The word "organic" has become quite common these days. Organic means "organically grown." Organic farming refers to farming methods (cultivation methods) that are carried out in a natural environment without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. How does organic coffee differ from regular coffee? We will explain in detail below.

■What is the difference between organic coffee and regular coffee?

Organic coffee is "coffee grown organically." While regular coffee often uses pesticides and chemical fertilizers, organic coffee uses less of these.

Hearing this, you might think, "Is organic coffee better for your body than regular coffee?", but organic coffee is not particularly good for your body. This is because the purpose of organic coffee is simply to "not harm the global environment."

Coffee beans sold in Japan are already guaranteed to be safe for the human body, having passed strict standards. Organic coffee has the following additional regulations and is checked by a certification agency:

[Conditions for organic coffee]
- The land where the coffee is grown must not have been treated with pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers for the past three years.
・No additives or processing aids are used during the post-harvest and processing stages of coffee

Because organic coffee meets these strict standards, it can be thought of as "coffee that is not only basic safe, but also has high added value." In Japan, organic coffee is marked with the "Organic JAS Mark."

■ The good things about organic coffee

As mentioned earlier, the advantage of organic is that it "does not have a negative impact on the earth," so it does not particularly affect the taste of the coffee. People who are particular about "cultivation methods" tend to choose organic coffee.

However, there are cases where organic farming brings out the characteristics of the coffee even more. There are some owners and manufacturers who use this as a selling point, so read the descriptions of each manufacturer carefully to find the coffee that suits you. Of course, organic coffee is also perfect for those who want to avoid putting chemicals into their bodies as much as possible.

Furthermore, it is believed that coffee grown naturally has a higher content of polyphenols, furanooids, vitamins, minerals, etc. Polyphenols are found in large amounts in dark-colored plants, and the types vary depending on the pigment. The polyphenol contained in coffee is called "chlorogenic acid," and has the effect of making it easier to burn fat.

■ Recommended organic coffee

Among organic coffees, we especially recommend "specialty coffee," which is safer to drink. This is organic coffee that is produced under particularly strict controls, and is a product of the commitment of each producer, importer, and roaster. Many of these have excellent flavors and tastes, so if you're interested, we recommend giving them a try.

This "specialty coffee" can be purchased at specialty coffee bean stores or online. Try listening to an explanation of organic coffee at a specialty coffee bean store or checking the label online. You will be able to better appreciate the "strength" of the coffee beans.

■ Coffee ware to enjoy more