Organic coffee can be a bit more expensive than coffee that uses beans that are grown other ways. So what benefits is there that justify the additional cost of organically-grown coffee? First of all, the flavour. Free of synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, untouched by noxious chemical additives and preservatives, organic beans are grown using strictly organic farming methods. It stands to reason that organic beans are generally a rich, full and robust natural flavour since no artificial chemicals are allowed to interfere.

There's another big benefit to drinking organically grown beans. Because it lacks all those chemicals, the coffee is generally considered to be healthier than traditionally grown coffee. Organic coffee is rich with natural antioxidants and enzymes, providing significant health benefits to those who drink it.

Organically grown beans are also more environmentally responsible than coffee that is grown using all those toxic chemical additives. Before coffee may be sold as organic, it must be certified as meeting the following requirements: it must be grown on land without using chemical pesticides and other artificial substances for at least three years; a sufficient buffer zone must exist between the organic beans, and the closest traditionally-grown crop; and the coffee farmer must rotate crops to control pests, prevent soil erosion and prevent soil nutrient depletion. These practices protect and preserve the environment far better than traditional growing methods that use artificial chemicals.

So treat yourself to some fine organic coffee. With its rich, intense flavour and its benefits for your health, you'll be doing yourself a favour. But you'll also be helping to save our precious environment.