How To Pick Better Coffee: For Yourself & For The Planet

February 8, 2015

You love your morning cuppa, but did you know that your coffee can be way healthier than it currently is? By picking the right type, you can help the planet, as well as yourself.

Trade your regular brand for shade-grown beans. That’s because coffee grown on full-sun plantations is sprayed with harmful pesticides such as Endosulfan, a chemical in the same family as DDT, which is banned in Europe and other countries, but still allowed in the US. Joe Vinson, PhD, professor in the department of chemistry at the University of Scranton, found that organic and shade-grown coffee has 15 percent more antioxidants than conventional coffee. Unlike organic coffee or Fair Trade Certified coffee, there is no official certification for shade-grown coffee. But the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center has developed a bird-friendly certification, which guarantees that coffee was grown under shade canopies that provide habitats for migratory songbirds.
Using a French press to brew your coffee gives you better results and a deeper flavor. But more importantly, you skip the dioxins that paper filters are bleached with.
You could also look out for coffee with 100 percent Rainforest Alliance certification. This implies that the beans are grown under protective rain forest canopies.
If you prefer a latte over black coffee, opt for non-dairy milk like unsweetened vanilla almond milk or unsweetened soy milk. It contains way more calcium than regular milk, and fewer calories. Moreover, the traditional methods of obtaining dairy-based milk are associated with animal cruelty.
Instead of using sugar, or artificial sweeteners, sweeten your coffee with a pinch of cinnamon powder. This wonder spice tastes wonderful, and naturally optimizes blood sugar levels.