Best Organic Coffee Brands to Drink in 2022
Perhaps you want to drink the freshest coffee possible. Perhaps you want to do your bit for the environment. Whatever your reasons for drinking organic coffee, you’d have known by now that the market for the best organic coffee beans is quite saturated.
Almost every other brand is claiming that their coffee beans are organic. That no chemicals were used in their making and the beans contain no fillers or other ingredients. All you’re getting by purchasing their beans is just the coffee, is what they want you to believe.
Should you take their claims at face value? Not if you take your morning brew seriously. In this article, we’ll recommend to you the 10 best organic coffee beans on the market. We’ll also reveal the criteria we used for selecting those beans. Read on to know more.
Benefits of Organic Coffee – Is Organic Coffee Better?
Most people opt for organic coffee because they hate having chemicals or pesticides in their food. Others choose it because it’s healthier for our planet. Still, others like the taste of organic coffee beans, which are much stronger and richer than standard coffee.
Here are the major benefits of organic coffee:
- Avoids toxic chemicals Did you know that coffee is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world? Sure, the subsequent washing, roasting, grinding, and brewing takes away most of the chemical residue. But why risk your health if you can go for organic?
- More environmentally friendly One thing most people don’t know about organic coffee is that it’s a shade-grown crop. This means no crops have been cut down, no forests have been cleared, and no living thing has lost its original habitat.
- Tastes richer and brighter Want to know why organic coffee costs more? Its shade-grown beans take longer to ripen. The extra time they take allows the beans to pack in more taste, making your morning brew taste richer and brighter.
So, let’s take a look at some of the best organic coffee beans:
Death Wish Coffee
Top Pick
Specifications
Specifications- Flavor: Coffee, Chocolate
- Roast: Dark roast
- Beans form: Whole beans/Ground
- Flavor: Coffee, Chocolate
- Roast: Dark roast
- Beans form: Whole beans/Ground
What makes Death Wish Coffee our top pick? Apart from being USDA-certified organic, it is one of the strongest coffees in the world. One cup of this coffee will help you get rid of your morning slumber and get you in the mood to attack the day.
That isn’t to say that this coffee will attack your stomach. Quite the contrary. The combination of premium Robusta and Arabica beans makes it very low in acidity. This makes it a perfect choice for those of you who suffer from problems like stomach reflux and indigestion.
Have doubts about this claim? Even then, you’ve nothing to lose by trying this organic coffee. It comes with a risk-free guarantee, which means Death Wish Coffee will refund your order if you don’t like what you taste. But our experience with this product tells us matters won’t come to such ahead.
Things we like
- Has a super-strong taste
- Won’t attack your stomach
- USDA-certified organic
Things we don’t like
- Might be too dark roast for some
- Very high caffeine
Subtle Earth Organic Coffee
Best Budget
Specifications
Specifications- Flavor: Chocolate
- Roast level: Medium roast
- Beans form: Whole beans
- Flavor: Chocolate
- Roast level: Medium roast
- Beans form: Whole beans
The Subtle Earth Organic Coffee is an excellent pick for budget-minded users. The price for its 2lbs packaging is the same as the 1lb packaging of our top choice, making it a must-have for those of you who regularly invite guests over for a brew.
Subtle Earth always roasts its coffee in small batches to ensure it develops maximum flavor. They also roast to order, meaning you won’t find any roasted coffee beans sitting around if you ever visit their premises. You can thus expect to brew the freshest cup possible every single time.
Yet another thing that sets this coffee apart is its place of origin. It’s grown and harvested in the Marcala region of Honduras, whose high altitude is famous for providing the beans grown there with a depth of flavor low-altitude grown coffee beans can only dream about.
Lastly, Subtle Earth grows, harvests, and processes its own coffee beans. The company also has its own Q-grader to inspect the quality of every bean. They are therefore able to control and monitor every part of the supply chain, from growing beans to delivering them to your doorstep.
Things we like
- Always roast to order
- Roasted in small batches
- Comes with a moneyback guarantee
Things we don’t like
- A bit bitter
Real Good Coffee Co Whole Bean Coffee
Specifications
Specifications- Flavor: Coffee
- Roast level: Dark roast
- Beans form: Whole bean
- Flavor: Coffee
- Roast level: Dark roast
- Beans form: Whole bean
Do you love a bold and spicy flavor? Then you won’t have any complaints with the Real Good Coffee. This US-based brand produces an organic, single-origin, dark-bodied roast for those who love a classic cup of coffee in the morning. Tasting notes include subtle lemon, bell pepper, and cedar.
