Best Organic Coffee: The Best Natural Beans
Publushed by:
Lorraine PinnixLast updated:
March 3, 2022
BEST OVERALL
Peet’s Organic French Roast
USDA Organic Certified
100% Arabica
Signature flavor
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RUNNER UP
Lavazza Organic Tierra Coffee Blend
Rich bodied
Best for espresso
Roasted in Italy
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BEST FOR BUDGET
Mayorga Café Cubano Roast
Unique blend
Sustainably sourced
Slow roasting process
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There’s no better way to start your day than with freshly brewed coffee, and even better when you know that it’s organically grown. Organic coffee beans are heralded for their robust flavor and natural growing methods, and they could be the boost that your morning cup needs.
What is organic coffee? Organic coffee refers to a coffee made with organically grown beans, harvested without using any synthetic fertilizers, fungicides, or pesticides in the growing process. To be classed as organic, a coffee grower needs to undergo rigorous certification on their beans, and they usually cost more than regular ones.
Finding the best organic coffee can be a matter of trial and error as there are so many options available. To help you narrow them down to the morning brews worth tasting, we’ve hand-picked just five of our favorites and the only organic coffee brands you need to know about.
Making the switch to organically grown coffee can be daunting when you don’t know what you’re looking for. These coffee beans represent the best tasting organic coffee available and what it is that makes them so special, so you don’t have to search any longer.
Best Overall: Peet’s Organic French Roast
Short summary
Peet’s Organic French Roast is a dark roasted arabica bean, finely ground and packaged in a convenient 18oz bag. These organically grown beans are USDA certified organic and features flavors of smokiness, bittersweet, and caramel.
Peet’s Organic French Roast is a ground arabica coffee bean coming in an 18oz bag and with Latin American origins, giving you a rich and bold flavor.
As a USDA-certified organic coffee product, you’ll be pleased to know there were only natural resources used to grow these, and the Peet’s brand is committed to sustainable farming practices.
Having the coffee already ground can be a good or bad thing, depending on who you ask. When it’s finely ground, it’s convenient suitable for K-cups and other refillable filters, but not ideal for espressos and similar methods.
Being able to grind your own coffee means you can use it with a wider range of brewing methods, but this might not be everyone’s preference. This issue aside, most drinkers commented how hard it was to get a coffee this bold under a deep roast heat, but Peet’s does it all by hand to ensure the very best flavors.
This organic flavored coffee features notes that are caramel, smoky, and bittersweet, with the coffee flavor being at the forefront. On every bag that Peet’s processes, you’ll get a roasting date that vouches for its freshness and a guarantee that everything has been grown carefully and organically.
Peet’s Organic French Roast might be an expensive pick, but it’s worth every penny, and a more natural way to start your day.
Quick Facts
- Size: 18oz
- Flavor: Arabica
- Roast Level: Dark
Pros
- As these beans are roasted by hand, the flavors are dark and bold, which is ideal for people who appreciate good coffee.
- These coffee beans are certified organic for your peace of mind and no synthetic resources were used to grow or process them.
- It’s easy to find the roast date on each of their coffee packets so you know exactly how fresh they are.
- Sustainable farming practices give this brand the Climate Pledge Friendly certification through Amazon.
- The finer ground of these beans makes them the perfect accompaniment to a K-cup or similar brewing method, and without the effort of grinding them yourself.
Cons
- Price wise, this is one of the most expensive coffee brands we’ve found, so not the best for people drinking on a budget.
- The ground coffee beans don’t give a lot of versatility for how to use them and it doesn’t appear there are whole beans available.
- If you’re trying to make espresso with these, you’ll find the grind is too thin and not suitable, so the coffee will be watered down.
Runner-Up: Lavazza Organic Tierra Coffee Blend
Short summary
Lavazza’s Organic Tierra whole bean coffee blend comes in a 2.2lbs package, featuring a lightly roasted premium arabica bean. This rich-bodied Italian roast is USDA and Canada organic certified and grown sustainably.
Lavazza’s Organic Tierra Italian Whole Coffee Beans are an affordable favorite if you’re looking for naturally grown and processed coffee.
The 2.2lbs bag is perfect for offices and larger households of coffee drinkers, but can get stale after a month of being opened, so caution is needed. As certified organic by USDA, Canada, UTZ and Euro Leaf Organic, you can feel good about every sip.
As a whole coffee bean, the Tierra is best suited to espresso makers, and you will need to get the grind just right. The Italian roast means it’s lightly, and the final notes are honey, malt, and chocolate, while still getting a delicious coffee kick in there.
If you’re someone who prefers a bold coffee, this sweetness will probably be too overwhelming for you.
The beans are premium Arabica and have been sourced from Africa, Central, and South America, delivering a rich-bodied flavor. Not only are they grown organically but with sustainable farming practice, and Lavazza is committed to ensuring this with every bag of beans they sell.
