Buy Organic Coffee
Getting organic is in fashion these days and nothing less than “I use Organic Stuff!” seems fit when you are in a gathering. It really feels good to say so and it feels better when you really use them. Each time you consume them, it gives you a feeling that you are doing good to your health and to your environment. The same is true for Organic Coffee too. You can drink it with your eyes closed and you need not worry a bit. But you need to keep your eyes open when you buy Organic Coffee. It is not as easy as “Pick and Go!” Why? Check the reasons below!
• Where do you get it? It is not just that you go to your nearest grocer; tell him that you want to buy organic coffee; he gives you a pack with “Organic Coffee” written on that; you pay him and happily go home. Neither it should be that you keep asking every shop that comes to your way that whether they are selling Organic Coffee or not. This will be just running in the wild. You should be aware that not everybody is selling authentic Organic Coffee. So, when you need to buy Organic Coffee, check the recognized coffee dealers and shops that are reputed for selling genuine organic coffee. Some Super Markets and Shopping Malls have separate departments for selling organic stuff. Then, certain reputed companies (better to mention them as coffee giants) such as Starbucks, Dean’s Beans, Green Mountain etc. have their own outlets for selling Organic Coffee. They are dependable and you can purchase from them. If you do not have any of these options near you, you can always try internet. You can directly buy your choicest organic coffee from Internet Shops. They have plenty of varieties, flavours, qualities and descriptions to choose from. They also display certificates. Some even give you money back guarantee had you not been satisfied. The only thing is that they charge a few bucks more to give you that advantage of shopping at leisure from your home. You place the order and when the parcel reaches your home, pay the person who delivers it. It is that easy! If you are living in United States and developed European, American or Asian Nations; getting it will not be a problem for you.
• What do you pay for it? The interest to buy Organic Coffee may be reduced to some extent when it comes to paying. Organic Coffee is costlier than regular non organic coffee. This is one of the reasons why many people turn away from Organic Coffee and switch over to conventional coffee again. But you should keep in mind that it is worth the money you pay to buy Organic Coffee. The damages done to your body by the toxic chemical pesticides and fertilizers may make you pay far more than what you pay for Organic Coffee. Further, Organic Coffee is eco-friendly too, as it does not destroy habitat of various species of flora and fauna. Investing of Organic Coffee is a wise decision indeed.
• What to check? You must check following things before you pay for the Organic Coffee:
• Certificate of Authenticity: These certificates, issued by various Government, Semi-Government and sometimes independent but recognized agencies, certify that the coffee you are buying is really Organic Coffee. These certificates are hard earned by the coffee companies, after undergoing rigorous and strict inspections and tests and strictly adhering to certain guidelines laid by these agencies. This is very important to check when you buy Organic Coffee. These are the agencies who certify your coffee;
• Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS)
• USDA National Organic Program (NOP)
• European Organic Regulations (EU 2092/91)
• Export Certificates for Japan (JAS Equivalent)
• Indian National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
• Quebec Organic Reference Standard (CAAQ)
• Bio Suisse Standards
• IOFAM Basic Standards
• ECOCERT
• Class of Certificate: Organic Coffee is classified into following three classes by these certifiers;
• Hundred Percent Organic Coffee: This means that hundred percent of the coffee sold under this certificate is strictly organic.
• Organic Coffee: This means that at least ninety five percent of the coffee is strictly organic and the rest five percent of coffee is grown using permitted chemical fertilizers and pesticides (of course, the recommended not-so-harmful ones).
• Contains Organic Coffee: This certifies that at least seventy five percent of the coffee is strictly organic and the rest is grown using permitted chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
• Date of Manufacturing/Packaging: This is important as this decides the quality of the Organic Coffee you are buying. It should be as fresh as possible. Be it Organic or not, Coffee packed half a year ago looses a lot of its aroma and taste. More so, if it is ground coffee. So, try to pick the latest product.
• Date of Expiry/Best Before Date: This again, is as much important as above. Since Organic Coffee is not grown using chemical fertilizers or pesticides and nor is it applied with any artificial preservative while packaging; it is very much prone to microbial or fungal infections and spoilage. So, carefully check this date when you buy Organic Coffee and do not run into any risk. It is going to spoil both your taste and your health.
• Packaging Material: This also plays an important role. A true organic product should be packed in organic eco-friendly pack too. Packing Material made up of plastics or metal, with lots of chemical colours used on them are as harmful as chemical fertilizers and pesticides (which you are trying hard to avoid), as these things disintegrate and mix with your Organic Coffee, not leaving it organic any more.
• The Best Buy: The best time to buy Organic Coffee is when your last stock is about to finish, so that your fresh lot is not kept in your shelf for long. Or else, there will be no use buying it fresh if it ages at your home. Another thing is that you should try to buy whole beans instead of ground coffee because flavours are preserved longer in them.
• Some Tips: Here are some tips which you need to follow after you buy Organic Coffee:
• When you have taken so much trouble to buy Organic Coffee, make sure that you brew it that way. For God’s sake, do not put anything synthetic (artificial flavour, taste makers, artificial sweeteners etc.) in it.
• If you bought whole beans, try to grind them just before you want to brew to get the best out of them.
• Never store your coffee, ground or whole beans, in your fridge.
I hope I have given you all you needed to know to buy Organic Coffee. See you next time!
This article was contributed by Aparup Mukherjee
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