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Is Organic Coffee Better For You?

The Very Scary Reasons You Should Only Drink Coffee That's Organic

Photographer: Diggy LloydNo Restrictions: Internal and Editorial use approved. OK for Native and co-branded use.

We know the importance of eating organic fruits and vegetables whenever we can, especially when it comes to things like apples and carrots. But have you ever thought about the importance of your coffee being organic? We spoke to some coffee experts from the plant-based latte company Pop and Bottle, and they gave us some insights into organic vs. non-organic coffee.

"Coffee is the #1 most sprayed crop that humans drink or eat worldwide," Shelley Tang, CMO, told POPSUGAR. "And behind only cotton and tobacco, coffee is the third most sprayed agricultural crop worldwide." Whoa — we had no idea.

All those pesticides going into our morning joe don't do any favors to our body. "In the short-term, pesticides can be acutely toxic," Shelley continued. "Symptoms include skin irritation, headaches, lethargy, allergy reaction. Yet while negative effects may immediately arise, many of the most severe consequences manifest over time." If you consume pesticides over a long period of time, you could potentially face Parkinson's disease, depression and anxiety, ADHD, and even miscarriages in some pregnant women.

But that's just the beginning. Non-organic coffee has severe effects on the hardworking communities that crop coffee, according to a study conducted in 2009. Farmers are exposed to high levels of chemicals and "chemical residues linger in the air," Shelley said. As a result, the surrounding communities breathe in harmful compounds and there are chemical run-offs into local water sources, meaning innocent people end up drinking polluted water.

Additionally, heavily pesticided coffee is turned into decaf coffee "through adverse, chemical processing." Shelley said, "The most common method of decaffeinating coffee uses chemical solvents such as ethyl acetate, also known as dry cleaning fluid. Yikes!"

"Without herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides, coffee farmers are incentivized to take better care of their coffee trees and the environment to experience the same crop yields as their toxic competitors," Shelley explained. Besides, organic coffee just tastes better! "It often has a richer flavor from being grown in higher altitudes where it takes longer to develop and is higher in healthful antioxidants."

In short, it's a win-win to purchase and drink organic coffee. Whenever you can, purchase coffee beans for your kitchen that are organic and buy a latte that uses organic coffee. Pop and Bottle is a great option as well — the brand creates six different plant-based latte flavors, and every coffee-based beverage uses organic coffee. In fact, all the ingredients in Pop and Bottle lattes are organic. Talk about a win-win!

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd
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