In a hurry? Our top pick for the best organic coffee is Lifeboost Optimist Light Roast.
If you want to really taste the nuances in your coffee, organic is the way to go.
Plus, then you avoid adding harmful chemicals to your diet!
If you’re ready to jump on board the organic coffee train, keep reading. I’ve rounded up the best organic coffee brands so that you can start sipping on a morning brew you love.
Let’s get to it!
Best Organic Coffee In 2022 (Top 11 Picks)
- Lifeboost Optimist Light Roast (Best Overall)
- Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee (Best for Experienced Coffee Drinkers)
- Kicking Horse Three Sisters (Best Budget Blend)
- Death Wish Organic Dark Roast (Best Dark Roast)
- Cameron’s Coffee Organic French Roast (Best for Espresso Drinkers)
- Subtle Earth Don Pablo Light Roast (Best for Light Roast Lovers)
- Tiny Footprint Organic Cold Brew Coffee (Best for Cold Brew)
- Camano Island Roasters Organic Sumatra Dark Roast (Best for Beginner Coffee Drinkers)
- Marley Coffee Organic One Love Ethiopian YirgaCheffe (Best for Drip Coffee Drinkers)
- Real Good Coffee Company – Dark Roast (Best Premium Coffee)
- Java Planet – Colombian Medium-Dark Roast (Best Aroma)
1. Lifeboost Optimist Light Roast
Lifeboost Optimist Light Roast is a richly flavored coffee with a subtle acidity.
Lifeboost coffee is grown under shade and in a humid environment. Thanks to this cultivation method, the coffee’s moisture remain intact.
These beans are irrigated with spring water and dried in the sun, which gives them a bright flavor.
This organic coffee is rich in antioxidants and is USDA-certified. This certification guarantees that there are no pesticides, toxins, or heavy metals. The beans are also picked by hand to guarantee quality of the bean.
The flavor of these coffee beans is simultaneously smooth and bold. It has a medium body.
The light roasting of this bean keeps the coffee’s natural flavors. That makes it super tasty, especially if you prefer to drink your coffee black.
Speaking of drinking your coffee black, the downside to this roast is that it’s actually not great with milk. Because it’s such a light roast, you lose the flavor of the beans when you start adding milk and sugar.
Pros
- Although it’s a light roast, it’s lower in acidity, so it’s good for people who like low-acid coffee
- They’re non-GMO, so there are no plant modifications in them
- Single-origin, so you get to experience a lot of subtle tasting notes
- They’re lightly roasted, so you can taste the coffee’s natural flavors
Cons
- They’re lightly roasted, so they don’t pair well with milk and sugar
2. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee, Organic
The beans used in Ethiopian Yirgacheffee Coffee are unique because they’re cultivated from wild Arabica coffee trees.
The plants are grown at elevations between 1,700 and 2,200 meters above sea level.
Actually, these beans are considered to come from the best high-altitude crops in southern Ethiopia. Since high altitude coffee beans have fuller, richer flavors, I’d say that’s a pretty good reason to buy them!
The flavor of this coffee is smooth with fruity hints of lemon, blueberries, and blackberries that please the palate. The light-medium roast of this blend allows the winey and fruity flavor tones to come through at their best.
This coffee has a bright acidity, which results in a complex flavor.
The only downside to these beans is their aroma. Even though it’s complex, it tends to be on the weaker side.
One thing that’s cool about these beans is that they’re roasted on a made-to-order basis. This ensures that the coffee arrives as fresh as possible to maintain the high quality of the beans.
It should be noted that its quality packaging guarantees a longer shelf-life for these beans.
Pros
- They’re harvested at high elevations, so you get a premium bean
- Has a complex flavor, so you get some very nuanced flavors in your coffee
- Roasts on a made-to-order basis, so the coffee stays as fresh as possible
- It has a light to medium body, so it’s great for beginner coffee drinkers
Cons
- The aroma is a bit weak, so your coffee’s scent lacks power
3. Kicking Horse Coffee Three Sisters
Kicking Horse’s Three Sisters blend is an incredibly aromatic coffee. The fragrance of this coffee is toasted coconut, sweet nuts, and chocolate malt.
At first, it may seem strong, but after two or three cups, you get used to it and fall in love with the bold taste.
In the medium roast of Three Sisters, there are almost imperceptible hints of bitterness. What you can feel from this blend is its acidity, but it’s not too strong.
The flavors of these beans are woody and earthy. As for the body of these beans, it’s pretty well-rounded and has a strong mouthfeel.
