Organic coffee has been steadily growing in popularity over the past few years. People are gravitating towards it for its environmental and health benefits, but those aspects alone do not tell the whole tale. In this article we will examine 4 ways to differentiate organic coffee from regular coffee.

1)      Look for the USDA seal – Since 2002 any food that is at least 95% organic can be labeled with a USDA seal stating its organic authenticity. If your coffee does not have the seal it may still be organic, but the presence of the seal is a guarantee.

2)      Have a taste – Many organic coffee drinkers swear that their coffee has a cleaner and richer taste than its non-organic counterpart. If you are served a particularly tasty or satisfying cup of coffee, question your host or server if they have treated you to some organically grown coffee. You may end up with an organic surprise when you hear their answer.

3)      Have a smell – Studies have shown that the aroma of coffee beans has a relaxing and sleep inducing effect. Organic coffee beans tend to have a purer smell than non-organic due to the vastly cleaner manner in which they are grown. Some feel that this natural growth results in an even cleaner and more relaxing aroma. The next time you have the chance, take a nice deep inhale of both and see which one relaxes you more.

4)      Don’t rely on the price – Contrary to well loved belief, organic coffee is not always pricier than regular coffee. While there is typically a higher cost involved in growing coffee organically, many specialty coffees that are grown non-organically can be much pricier. Additionally, many smaller coffee sellers do not have the name brand markups of the major players, so there is additional savings in that regard. While price may be a clue as to the lineage of the coffee you are considering purchasing, it is not a criterion on which you can solely rely.

While most consumers will be able to differentiate organic and non-organic coffee at the point of sale, this guide may help in identifying the difference in everyday life. Of course, you could always just question for organic, and ensure you are drinking the healthiest possible coffee option.

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