The debate over organic vs non organic coffee is not new. It remains a hot topic among coffee enthusiasts worldwide, largely because coffee is one of the most traded commodities on the planet.
As of 2026, more than 23 billion coffee pounds are produced each year to meet consumer demand. And that includes both organic and non-organic coffee.
To identify the ideal coffee for you, it is vital to understand the similarities and striking differences between the two, thus I have decided to do this piece – organic coffee vs non-organic coffee.
Organic and non-organic coffees differ in their farming practices, environmental impact, and overall taste.
Additionally, organic coffee offers several health benefits, while non-organic coffee tends to come with more potential side effects.
It is now time to understand each of these two ‘unpopular’ drinks, one at a time. But before then, here are a few coffee statistics you might appreciate:
| Global Production | Global coffee production reaches impressive volumes, with the world generating over 10 million metric tonnes (approximately 23 billion pounds) of green coffee beans each year. |
| Market Trends | Worldwide consumption regularly surpasses 175 million bags, often exceeding available supply. |
| Primary Types | Arabica beans dominate the market with production exceeding 13 billion pounds, while Robusta beans account for the remainder of global output. |
| Main Regions | South America leads as the largest producing region at 41% of total output, with Southeast Asia contributing 27% and Africa accounting for 17%. |
| Production Projections | For the 2024/25 and 2025/26 cycles, worldwide production estimates range from 174 to 178 million 60-kilogram bags. |
| Top Producer | Brazil maintains its position as the world’s leading coffee producer, responsible for roughly 30%–40% of global output—approximately 9 billion pounds per year. |
| Yield Per Tree | A typical healthy coffee tree generates between 1 to 2 pounds of roasted coffee annually. |
What is Organic Coffee?
Organic coffee refers to coffee beans that farmers grow naturally without using artificial chemicals like herbicides, pesticides, or other additives.
The entire organic coffee growing process depends on the land’s natural fertility. But the soils must be free from toxins. Organic farmers also use natural fertilizers such as coffee pulps, chicken manure, general compost, and other organic manure.
According to the report by the Center for Tropical Agricultural Research, Latin America supplies 75% of the global organic coffee. The leading organic coffee producers are Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.
Based on how organic coffee is grown, coffee specialists view it as a healthy alternative. And that’s why they often recommend organic coffee to people instead of non-organic coffee.
To identify a certified organic coffee, check the USDA organic label on its packaging. If it’s not there, it means the coffee is not organic. Some producers write the percentage of organic ingredients in the coffee.
For instance, you may see a statement like, ‘the product contains 70%-80% organic.’
What is Non-Organic Coffee?
Non-organic coffee is the complete opposite of organic coffee. It is conventional coffee that involves using heavy chemicals during farming.
With this kind of coffee, farmers steep coffee seeds in synthetic fertilizers, fungicides, pesticides, and other additives to control infections.
They further use food preservatives, colors, and artificial food flavors to boost the coffee quality and attract customers. These conventional coffee practices affect the environment and the people in it.😪
When spraying the coffee crops with these chemicals, farmers expose themselves to health-threatening toxins. The chemical residues are further emitted into the air and water, causing pollution. The resulting coffee beans also contain traces of these chemicals.
Organic vs Non Organic Coffee: Striking Differences
When it comes to organic vs. non-organic coffee, you can never go wrong with your choices. That’s because the differences between the two are quite notable.
And so, let’s go through them and see who wins this battle.
Farming Process
The planting process is the first thing that tears the two coffee beans apart. Organic farmers have to work harder while making vital decisions at every farming stage. Through that, they get to support the health of their coffee crops.
The organic farmer only uses natural fertilizer. In most cases, it includes chicken or cattle manure, coffee pulp itself, or general compost. Chemicals and other additives are avoided throughout the entire farming process by all means.
Due to that, organic coffee farmers face a challenge in controlling weeds and preventing insects from attacking their coffee. And so, they use natural methods to control the weeds.
Some of their weed control options include using natural gas flame weeder to burn off the weeds, allowing domestic animals to feed on the weeds, and eliminating the weeds by hand.
On the other hand, non-organic coffee farmers use artificial fertilizers, chemicals, and other substances to increase yields.
They start their farming process by fumigating the soil to eliminate naturally occurring antifungals. After that, the farmers feed the soil with chemical fertilizers.
Before planting, the conventional farmer soaks the coffee seeds in fungicides and insecticides for some time.
And then, after planting the coffee seeds, they add to the irrigation water another pest control chemical to keep pests at bay.