And of course, a nice perk of these beans is that they’re pretty affordable for an organic blend. Even if you’re on a budget, you can still enjoy these beans.
I like the packaging design because it references the trio from the Canadian Rockies. Despite the cool design, the packaging isn’t resealable, so I recommend using an airtight container to store the coffee beans.
Pros
- Fairtrade certified, so it’s ethically grown coffee
- Has a powerful aroma, so you get a rich-smelling cup of coffee
- There is no bitterness in the drink, so it’s a good pick for those that like smoother coffee
- Has a strong mouth-feel, so you get a well-rounded cup of coffee
Cons
- The bags aren’t resealable, so you can lose the aroma pretty quickly
4. Death Wish Organic Dark Roast
Death Wish coffee brand claims to have the strongest coffee in the world. To be honest, I was afraid to try this coffee because I thought it would taste too strong and bitter, but I was wrong!
This coffee is a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans. The flavor of these coffee beans is surprisingly smooth and not overly bitter. It can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
Despite the powerful flavor, you’ll still notice nuances associated with earthy aromas. A few of these include tobacco, damp earth, cherry, and dark chocolate.
As you might have guessed from the name, this blend’s caffeine content is at least double that of other types of coffee. So, it’s good for starting the day with an extra kick of energy.
However, that’s not great for individuals with heart problems. Plus, the roast date isn’t listed on the bag. So, you can’t guarantee the beans’ freshness.
Pros
- Has a high caffeine content, so you get a big energy boost for your day
- The bitterness is almost imperceptible, so you get a strong cup of coffee without it being overpowering
- Great value for the price, so it’s a good pick for those on a budget
- They’re low acidity coffee beans, so it’s great for those who like smooth coffees
Cons
- It’s high in caffeine, so it’s not ideal for people who have heart problems or caffeine-sensitivity
- It doesn’t say the date of roasting on its packaging, so it’s unclear how fresh the beans are
5. Cameron’s Coffee Organic French Roast
Cameron’s Organic French Roast is made of 100% Arabica beans which provide a wide variety of aromas.
The coffee beans are dark, moist, fresh, and easy to grind.
This coffee is handpicked and roasted in batches. Because of that, you get a super consistent roast.
As for the aroma, I can say that it’s very rich. The flavor of this coffee has hints of nutty and caramel flavor.
What’s not so great about this blend is that its two flavored varieties, vanilla and hazelnut, feel very artificial. Even though they claim to be organic, the taste might suggest otherwise.
Also, the brand doesn’t specify the coffee’s growing region. While that’s not essential, it can leave you to wonder exactly where the beans were sourced from.
Pros
- Is a robust coffee, so you get a full-bodied brew
- Has a rich crema, so it works well for espresso
- Has a super smooth texture, so it feels great in the mouth
- Is hand-roasted, so you get an even and high-quality roast
Cons
- The hazelnut and vanilla flavor varieties feel pretty artificial, so it’s best to skip the flavored blends
- The growing region isn’t specified, so it’s hard to tell where your coffee is sourced from
6. Subtle Earth Don Pablo Light Roast
Subtle Earth Organic Coffee is a great option for those who want a positive impact on our environment. It’s made with 100% Arabica beans grown in the region of Honduras. Its beans are grown under the shade and at high altitudes.
This product is USDA and CCOF-certified, so you’re definitely getting an all-natural coffee blend.
What’s cool about this coffee is its production method. To fertilize the coffee, they use the fruit that separates from the coffee bean. Thanks to that, the brew has a bold flavor and a full body with subtle fruity notes.
Other notes you can taste include dark chocolate, caramel, cocoa, and honey. Plus, the beans are slightly caramelized, which gives the lightly roasted beans a sweet aftertaste.
The one thing to note about this coffee is that experts have complained its quality has decreased in recent years. So, it might not be as premium a pick as some of the other organic blends out there.
Pros
- Roasted to order in small batches, so you get fresh coffee
- They’re lightly roasted beans, so you get a sweet aftertaste
- The coffee’s fertilization process is natural, so it brings out fruity flavors in the beans
- GMO-free, so there are no additives or chemical processes involved
Cons
- The quality has decreased in recent years, so it’s not as premium as some other organic blends
7. Tiny Footprint Organic Cold Brew Coffee
If you love cold brew coffee, you might want to look into Tiny Footprint’s Organic Cold Brew Coffee blend.
Tiny Footprint shade-grows its beans that are 100% Arabica from Ethiopia. It’s certified organic and fair trade. It’s also the only company in the world that produces carbon-negative coffee!
