News on organic and fair trade coffee
What's so good about organic coffee? After petroleum, coffee is the most widely traded commodity in the world. That latte that you purchase costs more than what coffee workers make in one day. Four of the world's largest providers of coffee in the U.S. -- Procter & Gamble (Folger's), Sara Lee (Superior), Nestle (Taster's Choice) and Philip Morris (Maxwell House) have yet to be convinced that what's good for these organic farmers can also be good for business. Many special varieties of coffee grown in places like Nicaragua and Costa Rica can be found nowhere else. By necessity, they are shade grown and organic -- it costs money to deforest and to use pesticides. The result: a higher quality bean. Farmers receive twice as much for certified organic, fair trade coffee beans as for uncertified ones. As a result, cooperatives are able to build schools and clinics for members of their communities. This might never have been possible without the help of organizations like Transfair USA. Thanks to these efforts, even Starbucks has jumped on the fair trade bandwagon. You can visit their website below for a selection of their organic coffees. More good news for us: recent studies have shown that coffee consumption may help reduce the risk of certain diseases, including inflammatory/heart diseases and liver cihhrosis. This may be attributed to the antioxidants in coffee. In addition, it contains chlorogenic acid, which can reduce glucose in the blood. It's good news for otherwise healthy adults who enjoy drinking coffee!! BREWING THE PERFECT CUP 1. Use the freshest coffee beans you can find. 2. Light and air destroy flavor. Keep your coffee tightly sealed in a dark cupboard for no more than two weeks. Of course, the freshest coffee is made from freshly ground beans. Use your own grinder instead of the supermarket machine, which may contain residue from a variety of coffee beans. Beans can also be kept frozen until ready to use, which helps prevent oxidation, but make certain that you use a tightly sealed container to preserve flavor and prevent condensation. 3. Match the grind to your brewer. Finer grinds take less time to brew and produce a stronger cup of coffee. A medium grind is best for drip coffeemakers; espresso machines need a finer grind. 4. Start with 2 tablespoons of coffee for every 6 oz. of water. Adjust this recipe to suit individual tastes, and then measure consistently! The following websites offer great organic and fair trade coffee. Enjoy your favorite brew, and improve the lives of coffee farmers worldwide.
* Equal Exchange fair trade coffee
Try their Breakfast Blend, a combination of South American beans with full flavor and low acidity. Puravida Coffee - organic, fair trade, and shade grown.
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