How to Choose The Right Coffee

Seems like we’re all drinking a little more coffee these days, are we right? And the more we drink, the more we think: What are the origins and kinds of java we're choosing? What makes a cup of coffee clean? Are there things to look for when buying beans and grounds? Joe Dickson, our Co-Founder and Head of Quality Standards, has some suggestions:

• If you can, opt for USDA Organic, which means no toxic or persistent pesticides were used to grow the coffee beans. It also means the farmers who grow the coffee aren’t exposed to those same chemicals.

• Seek out fair trade or direct trade coffee, which ensures that farmers in developing countries, in which most coffee is grown, get a fair price for their coffee and meet other robust social and environmental standards. I look for Fair Trade Certified, Rainforest Alliance Certified, or Utz Certified.

• Going decaf? To ensure that you’re getting coffee that hasn’t been decaffeinated with harsh chemical solvents, look for coffee naturally decaffeinated using the Swiss water process, or choose USDA Organic.