In case you’re not sure what that is, it means that the company produces less than zero carbon waste when producing coffee.
Apart from this, the brand contributes to the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation with each sale of coffee made. This means that with the profits, the reforestation of the Cloud Forest in Mindo, Ecuador, is helped.
In terms of taste, this coffee has distinctive notes of walnut, blueberry jam, apple, caramel, and chocolate. It has a sweet flavor that balances very well with the notes already mentioned.
Unfortunately, despite the balanced flavor, the coffee has a weak aroma. If you love that rich coffee scent in the morning, this coffee isn’t the best pick.
Pros
- The brand uses carbon-negative production processes, so it’s super environmentally friendly
- The flavors are sweet and subtle, so it’s perfect for cold brew
- The company donates to the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation, so it gives back to the community
- Consists of 100% Arabica beans, so you get a very pure flavor
Cons
- Low in aroma, so you won’t get a rich-smelling brew
8. Camano Island Roasters Organic Sumatran Dark Roast
Camano Island Roasters only produce organic coffee, so they’re a brand you can trust if it’s chemical-free brews you’re after.
This particular roast is a robust coffee with a great repertoire of fruit flavors and light touches of smoked notes and caramel. The body is complex, and the aroma is reminiscent of dried fruits and nuts.
This coffee tastes sweet and persistent, and the beans have a low acidity level. It’s an ideal option for those who are newly entering the world of coffee and aren’t used to strong, intense flavors.
To guarantee the roast’s freshness, the product gets shipped out 48 hours after roasting. Plus, since they’re certified special-grade beans, you get a super high-quality brew.
The downside to this coffee is that it’s pretty low in caffeine. If you’re after a morning pick-me-up, this isn’t the best choice.
Pros
- Single-origin, so you can really taste the flavors in each cup
- Shipping within 48 hours after bean roasting, so you get a fresh brew
- The beans are the top 1% special grade, so they’re premium beans
- The flavors are smooth and balanced, so it’s great for those who are new to coffee drinking
Cons
- It’s low in caffeine, so it’s not ideal for those who want a caffeine kick in the morning
9. Marley Coffee Organic One Love Ethiopian YirgaCheffe
Bob Marley’s legacy inspired this organic coffee blend. The coffee is grown sustainably and ethically and is sourced 100% from Ethiopia.
The beans are roasted by hand before being shipped out as pre-ground or whole beans. They’re always sent in environmentally-friendly packaging.
Another cool thing about this coffee is that it has the British Soil Association Organic certification. This certification handles reviewing even the smallest detail of the coffee beans, from the farm where it was grown to the packaging used.
The flavor of this coffee is so smooth that it glides across the palate, producing a very pleasant sensation. The flavor notes that One Love possesses are fruity, wine, and aromatic.
Due to its medium body, this is a great pick if you enjoy drip coffee.
The only problem with the blend is that it expires quickly. As a result, you’ll need to drink it about 3 weeks after opening a bag.
Pros
- Perfect for drip coffee
- Its packaging is organic and doesn’t contain any type of transgenics
- It has a medium body with fruity, aromatic, and wine nuances
- Subtle scent
Cons
- Expires quickly, so you should drink it within 3 weeks of opening it
10. Real Good Coffee Dark Roast
Real Good Coffee’s Dark Roast is made from 100% Arabica beans sourced from Sumatra. They’re quite strong, so they can be quite bitter for those who are not used to a strong taste.
This dark roast is rich and smooth where you can feel toasty hints of bell pepper, lemon, and cedar. That’s a lot of variety, especially if you’re already an avid coffee fan.
Their beans are roasted on small sustainable farms. The beans of this coffee are suitable for most coffee machines, such as a French press, espresso machine, and drip machine, among others.
The beans also come in recyclable containers for a positive contribution to the planet. Although that’s not a must-have when bean shopping, it’s certainly a nice perk!
The downside here is that these beans don’t specify their roasting date. That means they don’t have a great freshness guarantee.
Pros
- It’s a full-bodied bean, so it pairs well with milk and flavor additives
- Made from 100% Arabica beans, so you get a balanced brew
- Single-origin, so you can really taste the nuances of the beans
- Packaging made with 100% recyclable materials, so you can give back to the environment
Cons
- It doesn’t specify the roasting date of the bean, so you can’t be sure how fresh they are
11. Java Planet Colombian Medium-Dark Roast
Java Planet’s Colombian Medium Dark Roast beans are grown under the shade of guava and banana trees on bird-friendly farms. Because the beans are grown in higher altitudes, they have a better shelf life.
