Top 5 Benefits of Selecting Sustainable Shade - Grown Coffee

Coffee is an excellent beverage that is consumed worldwide. It is one of the most important traded commodities in the world with the United States alone being the largest importer of coffee beans amounting to $6.3 billion in 2017. This accounts for 19.2 percent of the global import of coffee. Considering a number of health benefits of drinking coffee, many people start their day with a cup of coffee.

 There are two species of coffee- Robusta and Arabica that are grown in two different ways. While Robusta that represents a lower-quality coffee is grown in direct sunlight at lower altitudes using the style of intensive farming, Arabica the higher-quality coffee is cultivated in shaded areas in an Eco-friendly and sustainable way. Purchasing and consuming shade-grown sustainable coffee produced using the style of organic farming is not only beneficial to health but also to the environment and the economy.

Here is a checklist of 5 important benefits of choosing organic shade-grown coffee:-

1)    Better Taste

Coffee was originally cultivated in shaded regions that thrived in rain forests. However, with the increasing demand and a high volume of output of sun-grown coffee, more and more farmers are engaged in the production of the same that leads to ecological damage. Unlike the conventional instant coffee organic shade-grown coffee tastes better and consist of healthful antioxidants that provide crucial benefits to the health of consumers.

2)    Higher Quality leading to Health Benefits

When it comes to getting the health benefits from coffee, organic shade-grown coffee is surely the most preferred choice for people. As the organic shade-grown coffee is produced using compost, chicken manure or natural fertilizers they don’t contain harmful chemicals or fertilizers that may cause health damages in the long run. Thus, organically grown sustainable coffee would provide you various health benefits like lowering risk of Type 2 diabetes, protection against Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and liver cirrhosis.

3)    Providing a Good Habitat to Birds and Pollinators 

Shade grown coffee farms provide an excellent habitat to migratory birds that take shelter on large trees growing around the farms. These birds eat insect and thus reduces the use of pesticides. Besides this, the tree cover supports a number of pollinators from bees, butterflies to bats.

4)    Provides Pure Air and Recharges Underground Water Level 

The trees and dense vegetation required to cultivate shade-grown coffee purifies air and water and enhances the quality of both. It also recharged the underground water level and provides many secondary benefits to the local community.

5) Conserves Soil Health and Reduces Carbon Emission

As soil is nourished by organic fertilizers that retain the nutrients in the soil, shade-grown coffee maintains the health of soil for a long period. However, with the intensive farming of sun-grown coffee, soil loses its nutrients soon and this leads to more barren lands. Besides this, organic farming also reduces carbon emission that conserves the environment for long and helps in the growth and development of various species on this earth.

Considering the above benefits, it is quite prudent to select organic shade-grown coffee than the sun-grown coffee that may lead to health damages.