Best Organic Coffee Beans in the UK

Choosing the best coffee in the UK is becoming increasingly difficult due to the sheer amount of coffee on the market here nowadays. Coffee beans are sold everywhere, but not all of these coffee beans make great-tasting coffee.

Below, we have picked out our favourite organic coffee beans available in the UK at the moment.

However, first, let’s take a look at a hot debate: organic coffee beans vs. regular coffee beans.

Organic Coffee Beans vs. Regular

‘Organic’ means anything that has been naturally grown without the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and so on.

Now, for coffee, there are strict guidelines as to which coffee beans can be called ‘organic’.

For coffee beans, at least 95% of the coffee beans must be grown naturally (under organic conditions) for a product to be labelled as organic. So, throughout the entire process of farming, growing, fertilising, harvesting and final processing, strict organic standards must be met.

So, when you buy organic coffee beans, you can be ensured that at least 95% of the beans in the bag are free from artificial chemicals and are totally as nature intended.

Not only do you, the person drinking the coffee, benefit from this, but the environment does too.

As the soil that grew the coffee beans wasn’t laced with chemicals during the growing process, the local environment (trees, wildlife, air and water) all stay natural too.

Plus, the farmers and the workers don’t have to come in contact with harmful chemicals that can lead to serious health complications.

So, that’s a few ways that organic coffee beans are largely better than regular ones. You also have the strongest argument of all, the taste. In our opinion, organic coffee tastes far better than chemically-treated coffee.

If you want to enjoy fresh coffee, the very reason for buying coffee beans, you should try organic coffee.

The taste is incredible; it is exactly how coffee should taste and it is worth the very slight increase in price alone.

If you’re eager to try organic coffee now, then you may as well try the best in the UK and enjoy your first experience even more.

Here are our favourite organic coffee beans that are great for the growers, the environment and make a damn beautiful cup of coffee too!

 

What to Look for in Organic Coffee

1. Shade-grown

Coffee bushes naturally grow in the shade, under a forest canopy. However, in the 1970s farmers started growing coffee in the sun, helping them increase yields.

Sun-grown coffee requires forests to be cut down, making the growing worldwide demand for coffee a big driver in deforestation.

Where possible, choose shade-grown coffee as it doesn’t require deforestation.

One way to make sure the coffee you’re buying is to choose Rainforest Alliance certified products (see below).

2. Rainforest Alliance certified

Coffee beans that carry the Rainforest Alliance Certified frog logo come from coffee plantations that have met the Rainforest Alliance’s high environmental and ethical standards.

The criteria that must be met to receive this certification include the following:

• Permanent shade distributed homogenously throughout the plantation
• Cutting down trees is only permitted as part of a sustainable management plan
• Natural water channels must be protected
• Nobody under the age of 15 may be employed

Rainforest Alliance certified coffee farms typically generate higher revenues for their operators, proving that prioritising environmental sustainability can make economic sense.

3. Fairtrade

Fairtrade is a product label used to show that the farmers and producers of a product have got a good deal.

In the UK, the label is managed by the Fairtrade Foundation, a non-profit organisation.

Fairtrade coffee producers get paid more than the market rate, enabling them to meet higher employment standards.

 

Best Organic Coffee Beans in the UK

1. Coffee Masters Triple Certified Espresso Beans

As we said above, the coffee beans in a bag of coffee need to be at least 95% organic to get certified as organic. Well, Coffee Masters went a bit further than this and decided to go with 100% organic coffee beans!

These coffee beans are triple certified, as well as being Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance accredited.

The coffee beans themselves come from Peru, Sumatra, Ethiopia and Honduras.

This blend of different coffee beans creates a wonderfully drinkable coffee that is perfect for espresso or cold brewing.

Coffee Masters, based in Worcestershire, is an independent wholesale coffee company. They go to great lengths to ensure all of their coffee is the best it can be for us (the drinkers) and the growers and farmers.

They explore the world and create amazing blends while supporting the farmers in all the regions they work with.

This, combined with their incredible blends of coffee beans and their huge array of coffee and packages available, make them one of the best coffee companies in the world, not just the UK.

 

2. Cafédirect Fairtrade Machu Picchu Organic Whole Beans

The Machu Picchu coffee beans from Cafédirect are award-winning, organic and fairtrade.

Cafédirect’s tag line is “ridiculously good coffee”, and they are correct. Their coffee is nothing short of amazing. It tastes fantastic and is hugely versatile.

The coffee beans create a smooth, full-bodied coffee that has subtle dark chocolate overtones. So, it’s slightly bitter, but that’s why we love it.

We love the company too. Cafédirect invests 50% of their own profits into a charity that helps farmers all over the coffee growing world.

This charity is run by coffee farmers, for coffee farmers and helps them improve their businesses and grow their profits. This is hugely important for coffee lovers everywhere.

However, they also help the coffee growers improve the way they grow, so the coffee is only ever going to get better and better.

Cafédirect makes some incredible coffee that you have to try if you love coffee.

Not only that, half the profits from the bag you buy goes directly to helping coffee farmers all over the world sustain and grow their businesses, which is ridiculously awesome, just like the coffee.

 

3. Equal Exchange Organic Espresso Roast Coffee Beans

Equal Exchange is truly one of the most important coffee companies in the world at the moment. What they are doing should be the benchmark that every other coffee company should follow.

Equal Exchange make things simple, they work with coffee farmers across the world and pay them well, offering them a better life.

Also, this coffee is grown exclusively by women, helping provide women in coffee-growing regions with financial independence.

These coffee beans are also some of the best-tasting in the world too. They are a lovely rich and sweet blend that lends itself perfectly to espresso coffee.

These women know how to grow their coffee and do it extremely well. They have developed a beautiful blend here that you have got to taste.

The coffee from Equal Exchange is important. Yes, it tastes amazing, but it’s the work that is going on behind the coffee that makes this coffee so important.

Buying a pack of this coffee will provide you with some of the best coffee you’ll ever taste and support a project that will change the world forever.

 

Conclusion

We hope this look at the best organic coffee beans in the UK right now has given you some more coffees to add to your list of coffees to try.

If we had to pick just one of these products to recommend, it would be Coffee Masters Triple Certified Espresso Beans as they’re 100% organic, Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance accredited, and of course taste great.

To find out more about other organic and natural products, check out the rest of our website. We have loads of articles on here that help you find the best of everything you need!