so on. Shade also causes the trees to process and release more nitrogen into the soil, thus meaning about 30% less fertilizers are needed, i.e. less water contamination.

So how do you know if your coffee is shade grown or not? Look for the certification seal. The highest standards for coffee is brought by the Smithsonian Seal, or the "Bird Friendly" certification. Another good seal to look for is the "Rain Forest Alliance". This time honored manner of growing coffee is scientifically proven to produce a better tasting cup of coffee as seen through the research provided here, but honestly, I think your common sense should prevail. Do yourself and the environment a favor, go out and try a cup of shade grown coffee. Not feeling bold enough to try something new, no worries, even starbucks offers a shade grown coffee, available year round here for only around $11 a pound! My personal favorite can be purchased here, Fraizer Farms Shade Grown Organic Coffee.