Real Good takes the flavor of its coffee as seriously as quality – all the beans are 100% Arabica grown and sourced. They are packed responsibly before being shipped to Seattle, where they are freshly roasted by experienced personnel. Be prepared to get a strong aroma upon opening the package.
To further sweeten the deal, these dark roast beans are compatible with any coffee machine or maker. This includes espresso, drip machines, french press coffee maker, pour-over, among others. And the coffee will arrive at your doorstep whole-bean so that you can custom grind it.
The last benefit deserves your attention if you’re still trying out multiple brewing methods to identify the one that could stay with you for years. However, if you ask us, we think every brewing method has its qualities. You’d therefore do well to have a versatile blend that works with your pick.
Things we like
- Provides a bold flavour
- 100 percent Arabica grown beans
- USDA-certified organic
Things we don’t like
- Roast might be too dark for some
Mayorga Organics Café Cubano Roast, Dark Roast Coffee
Specifications
Specifications- Flavor: Sweet
- Roast level: Dark roast
- Beans form: Whole bean
- Flavor: Sweet
- Roast level: Dark roast
- Beans form: Whole bean
Multiple features distinguish this dark roast coffee from its competitors. It comes whole-bean to give you the choice of grinding it down to whatever coarseness your preferred brewing method demands. That is something most coffee beans, which come pre-grinded, fail to offer.
Don’t let the fact that this coffee isn’t single-origin put you away from tasting what it has to offer. All three of the locations where its beans are sourced from – Peru, Honduras, and Nicaragua – are known for churning out some of the world’s finest (and densest) beans.
Mayorga sustainably sources the coffee beans from Latin American locations mentioned above. All of the beans are USDA-organic certified, non-GMO verified, and kosher. They are also shade-grown to pack in maximum flavor and come with a 30-day moneyback guarantee.
All in all, this powerful, high-quality dark roast coffee is a must-have if you need a proper dose of caffeine to kickstart your days. In fact, this coffee’s taste is so rich that if you intend to use it for pour-over, we suggest you grind it. Otherwise, the taste might be too much for you.
Things we like
- Shade-grown coffee beans
- Great customer service
- Mild taste
Things we don’t like
- Might not be dark enough for some
Lifeboost Coffee Whole Bean Coffee Dark Roast
Specifications
Specifications- Flavor: Caramel, slightly bitter
- Roast level: Dark roast
- Beans form: Whole bean
- Flavor: Caramel, slightly bitter
- Roast level: Dark roast
- Beans form: Whole bean
Unlike other coffee beans you see in this review, Lifeboost Coffee lets you pinpoint the exact location where all of its beans are grown. You read that right. This coffee is produced on a middle-sized, multi-acre farm in one of Nicaragua’s many protected areas.
These areas are known for making some of the most flavorful and purest coffee on the planet. All of their beans are non-GMO, and USDA-organic certified. They are also mycotoxin-free, which means you won’t be exposing yourself to severe diseases this toxin can cause.
Also, the beans are grown on virgin soil on a hilltop, where workers and farmers are paid fair wages to harvest them by hand. An abundance of trees in the area allows the coffee to grow in the dark, becoming part of 2% of the world’s coffee that is grown in the shade.
This allows the beans to retain a rich, flavorful taste with tantalizing hints of caramel. Once grown and picked, the coffee undergoes a two-month-long fermentation and rest, during which its flavor profile undergoes significant deepening. Only then are the beans roasted and packaged.
Things we like
- Hints of caramel in the taste
- Free of mycotoxins and pesticides
- Beans are spring-water washed and sun-dried
Things we don’t like
- Expensive
Life Extension Rainforest Blend Coffee
Specifications
Specifications- Flavor: Coffee
- Roast level: Medium roast
- Beans form: Whole bean
- Flavor: Coffee
- Roast level: Medium roast
- Beans form: Whole bean
The Life Extension Rainforest Blend coffee is available in three styles. Order whole ground beans if you are experimenting with multiple brews. Alternatively, if you’ve already made your choice, then you might want to pick between the decaffeinated ground and fine-ground beans.
