Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Is Coffee Going Green?

By Amy Kreydin

Coffee consumers are becoming more interested in knowing where their coffee beans are coming from and how fairly traded the products are. These concerns are driving the market to produce more organic and fairly traded coffee beans around the globe. From women-owned coffee plantation to worker-owned co-ops, green coffee is a growing trend.


The Scoop On Organic Coffee

Whether you want to reduce your impact on the earth or just avoid any nasty chemical residues in your morning cup of java, organic gourmet coffee is appealing.However, there are so many misconception about organic coffee that it's best to do a little research first.


Better For The Planet?

Fortunately for those who chose organic for eco-conscious reasons, these coffee really are earth-friendly.Certified organic coffee is grown without harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides and utilizes sustainable crop rotation, which is healthier not only for the planet, but for those who live and work near coffee plantations.Many of these coffees are also"shade grown"or "bird friendly", meaning they`or grown in the forest shade where coffee naturally grows.No forests were cleared.Many fans of organic gourmet coffee find the traditional growing methods produce a more flavorful coffee.



Better For Your Health?

Organic gourmet coffee is certainly no worse then others, but getting the real health benefits is a little more complicated then the ads may suggest.
First of all, the fruit of the coffee tree absorbs most of the pesticides but that part is discarded and only the seed("bean")is used.Beans are then dried and roasted at the temperatures high enough to destroy most of the chemical residue,Problems occur when you buy beans that were roasted overseas.before coffee is allowed across the U.S. border, It's fumigated with chemicals.Sence it's already been roasted, there no further step to remove those chemicals before they end up in your cup.The solution?Buy green organic coffee beans and roast then at home.You may be surprised how affordable home roasters are.
Organic coffee is a treasure not only for it's flavor, but for the peace of mind you'll have knowing you java habit isn't harming the environment or loading up with carcinogens.Even better, if you look around a little, you'll be able to find organic coffee for a price comparable to that of any other coffee. We all need an affordable treat now and then and for me it's gourmet coffee.


Whether you’re a newbie or a skilled barista, iCoffee Gourmet has everything you need and want to know about premium, organic, decaf or fair trade coffees, gourmet espresso beans, espresso machines, coffee makers or coffee grinders. Get yours today @ http://www.iCoffeeGourmet.com.