They use 100% Arabica beans which have floral and chocolate notes. The flavor is pretty intense, with a high level of caffeine. Despite that, they’re not very acidic.
When tasting these beans, you can feel a flavor of allspice at the beginning. As the flavor evolves, you feel dark chocolate with a subtle touch of walnut at the end.
These hints are mixed with a smoky and nutty aroma. As a result, you get a complex taste that’s great for coffee pros.
The downside to this coffee is that it’s pretty heavy on the tongue. This can make it a bit heartier than some people might want.
Pros
- Has a rich aroma, so you get a potent-smelling cup of joe
- Balanced and complex flavor profile, so it’s great for coffee connoisseurs
- Acidity levels are minimal, so it’s smooth on your palate
- Roasted in small batches, so you get an even and consistent roast
Cons
- Has a heavy texture, so it can be a bit weighty on the tongue
Choosing the Best Organic Coffee: A Complete Buying Guide
In this sea of organic coffee beans, there are always some better than others.
To help you weed out the best from the rest, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here’s what to look for when selecting the best organic coffee brand for you.
Trusted Certification
There are different organic standards that many people have not even heard of. Standards may also vary depending on where the coffee is grown.
For example, in the US, the standards for certification are set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
If your coffee has the “USDA certified organic” label, then you know that the product contains at least 95 percent pure ingredients. This doesn’t include water or salt.
Many coffee producers (such as Lifeboost coffee), built their branding around these standards. It serves to show they’re dedicated to making their coffee as healthy as possible.
Many people believe that organic coffee beans are 100% free of pesticides, but the truth is that this is not completely prohibited. Pest control mechanisms and natural fertilizers can still be used.
Although the USDA certification is one of the most popular, it’s not the only one out there. There are also OCIA International and Quality Assurance International (QAI), to name a few.
Organic coffee growers also have to meet the standards of the countries where their coffee will be marketed and sold.
IN A NUTSHELL
When shopping for coffee, look into the certifications of the country you’re sourcing your beans from. That way, you make sure you’re getting organic coffee beans that really are up to snuff.
Roast
Another thing to think about when shopping for organic beans is the roast. You see, organic coffee must be roasted in a roaster that only produces organic beans.
This is because if it has been used with non-organic products, there could be chemical residues that are transferred to the organic coffee.
Another difference is that in an organic roaster, you cannot add any substance to improve the performance of the roaster. No additives or other chemicals are added during the roasting process.
Of course, you’ll also want to think about the type of roast as per your preferences. The most common types of regular coffee roasts include:
- Light roast: In this type of roasting, the coffee bean is cinnamon in color and has no oil on the surface. It’s ideal for filter coffee machines. It has a pronounced acidity and highlights the original flavors, such as fruit and herbs. It’s higher in caffeine than a dark roast if measured by volume.
- Medium roast: The bean, at this point, has a darker hue, and it makes a balanced brew.. Similarly, with this type of roasting, the beans don’t have oil on the surface. This type of coffee is perfect for filter coffee machines as well as for espresso machines.
- Dark roast: The color is almost black and shiny due to the heavy amount of oils present on the surface. It’s the most suitable for espresso machines. It has notes of chocolate or cocoa. There will be more bitterness.
IN A NUTSHELL
When choosing the roast, think about what type of coffee profile you’re looking for. That way, you’ll be able to pick beans that suit your palate.
Ground vs Whole Bean
Another factor to think about when hunting down the perfect coffee beans is whether you want ground or whole beans.
Ground coffee is the most consumed because it saves us a lot of time when preparing our cup of morning coffee. If you have a grinder at home, then you will probably opt out for a pre-ground coffee.
Thanks to vacuum packaging, many coffees can retain their aromas and flavors. Beyond that, ground coffee is the cheapest option.
On the other hand, whole-bean coffee stays fresh for much longer. And, since you’ll grind them right before brewing your coffee, you get a much stronger aroma.
IN A NUTSHELL
If you already have a grinder, the answer is simple: whole coffee beans are probably best. On the other hand, pre-ground beans are likely the best choice if you don’t have a grinder or are in a hurry.
Verdict
The best organic coffee is definitely the Lifeboost Optimist Light Roast. This blend is organic, USDA-certified, and heavy in antioxidants.
Besides that, the coffee’s light roast and low acidity make it ideal for both beginner and advanced coffee drinkers!
Of course, if you decide not to go with this coffee, that’s up to you. Just make sure to look at the certifications, roast, and grind when hunting down organic coffee in the grocery store.