All three of the styles have one thing in common: they contain ample amount of polyphenol oxidants. That is incredible because antioxidants protect our bodies from oxidative stress, rejuvenate our skin, and support healthy blood sugar levels.
In addition to the antioxidants, the beans also pack in a bold taste. That shouldn’t be surprising once you consider that all of them are 100 percent Arabica coffee beans, grown in USDA-certified environments without any chemicals, preservatives, or fillers coming near them.
Lastly, the fact that these organic beans are medium-roast comes across as a double-edged sword. On the one end, it might make them unsuitable for those of you who prefer bold, spicy coffee. On the other, medium-roast beans are a must-have for those facing stomach acidity issues.
Things we like
- GMO-free
- Available in multiple flavors
- Contains plenty of healthy polyphenol antioxidants
Things we don’t like
- Might be a little too mild for dark coffee lovers
Java Planet Organic Coffee Beans
Specifications
Specifications- Flavor: Guatemalan Coffee
- Roast level: Medium roast
- Beans form: Whole bean
- Flavor: Guatemalan Coffee
- Roast level: Medium roast
- Beans form: Whole bean
Java Planet has been offering natural, clean, and great-tasting cups of coffee for the past several decades. They are famous for following sustainable and ethical practices, relying only on environmentally responsible farmers, so you don’t have to sweat about what’s going on behind the scenes.
The US-based brand not only sells USDA-certified organic coffee. It also offers a low-acid blend to target those of you whose stomachs can’t handle high levels of acidity. At the same time, its mild nature might also this coffee an unwelcome choice for those of you who prefer something bold.
This particular medium-roast blend features a classic coffee flavor. It contains no bitter aftertaste or burnt flavors. All the beans have been roasted to perfection, giving the flavor all the time it needs to develop fully. You can thus expect a full-bodied taste.
Things we like
- Won’t raise your stomach’s acidity levels
- Packaged whole bean to ensure the best flavor
- Non-GMO, USDA-organic and fair-trade certified
Things we don’t like
- Won’t come cheap, especially if you opt for 1lb packaging
Kicking Horse Coffee
Top Pick
Specifications
Specifications- Flavor: Extremely bitter
- Roast level: Dark roast
- Beans form: Whole bean
- Flavor: Extremely bitter
- Roast level: Dark roast
- Beans form: Whole bean
Wondering what sets this coffee apart from the competition? Start with its rich, dark roast. One whose one sip will be enough to send you haywire on an otherwise carefree morning. As if the roast wasn’t bitter enough on its own, a dark chocolate aftertaste will then send your nerves fraying.
This dark-roasted coffee tastes like cocoa, stone fruit, and bitter tobacco. The company uses environmentally-friendly methods to produce 100 percent USDA-certified organic beans. All of whom are grown under the shade of trees, which means they never come in contact with pesticides.
Lastly, since this coffee is delivered in whole-beans form, you can brew it using different methods, including drip machine, French press, pour-over, and cold brew. All in all, if you have no issues with extremely bitter coffees, then you’ll have no issues with Kicking Horse Coffee.
Things we like
- Can be brewed using different methods
- Gives the aroma of cocoa powder
- Fairtrade and USDA-organic certified
Things we don’t like
- Taste might be too bitter for some
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Ground Coffee
Best Budget
Specifications
Specifications- Flavor: Lion’s Mane
- Roast level: Dark roast
- Beans form: Ground
- Flavor: Lion’s Mane
- Roast level: Dark roast
- Beans form: Ground
The Four Sigmatic ground coffee offers excellent value for money. Despite containing half the caffeine of your standard beans, it provides a rich taste that is enough to tantalize your taste buds. The coffee beans’ freshness and smoother texture will also play their part in improving your mood.
It also contains organic Chaga mushroom and rhiodala root. Both of them are tasteless, so they won’t interfere with the coffee’s flavor. The mushroom has antioxidant properties to raise the level of your immunity. The rhiodala root, meanwhile, has anti-stress characteristics to help you keep calm.
The Lion’s Mane mushroom is another unique ingredient this coffee contains. Research has found it beneficial for your memory, concentration, and focus. Multiple cognitive benefits, like a heightened sense of self-awareness, are also associated with Lion’s Mane.
