THE TRUTH ABOUT COFFEE
It’s Sunday morning. You just woke up. You’ve been thinking about your first cup of coffee since you went to bed last night… But you are dedicated to stabilizing your blood sugar and balancing your hormones, so you have a glass of water and a handful of nuts (protein + fat, hello) while the (non-dairy) milk froths and the coffee brews. Perfect timing - now you can enjoy your delicious cup of… pesticides?
Let’s begin. Coffee beans come from the coffee plant. Cherry-like berries grow (coffee cherries!), and inside are usually two beans per berry - but they don’t look like the coffee beans you’re picturing. They’re green! Green coffee beans are picked from inside the berry, then turn brown and delicious during the roasting process. Around 4,000 beans are harvested per plant. How many beans did it take to brew the cup of coffee you’re sipping? Around 70 beans per cup.
So - does organic really matter? I believe that if you are eating something or drinking something every single day - and potentially more than once per day - it absolutely should be organic. The why is simple: organic coffee is naturally chemical-free. Conventional coffee is sprayed with fertilizers, pesticides and heavy chemicals. Specifically: DDT (then) & glyphosoate (now). Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) is a synthetic insecticide that was developed in the 1940s. It was originally used for insect control in crop, plant & livestock production - as well as in commercial and residential gardens. By the ‘70s, the US Environmental Protection Agency pulled the plug and DDT was off the shelves due to it’s endocrine disrupting effects on the reproductive system as well as the liver & the brain (it’s a neurotoxin).
However, DDT was quickly replaced by Monsanto with a product called… Roundup. Roundup contains glyphosate, a non-selective, broad-spectrum (meaning, it kills everything) herbicide used to kill plants. What’s sprayed on the crops settles in the soil, and the sprayed mists drift into natural waterways. Studies show that upwards of 70% of tap water is contaminated with glyphosate, and that Americans have 10x the levels of glyphosate in our systems compared to Europeans.
What are the effects of glyphosate on the human body? Glyphoaste is a neuro-endocrine disruptor as well - wreaking havoc on the hormonal and neurological systems, stressing the kidneys and disrupting the gut microbiome. Glyphosate settles systemically in our tissues, and can effect overall cellular health. If you grew up in areas that are heavily sprayed with glyphosate or DDT-rich pesticides, or if you have always consumed conventional foods and beverages - your body works to detoxify on a daily basis. However, if the liver and kidneys have become overburdened due to chemical buildup - you may need a little extra help to clean out your filters.
Takeaway: Glyphosate is heavily sprayed on conventional coffee plantations. Choose organic for your at-home coffee endeavors! If you’re going to switch from conventional to organic, you may notice a much more pleasant aroma while brewing, and you may enjoy a much stronger cup of coffee. Without the pesticide-laden coating, you can experience the true flavor of the bean, and - yes - your coffee will likely be stronger!
Obviously, we are living in a newfound coffee culture, where it has become part of the norm to embrace coffee even more than we had before. I had never even had a cappuccino or an espresso before I met my husband - so embarrassing! Now I am addicted to frothed milk and I have an extensive collection of antique espresso cups. And I love grabbing a coffee out, while supporting local businesses! However - you guessed it - most coffee shops do not brew organic coffee.
For the Locals: ShorePour Speciality Coffee brews organic! ShorePour has two locations - one in Sea Girt, NJ (this location also has healthy vegan treats!) and one in Point Pleasant Beach in The Little Point Bookshop. ShorePour brews Booskerdoo organic & local coffee from Asbury Park, NJ. ShorePour’s signature Booskerdoo blends are both organic - & the espresso and decaf options are, too. So many amazing local coffee shops have popped up in our area in recent years. I have double checked all of my favorites - none are organic - except for ShorePour. ShorePour’s coffee (or Booskerdoo, if you’re up there) just tastes different - better. It’s so nice to know that entrepreneurs are taking the need for organic coffee options seriously in our community!
The decaf conversation. Do you know what’s wild? It takes 13+ different chemicals to decaffeinate coffee. The main chemical solvents used are either ethyl acetate or methylene chloride. Ethyl Acetate is an allergen that can cause drainage issues in the sinuses & throat. Methylene Chloride is a “suspected” carcinogen and the active ingredient in paint stripper. Usage has been banned - in paint stripper - by the EPA, but it’s allowed to be used in the coffee decaffeination process, as long as only ~10ppm are left in your coffee - this amount of paint stripping decaf coffee has been deemed safe by the FDA!
It’s important that there are caffeine free options for coffee lovers that are sensitive to caffeine, pregnant, dealing with anxiety, etc. There’s an easy alternative to the chemical decaffeination process that is used by some coffee brands that are in the know. It’s called Swiss Water Decaffeination. That’s right - water. No harmful chemicals or solvents used! Booskerdoo decaffeinates their coffee this way, and this is the decaf served at ShorePour. For at-home decaf - I always recommend Kicking Horse or Purity Coffee. These are my favorites for at-home caffeinated coffee, too, along with Four Sigmatic lion’s mane coffee for enhanced brain power (or if you’re jet lagged!).
Why we’re addicted! Caffeine is addictive. If you’re drinking the right type of coffee, enjoy it. And it is true that coffee contains antioxidants. But after the beans have been heavilty sprayed and roasted - are you really even getting those hearth healthy, skin loving, cellular energy boosting benefits of the actual antioxidants? Nope. Stick with organic, now you know!
The information provided in this post is for educational purposes only, and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Nutrition by Grace LLC recommends consulting a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.
