Foods labelled organic tend to be perceived as healthier than their non-organic counterparts in terms of health benefits, with coffee being no exception. Consumers looking to contribute their part towards saving the environment and supporting those who cultivate the beans can find many options ranging from instant joe, K-Cups and whole bean varieties – but is fair trade organic really the healthiest?

Coffee is one of the world’s most beloved beverages and the second-most traded commodity. Unfortunately, much of it is produced by large corporations that clear cut forests to expose crops to sunlight before dousing them with pesticides and chemical fertilizers – creating delicious coffee products but often at great cost to everyone involved – such as farmers harvesting beans who may only receive pay that falls far short of market rates, making their efforts impossible for survival.

Fair Trade certified coffee is produced by small farmers organized into cooperatives to form support structures, negotiate fair prices for their product and receive a premium over its market price that allows them to invest back into their communities, improve farming techniques and offer social services such as education and healthcare.

Fair trade coffee offers many advantages over its conventionally produced counterpart, including being more flavorful. Furthermore, its antioxidant levels tend to be greater and its concentration of immune system-related compounds greater.

Fair Trade coffee not only offers more flavor and nutrients than conventionally produced beans, but it’s often produced in an eco-friendly manner too. While conventionally grown coffee is often planted directly onto fields that expose it to elements and are susceptible to pests and weeds, Fair Trade varieties often grow beneath shade trees where they are protected from the sun’s heat while flourishing freely.

Regarding its environmental impacts, fair trade coffee is generally seen as being better for the planet than conventionally grown varieties due to requiring no pesticides and chemical fertilizers which pollute water supplies and destroy soil health. Furthermore, large shade trees that cover coffee plants double up as bird habitats while helping control pest populations.

Although debate rages about which form of coffee is truly healthier, both organic and fair trade coffee have positive impacts on people and planet. If you want a cup of organic Fair Trade Fair Exchange Coffee- whether instant or whole beans- it could well be worth your while and money!