What’s more, these coffee beans contain no flavors, preservatives, or fillers. This makes them an excellent option whether you eat vegan, paleo, gluten-free, or keto diets. And you can also use them for both pour-over and in a coffee maker. What more can you ask for!
Things we like
- Boosts your immune system
- Has ingredients that help fight stress
- Improves your focus and concentration
Things we don’t like
- The taste isn’t as good as the individual doses
Organic Coffee Pods Peak Performance High Altitude Coffee
Specifications
Specifications- Flavor: Coffee
- Roast level: Medium roast
- Beans form: Whole bean
- Flavor: Coffee
- Roast level: Medium roast
- Beans form: Whole bean
Need organic coffee in a pod? Organic Coffee Pods is another company that specializes in making unique and extra-powerful coffee beans in form of pods. They grow, process, and package their coffee with sustainable and ethical practices, using well-paid and environmentally conscious farmers.
To ensure their beans retain maximum freshness, the personnel at Organic Coffee Pods roast the beans exclusively in small patches. They only send whole bean coffee, which means you can grind them based on your preferred brewing method.
The fact that these beans are grown at high altitudes should excite you. That’s because it’s a proven fact that beans harvested at higher altitudes tend to be denser than their low altitude counterparts. Such beans are also of a higher grade, which is one reason why they’re slightly costly.
Not everything is great about these coffee pods, though. We were disappointed to find out that its pods, although sturdy, are made of plastic. This leaves a bad impression on coffee which claims to care for the environment – as plastic takes millions of years to biodegrade.
Things we like
- Wet-processed
- Single-origin & USDA-certified organic
- Fair trade certified
Things we don’t like
- Pods are plastic
How To Choose Organic Coffee Beans – Buyer’s Guide
USDA Organic Certified
The USDA Organic Certified coffee beans are grown and processed under federal guidelines. These guidelines contain a long list of allowed and banned substances. They also prohibit the soil where the coffee beans are grown from nurturing any banned substances for the past 3 years.
Aside from that, farmers are required to keep meticulous records. One of USDA’s 80 accredited agencies inspects the farms annually to verify they’re sticking to the standards. You can thus count on USDA-certified organic coffee to be free of GMOs, synthetic substances, and artificial preservatives.
Non-GMO
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) have their DNA modified in an unnatural manner. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that all GM foods, including organic coffee beans, are safe to consume and pose no dangers to human health whatsoever.
However, since genetic modification is still a relatively nascent technology, some people believe its side effects aren’t fully understood. That’s why they prefer non-GMO food. If you’re one of those people, look for a ‘Non-GMO’ label on your organic coffee packaging.
Growing Method
Make sure your coffee is grown under shade. Sun-grown coffee is vulnerable to the attacks of insects and pesticides, forcing its grower to use more pesticides to protect the crop. It also needs more chemical sprays to keep pest-induced diseases at bay.
Shade-grown coffee, however, is nurtured under a canopy or an array of shaded trees. Its environment is much similar to native forests and lures birds, decreasing infestation by keeping the pests away. This removes the need for any pesticides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does organic coffee taste better?
Even though organic coffee enthusiasts believe that organic coffee tastes better than conventional coffee, the difference is rather subtle. Some describe organic coffee’s taste as smoother, while others swear that it’s ‘cleaner’ than regular coffee.
Why does organic coffee cost more? Is it worth it?
Organic coffee costs more because it’s grown under fair-trade practices. The farmers who grow organic coffee are rewarded for following the rules with a higher rate per pound, which translates to a higher pay rate for their employees.
Is organic coffee better for your stomach?
Some organic coffee brands, like Subtle Earth, have lower acidity levels than the standard stuff, making them better for your stomach. They don’t have any tartness that could upset your digestion system, making them perfect for people who suffer from issues like indigestion.
Conclusion
Your search for the best organic coffee beans is now over.
Go for the Death Wish Coffee if you’re a dark-coffee enthusiast who could spend above the odds for their favorite flavor. Alternatively, if you’re on a tight budget or suffer from acidity issues, the Subtle Earth Organic Coffee has everything to tantalize your taste buds.
About the Author
Lori Bogedin is a health and wellness writer and editor of TwigsCafe.com. She is in the restaurant business since 1999. In 2016 she was named one of the "Top Women in Business" by Northeastern Pennsylvania Business Journal.