If you’re looking for a more affordable way to enjoy organic coffee and don’t want anything too bold, the Lavazza Tierra is one of the best.
Quick Facts
- Size: 2.2lbs
- Flavor: Arabica
- Roast Level: Light
Pros
- This light roast is sweet and enjoyable for coffee drinkers who don’t want anything too bold in their beverage.
- Not only are the beans USDA certified organic but a number of other global organizations as well, vouching for their natural quality.
- Having a larger bag is great for people with a lot of coffee drinkers so there’s less time spent replacing the beans.
- The price per ounce of these organic coffee beans is quite competitive and it’s a much cheaper way to drink organically.
- With a lighter roast, this is a popular coffee style, and it has sweet notes that make it more enjoyable to sip on.
Cons
- These whole beans are best used for espresso machines where the grinder is included, and not that good if you’re looking for a K-cup friendly product.
- The larger bag is good for offices and households, but if you’re a solo coffee drinker, the beans will get stale quicker.
- Those who prefer a bolder cup of coffee won’t appreciate the sweeter notes that these beans come with.
Best for Budget: Mayorga Café Cubano Roast
Short summary
Mayorga’s Café Cubano Roast is an organic low acid coffee with a bold taste, coming in a large 2.2lbs bag of whole beans. The small batch, slow roasted Arabica beans are specialty grade, roasted in the US, and grown in certified organic farms in Latin America.
For a genuinely bold coffee taste with only the most natural harvesting processes behind it, look no further than Mayorga Café Cubano Roast.
As a low acid coffee, it’s gentle on your stomach but has a dark Cuban flavor to it that can be beaten. These 100% arabica beans are certified organic, non-GMO, and kosher, so there’s no need to worry about what’s in your morning cup of joe.
Using a small batch process to roast their beans has made all of the difference and gives it a unique flavor, however there’s no stamp on the packet indicating when exactly it was roasted.
People tasted notes of smokiness, vanilla, and sweetness, but with a huge coffee punch that stole the show. If you’re someone who prefers a lighter coffee, this is probably going to be too overpowering, even with the vanilla notes.
These beans were slow roasted and packaged in the US using a small batch process that makes a real difference to its flavor. However, the beans are grown in Latin America, with everything packaged being sustainably sourced with direct trade for your peace of mind.
Best of all, you can try Mayorga’s Café Cubano Roast without risk, as they give you 30 days to return the product and get your money back. For a full bodied and organic coffee bean experience, Mayorga has made one of the best.
Quick Facts
- Size: 2lbs
- Flavor: Arabica
- Roast Level: Dark
Pros
- As a low acid organic coffee, you’ll benefit from fewer stomach upsets if you’re usually sensitive to caffeine.
- Mayorga offers a money back guarantee on their beans which is hard to come by these days and indicates their high quality.
- The slow roasting process makes a noticeable difference to how the coffee tastes and it’s worth the extra effort.
- This falls mid-range in terms of price for organic coffee so it’s the perfect balance between affordability and taste.
- Espresso drinkers will find these beans especially ideal for their chosen brewing method, giving you the best access to their flavor.
Cons
- There’s no stamp indicating what date it was roasted on, so you might be uncertain about how fresh your bag of coffee is.
- The boldness of this coffee is undeniable and it's not a good choice for people who prefer lightly roasted beans.
- A larger bag of coffee like this is only a smart purchase for multiple coffee drinkers, otherwise, the beans will go stale.
Alternative: 365 Pacific Rim Coffee Beans
Short summary
365 by Whole Foods Market’s Pacific Rim Coffee Beans are 100% organic arabica coffee beans grown in the Pacific Rim and packaged and roasted here in the US, coming in a handy 1lbs bag of whole beans for you to make espresso and other drinks with.
The Organic Pacific Rim Coffee Beans from 365 by Whole Foods Market are a budget friendly way to feel good about the coffee you drink.
Made with 100% Arabica beans and featuring a Vienna roast, they’re slightly sweet with a bold coffee flavor and come in a large 1lbs bag to keep you going. The beans are sourced from small farmers in the Pacific Rim and roasted in the US, then sold exclusively by Whole Foods at a very affordable price.
There are a few minor downsides which is to be expected with organic coffee this cheap, and the most obvious is that they don’t specify supply information about where the coffee is grown.
You’ll also note that sometimes a packet of these beans tastes slightly altered from the last one you ordered, and this is likely because they’re sourced from a few different locations in the Pacific Rim.
The cheaper price of these beans means most people don’t mind, so just be prepared for a slightly unique taste whenever you get a new bag.
However, people still loved the flavors and found it especially popular when there were a number of different drinkers enjoying the coffee. With a Vienna roast and notes like caramel and chocolate, it’s a great blend of boldness and sweetness.
365 by Whole Foods Market has managed to create an affordable, tasty, and organic cup of joe with their Pacific Rim Beans so give them a try if you’re shopping on a budget.