But that’s not all; when the seeds sprout, non-organic farmers spray weedicides on them to eliminate the unwanted weeds.
Impact on the Environment
Since organic coffee utilizes only natural fertilizer, it comes with many benefits to the environment. The coffee crop emits less carbon and boosts the quality of soil and land at large.
Besides, organic coffee preserves soil moisture and other water resources. It further helps to generate biologically diverse agriculture.
Moreover, the growth of organic coffee mostly happens under the shade of trees with partial sunlight. The technique enhances healthy biodiversity within the coffee plant’s ecosystem.
However, these thick forests make organic coffee tending and harvesting tedious.
With conventional coffee, land degradation and pollution are inevitable. Those heavy chemicals and artificial fertilizers cause a lot of environmental damage.
Furthermore, non-organic coffee plants are hybrid, thus flourishing well in the open sun.
With that, conventional farmers have to clear forests to create open fields for coffee. Even though coffee production increases, the process demolishes the wild ecosystem.
Also, due to a lack of tree cover, an increase in water flow washes away topsoil, causing soil erosion and degradation. The rainwater further carries the used chemicals into the local water body, causing pollution.
Health Benefits and Side Effects of Both Coffees
Organic coffee is full of natural compounds and antioxidants that are beneficial to your health.
Some of the benefits include the fight against certain types of cancer, an enhanced immune system, and the elimination of wrinkles.
There is no scientific proof of organic coffee’s side effects.
But with non-organic coffee, the health effects are immense. Those affected include the farmers themselves, people around the area, and non-organic coffee consumers.
Consuming chemicals and toxins can cause cancer, birth deformities, and damage to internal organs.
Taste
Regarding taste, organic coffee is UNBEATABLE! Since the coffee is cultivated naturally under partial sunlight, it preserves its delicate flavors and aromas.
Even so, there are those regular coffee drinkers who love the taste of non-organic coffee. They will settle for it even if it is a matter of life and death. With that, I leave the taste matter to individual preference.
With all these differences, you may ask, are organic coffee and non-organic coffee similar in any way?
Well, both are coffee beans and undergo the same grinding process before brewing. But there is nothing significant that the two share.
Which Should You Buy?
After weighing the two coffee options, it is clear that organic coffee will give you more than just a tasty coffee drink. With it, you get more health benefits than conventional coffee.
Although you may spend more coins on organic coffee beans, you will get value for money in the long run.
Besides, you can opt to purchase an organic coffee subscription and save about 10%-15% on your coffee. In a year, you get to save about $400, which is a lot.
- Compare: Do Coffee Beans Go Bad?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I am sure you might appreciate answers to some of these burning questions on organic vs non organic coffee:
Is organic coffee better?
Organic coffee offers several advantages: it’s grown without synthetic chemicals, contains higher levels of antioxidants, and supports environmental sustainability. While organic certification alone doesn’t guarantee the healthiest cup, it does reduce exposure to harmful pesticides.
The choice depends on your priorities—if you value cleaner farming practices and reduced chemical exposure, organic is the better option.
Is organic coffee good for you?
Yes. USDA Certified Organic coffee contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that protect cells and boost immunity. Unlike conventional coffee, organic coffee is grown without health-harming pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides.
While coffee itself has documented health benefits, choosing organic reduces your exposure to potentially harmful chemical residues.
Is coffee sprayed with chemicals?
Yes, conventional coffee is heavily treated. Over 250 pounds of pesticides are used per acre of conventionally grown coffee, making it one of the most chemically-sprayed crops in the world.
Pesticides are applied at different stages of cultivation to control pests, fungi, insects, nematodes, and weeds. The US has relatively lax regulations, and there are no set maximum residue limits for many pesticides used in coffee production.
Are there pesticides in coffee?
Yes. 97% of the world’s coffee beans are non-organic and treated with pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other chemicals—and these chemicals make it into your morning brew.
After spraying plants with pesticides, residues may be present in the crop, which can lead to harmful health conditions in humans due to their toxicity.
While roasting may reduce some residue, choosing organic coffee eliminates this concern entirely.
Final Thoughts
So far, we have discussed the organic vs non organic coffee in detail, trying to look into everything there is to know about these two types of coffee drinks.
I believe all these similarities and striking differences between organic and non-organic coffee will help you in your purchasing decisions.
The ball is now in your court. If you choose organic coffee, you support sustainable methods, a healthy ecosystem, and superior coffee.
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