Organic coffee certification can be an expensive and lengthy process that includes inspections, paperwork, and annual fees. Starbucks partners with Conservation International to protect habitat for the bird that appears on their coffee label – through programs like El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve.

Fair Trade

In 2009, UCSD officially become a Fair Trade University through a program covering tea, coffee, sugar, chocolate and ice cream on campus. The goal was to keep these products affordable while supporting workers that produce them; even though Fair Trade coffee may cost more, its purchase allows farmers to continue providing for themselves and their families.

Starbucks stores offer an assortment of fair trade and organic coffees, such as its Cafe Estima Blend that is grown, processed and traded according to Fair Trade principles – featuring beans from Latin America and Africa for a bold roast experience. They also offer House Blend and Espresso Blend varieties.

Starbucks is an integral player in the Fair Trade movement, sourcing much of their beans from farms certified by the Fair Trade Federation to ensure farmers receive fair compensation and can invest in community development projects. Starbucks is also committed to improving lives of coffee farmers through various support programs including Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E) Practices, Farmer Support Centers and Forest Carbon Projects.

Though some have voiced objections to Starbucks’ involvement in Fair Trade, a large portion of the public supports it. Their commitment has helped raise awareness about the suffering endured by many coffee farmers worldwide.

Starbucks is one of the largest buyers of Fair Trade Certified coffee in North America and recently began providing more options to consumers seeking Fair Trade certified products, including single origin and dark roast varieties.

Starbucks is proud to participate in the Sustainable Coffee Challenge, an effort by coffee producers, retailers, traders, roasters and importers to make coffee sustainable as an agricultural product. This group seeks to preserve coffee’s future supply while supporting farmers and workers while conserving nature – Starbucks being among its founding members alongside Conservation International and World Wildlife Fund as industry leaders implementing a sustainability roadmap for coffee industry stakeholders.

Organic

Organic coffee is produced without chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides; instead it uses natural materials like coffee pulp and compost as fertilisers to increase soil quality and preserve its integrity. Furthermore, this organic farming practice helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as carbon emissions that contribute to climate change; moreover organic crops do not contain harmful chemicals which help safeguard both the environment and human health.

Organic coffee must meet stringent USDA standards in order to qualify as such, such as being grown on land that has not been exposed to synthetic chemicals during its three-year growth phase prior to harvest. Farmers must use natural weed removal methods such as using flame weeders, having animals consume the weeds or manually pulling them; in addition, organic coffee is typically shade-grown which preserves forest and balances ecosystems.

Coffee enthusiasts agree that organic whole bean coffee has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than regular beans due to being free from synthetic chemicals that alter taste, as well as ensure farmers are treated humanely and with respect.

Organic coffee comes from farms which were paid fair trade prices, using their premiums to invest in their communities and businesses, thus helping create sustainable economies and promote ethical living practices.

Starbucks Organic Shade Grown Mexico coffee offers an exceptional organic coffee to kick-start your day, hailing from El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas and grown at Coffee Agroindustrial La Esperanza which partners with Conservation International in protecting its ecosystem. Look out for it in a solid green package at your nearest Starbucks; former packaging had featured a picture of an exquisite bird, but they recently switched it for something simpler.

Decaf

Decaf coffee can be the ideal solution if you prefer limiting caffeine to just the basics – all while enjoying all its aroma, flavor, and warmth! Simply enjoy all of its benefits without being subjected to too much buzz!

Coffee offers many health and mental benefits for both your body and mind, such as improving blood flow and decreasing inflammation. But caffeine also has its downside: it may lead to jitters, racing heartbeat and difficulty sleeping at night. Because organic coffee beans are less likely to be exposed to pesticides during production than their non-organic counterparts (some large coffee farms use chemical pesticides in order to protect their beans against insects) organic beans tend to be harvested from smaller batches and offer superior quality beans than their non-organic counterparts.

When searching for organic, fair trade and decaf coffee, look for the “Organic” label on its package. Additionally, make sure that it has been certified by an independent agency such as EcoCert or USDA as both have strict regulations that must be abided by when growing and processing organic coffee; they also mandate that all coffee must come from farms certified as organic/fair trade/C.A.F.E Practices certified to receive certification.

Starbucks generally utilizes three methods for decaffeinating its Whole Bean and Ground coffees: The Direct Contact Method, Swiss Water Process and Natural Decaffeination Process. Starbucks predominantly employs Direct Contact as its decaffeination technique of choice when decaffeinating Whole Bean and Ground coffees; however two of their blends – Organic Shade Grown Mexico and VIA Instant Decaf Italian Roast- use Swiss Water Process instead; this chemical-free process requires beans to soak in water before being filtered until 99% caffeine has been removed before filtering is complete.

Clean Label Project recently conducted an investigation and discovered that certain brands of decaf utilized controversial solvent chemicals like methylene chloride and ethyl acetate to strip green beans of their caffeine, similar to paint removers or nail polish removers. If you want to avoid these harmful chemicals altogether, look for solvent-free, chemical-free Swiss water or certified organic labeled decaf options instead.

Whole Bean

Whole bean coffee is coffee in its purest form. Although the beans need to be ground, this process is less invasive than other methods for preparing the beans and is ideal for people who enjoy having direct contact with their coffee and have the time and dedication required for preparation themselves. In addition, whole bean coffee tends to be cheaper than pre-ground varieties.

Starbucks provides a selection of whole bean coffee offerings, which are readily available at most Starbucks stores. Of particular note is their Yukon Blend – an exquisite dark roast coffee boasting notes of caramelized sugar, bitter chocolate and charred cedar that has been an integral part of their lineup since 1975.

Another choice is the Breakfast Blend coffee. This lighter roast features notes of citrus, nuts and vanilla; both whole bean and ground options are available at many Starbucks locations; its beans come from farmers who practice Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E) practices.

Remember that coffee loses much of its flavor and aroma after it has been ground, and its surface-bound lipids begin to diminish over time. For optimal freshness, purchase whole bean coffee and grind it right before brewing your cup.

When purchasing whole bean coffee, it is essential that you carefully consider both your grinder size and desired brewing method. Once your beans have been measured out and ground into their appropriate sizes for brewing methods such as drip coffee pots or French presses, pre-ground may not work effectively.