Quick Facts
- Size: 1lbs
- Flavor: Arabica
- Roast Level: Vienna
Pros
- These organic coffee beans are some of the cheapest you can buy but still with an enjoyable taste that makes them seem a lot more expensive.
- As a medium to dark Vienna roast, it doesn’t cross the line into being too bold or coffee forwards.
- Customers loved that this was a coffee bean that seemed to suit a wider range of preferences so it’s great for the office or shared households.
- There are chocolate and caramel notes in every sip so it’s the perfect blend for people who like a bit of sweetness in their coffee.
- You can feel good about buying these beans as they’re Climate Pledge Friendly and Fair Trade certified as well.
Cons
- Some people have found that the flavors of this coffee can be inconsistent from one package to the next, so it’s worth keeping in mind.
- Only purchase what you need from this brand as some people have noticed a difference in flavor when it’s not fresh.
- There's no specific information about where the beans are grown, it just says 'sourced from multiple countries on the packaging and indicates it’s from the Pacific Rim.
Alternative: Peace Coffee Birchwood Breakfast Blend
Short summary
Birchwood Breakfast Blend from Peace Coffee is a medium roast blend of ground coffee beans coming in a small 20oz bag. The beans are 100% certified organic, sourced from small growers in Sumatra and Peru, and using fair trade for the deals.
Peace Coffee has created its unique Birchwood Breakfast Blend as a premium entry into the organic coffee market. The small farmer grown coffee beans hail from Peru and Sumatru and are then roasted in the US with a medium roast.
The beans are fair trade and ethically sourced, so it’s more than just their flavor that you can feel good about. Those wanting to make cold brew should shop around though, as the fineness of the grind doesn’t suit this process.
It’s obvious when you take your first sip of Birchwood Breakfast Blend that you’re paying for taste, as well as the quality of the beans. With a blend of Sumatran and Central American beans, it’s incredibly smooth, and some people reported that it changed the way they drank coffee.
Where they used to use a lot of creamer and sugar to dull the bitterness, they could scale back a bit and simply enjoy the flavors of Birchwood Breakfast Blend. The notes are chocolate and smoky, with a rich coffee taste lurking in the background, pleasing all types of coffee drinkers.
As well as being USDA-certified organic, these beans are certified by the B Lab which means they meet strict standards of social and environmental performance.
However, they cost almost double of some of the cheaper organic coffees with found, even if they create a delicious taste. If you’re willing to fork out for a good cup of organic joe by Peace Coffee, you’ll be rewarded with flavors and freshness that can be hard to find.
Quick Facts
- Size: 20oz
- Flavor: N/A
- Roast Level: Medium roast
Pros
- People reported using less creamer and sugar when they brewed with these beans because of the naturally good flavors.
- With only mild acidity it’s a lot gentler on your stomach and doesn’t have that bitter taste that many bean types do.
- As well as being organic, the beans are sourced from small growing farmers and with fair trade, so it’s an all-round good product.
- Coming in a smaller packet and with the freshest beans possible, there’s no way these will create a stale tasting coffee.
- The medium roast and sweet/smoky notes meant this coffee pleased a range of pallets and not just one type of coffee drinker.
Cons
- As the most expensive organic coffee on our list, the price point of this one might be out of the average drinker’s reach.
- Although marketed as being suitable for cold brew, some people found that it didn’t taste as good when brewed this way because it was ground too fine.
Organic Coffee FAQs
The world of coffee beans is a vast one and when you’re looking to switch to organically grown it can be even more confusing.
To help you determine what’s what with organic coffee, we’ve answered a few commonly asked questions that newcomers to this type of caffeine have.
Is Organic Coffee Free Of Pesticides?
Organic coffee is grown and processed without synthetic pesticides and other synthetic ingredients, which means the farmers have a more hands on approach to harvesting the beans.
These coffee beans undergo rigorous monitoring by independent bodies to get their organic certification so the process is taken seriously.
Does Organic Coffee Taste Better?
Although coffee flavors are a personal preference, most people agree that the organic alternative tastes better.
The absence of chemicals used in the growing and harvesting process means you’re only enjoying the natural and bold flavors of the coffee beans, and nothing else.
Does Organic Coffee Have Mold?
Mycotoxin is a common form of mold that can be found on coffee beans, and when consumed in large amounts it can be harmful to the human body.
However, quality organic coffee beans that have been processed correctly will only contain a minimal amount of this mold, if any, so there’s no harm to the drinker.
Why Does Coffee Make You Poop?
Some people find that their urge to use the bathroom increases after drinking a coffee, and this is due to contractions that happen in the colon, triggered by caffeine.
As these contractions occur, the contents of your colon are pushed towards the rectum, which makes it feel as though you need to poop.
Conclusion
If you’re trying to start your day with a coffee that you can feel good about drinking, going organic is the simplest solution.
With an organic coffee from our list of favorites, you’ll rest assured that you’re drinking the best, most natural, and tastiest coffee possible, without any of the downsides.
BEST OVERALL
