Coffee (Organic Vs Commercially Grown): What’s the Difference?

In this article, we will discuss coffee: not all coffee is created equal. We will highlight the differences between organic coffee and commercial coffee and toxins, mold, pesticides, and other hidden dangers found in some coffees.

Differences Between Organic Coffee and Commercial Coffee

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the United States and the world. About 64% of Americans drink at least one coffee daily and spend more than $1000 on the beverage annually. Coffee starts as berries. The ripe berries are picked, processed, then dried. The beans are then roasted, ground, and brewed in water, eventually becoming coffee.

Coffee is either grown organically or commercially:

Commercial coffee.

Commercial coffee is chemically treated with a variety of substances, including pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and synthetic fertilizers. Most commercially grown coffee plants need the open sun to grow, which requires the clearing of trees and other natural vegetation. This clearing can increase the amount of pesticides and other harmful products to run off the land during rainstorms into nearby lakes and rivers, harming the surrounding environment.

The Dangers of Mycotoxins

Another concern with commercial coffee is mycotoxins. Produced by fungi, mycotoxins are toxic substances that can cause sickness in both animals and humans. They tend to grow on corn, grain, coffee beans, and other crops that are stored for an extended period.

Like other forms of mold, mycotoxins can be hazardous to a person’s health. Possible signs of mycotoxins exposure include the following:

• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Respiratory infections
• Allergies
• Asthma

A study on ochratoxin A (OTA), a form of mycotoxin in Italy, found that 26.6% of commercially grown coffees tested positive for the mold. [1]

Organic coffee.

Instead of using synthetic fertilizers and other chemicals used in commercially grown coffee, organic coffee is cultivated via the use of organic fertilizers such as chicken manure, compost, or coffee pulp. Organic coffee is also grown in its natural habitat of lush forests, which help to decrease the amount of runoff from rain into nearby lakes and streams. The use of organic materials could also mean cleaner water, land, and air compared to their commercially prepared counterparts.

Even though roasting is believed to kill mycotoxins, coffee grown organically helps decrease the dangerous mold levels. Quality coffee should be tested for mycotoxins, with affected coffee beans promptly removed.

Commercial Coffee Dangers

Coffee is one of the most heavily treated crops in the world. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors pesticide levels, defining pesticide limits as follows: “Certain trace amounts of pesticides, or pesticide chemical residues, may remain in or on some crops after they’re harvested. The FDA’s role is to ensure that pesticide chemical residues on or in domestic and imported foods do not exceed the limits established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”

Even with limits in place, studies indicate the use of pesticides may be hazardous to a person’s health. A study of make workers on coffee plantations in the Dominican Republic found those working with pesticides experienced “increased symptoms” of excessive salivation, dizziness, stomach ache, and other neurotoxicity symptoms when compared to organic farmers. [2]

Dozens of pesticides are often used on coffee at some point during the growing process. In lieu of acceptable FDA guidelines, studies indicate prolonged exposure to these toxins could cause a variety of side effects. The following are a few pesticides often used on coffee:

Health Benefits of Organic Coffee

In addition to avoiding the pesticides in commercial coffee, the following are benefits of consuming organic coffee:

Rich in nutrients. Organic coffee contains the following nutrients:

• Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
• Magnesium
• Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)
• Potassium
• Manganese

Stabilizes blood sugar. A study conducted on men and women in Singapore found that the consumption of coffee was associated with a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes. [3

Decreases brain degeneration risks. Caffeine could be an effective therapeutic against aging-related memory loss. In Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study, drinking 3-5 cups of organic coffee per day at midlife was associated with a decreased risk of dementia/AD by about 65% at late-life. [4]

Decreased tumor risk. According to researchers, there appears to be a link between organic coffee consumption and a decreased risk of rectal, colon, pharyngeal, and esophageal cancer. [5]

Improved liver health. A study of 776 patients with advanced hepatitis C-related liver disease found that drinking three or more cups of organic coffee per day had a 53% lower risk of liver disease progression than non-coffee drinkers. An analysis of 16 studies of Western populations saw a “significantly reduced incidence of cirrhosis amongst coffee drinkers when compared to those who did drink the beverage.” [5]

Alleviates feelings of depression. Data from several studies with over 330,000 participants found evidence of coffee/caffeine consumption and lower rates of depression. Researchers concluded its use was “significantly associated with decreased risk of depression.” [6]

