Organic coffee beans – standards and definitons

 

An organic coffee bean or a bunch of organic coffee beans will not look any different than coffee beans grown under conditions that are not organic. But there is a major difference, especially for consumers concerned about making a contribution to improving the environment.

Organic coffee beans: Conditions required to be considered organic
To be truly considered as organic coffee beans, the coffee beans must have been grown under a strict set of guidelines. Here are the definitions and guidelines suggested by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)for agricultural products such as organic coffee beans, as cited on the website of the Salt Spring Coffee Co: http://www.saltspringcoffee.com

What is organic agriculture?
"Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.”

Labelling for organic coffee beans and other organic agricultural products
“'Organic' is a labeling term that denotes products produced under the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act. The principal guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance the ecological balance of natural systems and that integrate the parts of the farming system into an ecological whole.”

The NOSB notes that Organic agriculture practices cannot ensure that products are completely free of residues; however, methods are used to minimize pollution from air, soil and water.

Organic coffee bean: Adherence to standards
The Board goes on to say, “Organic food handlers, processors and retailers adhere to standards that maintain the integrity of organic agricultural products. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people."

Organic coffee beans: Roasting suggestions
Here are some suggestions for roasting your own organic coffee beans based on information from Seven Bridges Cooperative Organic Coffee [http://www.breworganic.com]
(1) Home roasting is easy! It takes 5 to 15 minutes to roast a batch of coffee using a hot air roaster.
(2) You will have the ultimate in quality and freshness. Coffee begins to loose its delicate aroma and flavor just 24 hours after roasting. For the best cup: roast your own!
(3) Save money! <I>Seven bridges Cooperative</I>, for example, says that its Organic and Fair Trade green coffee is half the price of roasted coffee from a gourmet retailer
(4) Enjoy the process. Just like home brewing, roasting your own coffee is fun, it will impress your friends, and making your own blends will satisfy your creative side as well as your taste buds.
(5) By buying and roasting your own organic coffee beans you are supporting the organic farming of coffee, which is kinder to nature. A lot of organic coffee bean product is also Fair Trade, which means the farm workers who grow and process the coffee are guaranteed a fair wage, and more of the money you spend on the coffee goes to the grower.
(6) You do not need much space or equipment to roast your own organic coffee beans. A home coffee roasting machine (or equipment for other home roasting methods) and green beans are all you need.