The Best Organic Coffee Beans

Finding the best organic coffee beans has been our mission at Apostle Coffee since we started roasting back in 2016, and as an award-winning organic coffee roastery we like to think we know a thing or two about how you can ensure that the coffee in your cup is the best organic coffee around.

It’s not just about organic certification (although this is key), we believe that organic principles should be at the heart of a coffee producer and roastery’s practices, feeding into a wider approach to agriculture, manufacture and consumer choice.

So how can we identify the best organic coffee beans? Here’s 4 key things to consider:

#1 Organic Certification

The best organic coffee in the UK must be accredited by a recognised organic association (such as the Soil Association) and hold a valid certificate, if not the product on sale cannot legally be called organic. This certification is only provided once a producer or roaster has been physically inspected and ensures that they have met the various organic criteria as outlined by the association. This third-party accreditation safeguards the organic practices that are required throughout the coffee beans journey – from the farming and transportation of the green coffee beans, to the roasting and packaging before it make its way to customer’s homes.

#2 Other Accreditation

Why stop at just organic certification? Other things to look for in your hunt for the best organic coffee brands would be other accreditations that build upon their organic status. The best known of these would be Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and Bird Friendly coffee – three additional stamps of approval that show a coffee producer is working with organisations that further their positive impact for the environment, nature and wildlife and the individuals working across the wider coffee industry. At Apostle Coffee we’re also Ethy accredited. This means that our sustainable and environmental claims are accredited by a third party and we’re able to showcase our contribution towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

#3 Country Of Origin

Organic coffee beans can come from any coffee producing country, but it’s important to understand the economic and agricultural practices at play in many of the countries where organic coffee is grown. In many instances organic coffee is the only option for economically deprived countries, where fertiliser and pesticides are prohibitively expensive. This makes organic practices not only financially more viable, but paves the way towards a coffee industry that is built on sustainability and regenerative agriculture. At Apostle we work with coffee farmers in Peru, Honduras and Bolivia who are working towards this positive production model, empowering their workforces to engage and appreciate the biodiversity of their countryside and collaborating in co-operatives to provide a support network that provides education, protects livelihood and builds on these vibrant communities’ success.

#4 Awards

When it comes to the final cup of organic coffee, an award always highlights the best organic coffee beans around. Our own award-winning highlights include a Great Taste Award from the Guild of Fine Food and an IndyBest from The Independent. There are plenty of other awards to consider, but it’s always worth checking out a few customer reviews to make sure an organic coffee lives up to the hype!