Many people attempt to find coffee that tastes great and is also eco-friendly. Although there are several different types of coffee available for purchase, many coffee trees are mass-produced in remote locations, generate a great deal of waste, and are sprayed with harmful pesticides. If you are environmentally conscious and care deeply about the future of the earth, then you may want to consider some eco-friendly coffee options.

Is Your Coffee Fair Trade?

On coffee packages, many manufacturers will state whether a coffee has a fair trade certification. Fair trade coffee is usually grown by small, independent farmers who adhere to a certain set of rules. Although these coffees usually adhere to a democratic process and do not hire children as laborers, the growers also try to use minimal pesticides. In general, these particular growers try and produce coffee while minimizing the impact on the economy.

Picking Organic Coffee

When purchasing your cup of coffee, does the shop describe it as organic? Organic coffees, such as the Green Mountain coffee from 11th Street Coffee, can be better for the environment because the farmers limit the use of harmful pesticides. Most organic coffee farmers also rotate the crops routinely which helps to prevent soil erosion and loss of valuable nutrients within the soil.

Shade Grown Coffee

In many parts of the world, coffee farmers will mow down large, dense forests to make way for the crop. This can lead to massive deforestation, which can affect the local and global ecosystem.  However, some coffees will have the phrase "shade grown" on their labels, which means that they are grown under a canopy of trees or in a shaded area. Shade grown coffees tend to require less water and the waste from the coffee tree can help provide nutrients to the soil. These particular coffee trees also provide shade and shelter to birds in the local area, which helps to promote biodiversity when it pertains to wildlife and also plants.

Try and Buy Local

One great way to limit the impact on the economy is to always try and buy locally. Purchasing coffee that was farmed locally will help limit carbon dioxide emissions. Buying locally can be one step to addressing climate change, a drastic environmental issue that affects all of us.

Just remember, you can enjoy a cup of coffee that was grown in an eco-friendly manner. Make sure to study the various types of coffee available and find a few options that taste great and were also produced in a manner that minimizes waste and limits the use of pesticides