Coffee
The term ‘organic’, in regards to coffee, means more than just not using artificial chemicals in the cultivation and processing of the coffee. In reference to coffee production, the word organic also means social responsibility, stewardship of the fragile rain forest environment and care for the farmers who cultivate the coffee trees.
A Cupful of Chemicals
Millions of kilos of pesticides, herbicides and other agro-chemicals are sprayed on coffee plants each year. These chemicals have been determined to be hazardous to the health of the fragile jungle environment, the peasant farmers who work the land and ultimately the consumer. By contrast, our organic coffees are from family owned and run farms where agriculture focuses on building healthy soil through composting, terracing, intercropping, biological pest control, shade trees such as mango, banana, chillies and cocoa, and a system of compatible, sustainable agriculture.
Environmental Awareness- Canopy Grown
Our organic coffee farmers have not clear-cut tracts of land to create coffee plantations. Instead our organic coffee is shade grown, the way coffee grows naturally in a jungle environment shaded by the tree canopy. This method produces a rich, quality bean, yet takes longer to mature and yields a smaller harvest. Shade grown coffee production maintains native plant and wildlife, prevents water contamination, protects the world’s vital rain forests and provides a habitat for many species of migratory songbirds. Our farmers have over 30 varieties of trees providing shade.
Social Responsibility- Fair Trade
Organic farming methods protect peasant farmers, their families and communities from the hazards of exposure to synthetic pesticides and the inevitable medical costs this exposure brings. Many organic coffee growers are Fair Trade certified, meaning the growers who produced the coffee were paid a guaranteed, fair wholesale price. This means that the small peasant farmer will not be exposed to price volatility. Stable prices mean stable communities and money for paved roads, schools, health clinics, electricity and healthy living conditions for farmers and their children.
Our coffee are currently being Fair Trade certified after having fulfilled all the requirements.
Coffee does have its benefits to health too!!
Caffeine: relieves headaches, reduces risk of asthma attacks and improves circulation.
Liver benefits: can help prevent cirrhosis and gallstones
Blood Sugar: can work to protect against type 2 diabetes.
Anti-oxidants: protects against free-radicals.
Storing and Buying Coffee
Storage
. For optimum flavour, beans should be purchased and used within a month.
. Storage for daily use can be in air tight food grade tins as those available in our stores.
. Beans can be stored longer term in a glass container in the freezer.
. Always keep in an airtight container as oxidation causes bitterness
Brewing
. Boiling causes bitterness. Coffee should be brewed between 90-96 degrees.
. Never re-heat coffee. Coffee holds its flavour best at 86 degrees.
. Use fresh cold water.
. Do not re-use grounds; the remains are bitter.
. Always use the correct grind for your coffee maker.
. Use 10g of coffee for every 180ml of water.
. Coffee can be kept hot for no longer than 20 minutes before taste fades.
Coffee at ‘Organic Foods And Cafe’
We sell coffee beans whole, freshly ground or in pre-packed packages.
Try our own freshly roasted coffee or you can choose to make up your own blend too.
We stock mountain coffee.
Our coffee comes mainly from Brazil & Cuba.
Decaffeinated Coffee
Our decaffeinated coffee is water steam decaffeinated which is to date the only method that has no carcinogenic chemicals used in the process.
(Regular drinking of chemically decaffeinated coffee is suspected to cause spontaneous miscarriages in early pregnancy)
Some of our brands
‘Gran Café’ – Award winning instant organic coffee.
All the coffee they buy are from a few selected family farms all in their third generation. The farms are in altitudes of over 1200meters above sea level.
All the coffee are shade grown with over 30 varieties of trees on the farms.
Gran Café is in the process of being Fair Trade certified.
O F & C
Our own brand personally bodied Brazilian coffee, it has a much milder aroma good for any time of the day.
Companhia Organica do Brazil (Cia Organica)
Paulo owns and runs this third generation farm foundedby his grandfather, Mr. Sulaiman Sogayar who migrated to Brazil from Lebanon with a dream to havea coffee plantation. In his case, it came true.
The estate is in an altitude of over 900 meters with the coffee all shade grown. The coffee is shaded by a whole variety of trees such as mango, avocado, oranges, beans, corn, bananas and others.
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| Coffee trees intercropped with banana |
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| Coffee beans on the branch |
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