Increased lifespan. Consuming organic coffee daily may increase anti-aging effects. Studies on mice found that regular coffee consumption increased energy expenditure, decreased the amount of free fatty acid levels in plasma, and increased ATP levels in aged mice. This combination of benefits increases the belief among researchers that organic coffee can increase healthfulness and lifespan. [7]

Healthy Coffee Alternatives

When drinking coffee, choosing organic varieties is strongly advised. Here are the top organic coffees and their unique benefits:

Purity Coffee - Whole Bean Coffee 12oz bag - DARK ROAST

Dark roasted coffee has less acidity than the lighter varieties and a more robust flavor. Purity Coffee - Whole Bean Coffee Dark Roast is “specialty grade,” which means it is made with the highest standard of coffee with the least number of defects. As a result, the coffee beans are sorted to remove any that don’t meet the standards. Purity Coffee - Whole Bean Coffee Dark Roast is free of mycotoxins and 100% organic.

Purity Coffee - Whole Bean Coffee 12oz bag - MEDIUM ROAST

Purity Coffee - Whole Bean Coffee - Medium Roast

1. “Near-zero” defects. Coffee beans are sorted to ensure no defective or substandard beans are added to the products.
2. Mold-free. Purity Coffee is lab tested at every stage to ensure it does not contain any mycotoxins or other types of mold.
3. Sustainable coffee practices. Purity coffee focuses on integrated animal and plant production practices. This practice includes the following:

• Satisfying human food needs
• Enhanced environmental quality
• The continued economic viability of farming operations
• Enhanced and improved quality of life for farmers and society

1. 100% organic. No pesticides or other harmful additives used.
2. Exceptional taste. Thanks to these strict criteria, Purity Coffee has an exceptional taste and flavor. 

Purity Coffee - Coffee Pods 12 count

Purity Coffee - Coffee Pods are made with the same quality of other Purity brands, all in a convenient pod form. 

Conclusion

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the United States and the world. It is also one of the most chemically treated, causing a variety of health issues over time. Avoiding commercial coffees and opting for organic varieties instead allows a person to enjoy coffee without the dangerous additives and reap the many science-backed health benefits. Give organic coffee a try. Your body will thank you.

References:

[1] Ambra Prelle 1, Davide Spadaro, Aleksandra Denca, (et al). Comparison of Clean-Up Methods for Ochratoxin A on Wine, Beer, Roasted Coffee and Chili Commercialized in Italy. Toxins (Basel). 2013 Oct 22;5(10):1827-44. doi: 10.3390/toxins5101827. [PMID: 24152987] PMCID: PMC3813914 DOI: 10.3390/toxins5101827https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24152987/

[2] Hans-Peter Hutter, Michael Kundi, Kathrin Lemmerer, (et al). Subjective Symptoms of Male Workers Linked to Occupational Pesticide Exposure on Coffee Plantations in the Jarabacoa Region, Dominican Republic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Oct; 15(10): 2099. Published online 2018 Sep 25. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15102099 [PMCID: PMC6209871] PMID: 30257443https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6209871/

[3] Andrew O Odegaard, Mark A Pereira, Woon-Puay Koh, (et al). Coffee, Tea, And Incident Type 2 Diabetes: The Singapore Chinese Health Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Oct; 88(4): 979–985. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/88.4.979 [PMCID: PMC2737528] NIHMSID: NIHMS122750 PMID: 18842784https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2737528/

[4] Marjo H Eskelinen, Miia Kivipelto. Caffeine as a Protective Factor in Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;20 Suppl 1:S167-74. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2010-1404. [PMID: 20182054] DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2010-1404https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20182054/

[5] Ryan D Heath, Mihir Brahmbhatt, Asli C Tahan, (et al). Coffee: The Magical Bean For Liver Diseases. World J Hepatol. 2017 May 28; 9(15): 689–696. Published online 2017 May 28. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v9.i15.689. [PMCID: PMC5440772]. PMID: 28596816https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5440772/

[6] Longfei Wang 1, Xiaoli Shen 1, Yili Wu (et al). Coffee and Caffeine Consumption and Depression: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2016 Mar;50(3):228-42. doi: 10.1177/0004867415603131. Epub 2015 Sep 2. [PMID: 26339067] DOI: 10.1177/0004867415603131https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26339067/

[7] Keita Takahashi and Akihito Ishigami. Anti-Aging Effects Of Coffee. Aging (Albany NY). 2017 Aug; 9(8): 1863–1864. Published online 2017 Aug 29. doi: 10.18632/aging.101287. [PMCID: PMC5611980] PMID: 28854150https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5611980/