Why should one buy organic coffee? It turns out that coffee plants, especially arabica, are susceptible to various pests and can require large quantities of fungicides and pesticides to grow. These chemicals find their way into the fruit of the coffee plant (called a “cherry”) and can wind up in the finished product.

Deep Cello Coffee’s Justin Kagan has found that the more natural and organic the coffee is, the better it frequently tastes. “It’s clear to me that organic and natural coffees usually taste better.  And they are better for your health, better for the environment, better for the growers, better for the land, and better for the people who grow them and tend the fields.  So, organic (and some natural coffees) give you better taste, better nutrition, and create the circumstances for sustainability.  And because the farmers are paid more,” Kagan says, “they can treat the land better. They don’t need to be tempted to cut corners and hurt the land.”

So the best thing you can do is buy the best coffee beans, buy organic coffee.  Mostly organic coffee is good too. Sometimes a coffee can be “naturally grown” and not be organic but still not have pesticide and fungicide residues.  Sometimes, doing what’s good for you can be good for the world.