Flocking for Java

The glory of that first sip may not have such a glorious impact on the environment. In order to meet demands, many coffee farms clear cut areas to make space for more crops. Sun-growing varieties in particular go hand-in-hand with a loss of biodiversity due to this clear cutting, along with a higher likelihood of agrochemical use. However, farms using organic methods plant a variety of crops that create a shady canopy for the coffee plants. Canopy crops not only benefit the coffee plants, but also create a habitat for a diversity of bird populations³ that provide free pest management. A single bird can save 23 to 65 pounds of coffee per year from pests.⁴ Bird-friendly, shade-grown, organic coffee keeps the pesticides out of your morning java—all the more reason to flock to an organic cuppa joe.

From Soil to Mug

Coffee bushes nestled beneath canopies of fruit trees growing in the sun, birds floating on the cool breeze overhead, insects and fungi building worlds in the soil below—organic, shade-grown coffee farms are a sight to behold. These farms build nutrient density from the soil to the cup of coffee they produce. Conventional farms that only grow coffee plants in sun-grown conditions deplete the soil and create a greater risk of erosion.⁵ Organic farming methods build healthy, biodiverse soil and produce a final product that contains more nutrients.⁶ One study found that coffee grown on organic farms had higher levels of many of the beneficial compounds it’s known for compared to coffee grown on conventional farms.⁷ Some of these benefits include higher concentrations of flavonoids and other antioxidants that protect the body from free-radical damage.

Cuppa Joe on the Brain

How do you take your coffee? A dash of cream? A splash of MCT oil? Black to savour the nuance of every note? Any way you prepare it, pour yourself a cuppa and reap the sweet health benefits. Numerous studies have been conducted on the health effects of coffee and note that as one of the most popular beverages in the world, its impact is far-reaching. Coffee contains a number of beneficial compounds, including antioxidants and polyphenols that support cardiovascular and brain health.⁸ The caffeine content in coffee is also credited with cognitive benefits, including supporting memory and reducing the risk of depression. Studies show these compounds support healthy brain function, are neuroprotective, and may reduce the risk of neurodegeneration and conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.^{9 10 11}

Whether you take it black, creamy, or Paleo-style, just make sure your next cup of joe is organic!

References

1. Djurovic, A. (2021, August 5). 33 Coffee Statistics: What all coffee drinkers need to know [2021]. Deals On Health. Retrieved from https://dealsonhealth.net/coffee-statistics/
2. The History of Coffee. National Coffee Association. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ncausa.org/About-Coffee/History-of-Coffee
3. Greenberg, R., Bichier, P., Angon, A. C., & Reitsma, R. (1997). Bird Populations in Shade and Sun Coffee Plantations in Central Guatemala. Conservation Biology, 11(2), 448–459. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2387618
4. Hernandez-Aguilera, J.N., et al. (2019) The economics and ecology of shade-grown coffee: A model to incentivize shade and bird conservation. Ecological Economics 159: 110-121.
5. Ibanez, M., & Blackman, A. (2015). Environmental and Economic Impacts of Growing Certified Organic Coffee in Colombia. Environment for Development Initiative. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep15011
6. Velmourougane, K. (2016). Impact of organic and conventional systems of coffee farming on soil properties and culturable microbial diversity. Scientifica, 2016, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/3604026
7. Ozuna, C., et al. (2020) The effect of organic farming on total phenols, total flavonoids, brown compounds and antioxidant activity of spent coffee grounds from Mexico, Biological Agriculture & Horticulture, 36:2, 107-118, DOI: 10.1080/01448765.2019.1704876
8. Patil, H., Lavie, C. J., & O'Keefe, J. H. (2011). Cuppa joe: friend or foe? Effects of chronic coffee consumption on cardiovascular and brain health. Missouri medicine, 108(6), 431–438.
9. Wasim, S., Kukkar, V., Awad, V. M., Sakhamuru, S., & Malik, B. H. (2020). Neuroprotective and Neurodegenerative Aspects of Coffee and Its Active Ingredients in View of Scientific Literature. Cureus, 12(8), e9578. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.9578
10. Coffee. The Nutrition Source - T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2021, July 6). Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/coffee/
11. Camandola, S., Plick, N., & Mattson, M. P. (2019). Impact of Coffee and Cacao Purine Metabolites on Neuroplasticity and Neurodegenerative Disease. Neurochemical research, 44(1), 214–227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-018-2492-0