I’ll admit that I rely on coffee to get me going every single day. My personal preference is iced coffee with a good sugary creamer. I make it healthier by adding ionized water to neutralize the acid. But, there’s a lot more to consider about drinking coffee besides its acidity because there is a high environmental and humanitarian cost to coffee production.
It turns out that coffee is a 2.25 billion dollar industry in the United States. The majority of coffee is produced in developing countries in South America. Why does this matter? Coffee needs sun in order to grow. But much of South and Central America is covered and canopy. Because of the demand for coffee, two and a half million acres have been deforested in Central America alone!
The straws and disposable cups that come from buying coffee at places like Starbucks are also a huge environmental problem. These plastics are largely not recyclable and end up adding tons of waste to our landfills.
Beyond the environmental impact, there is also the issue of labor. Did you know that Starbucks, and other major coffee retailers, only pay 10% of the retail value for the coffee that they purchase? Of course this is very unfair. Coffee farms and their workers are living in poverty while Starbucks is one of the most profitable corporations in the history of the world.
We’re not suggesting that you stop drinking coffee. But there are certifications that you can look for that address these issues. One is the Fair Trade certification. This ensures that coffee farmers are being paid a fair amount for their product.
The second certification you should look for is Rainforest Alliance. This ensures that the coffee you are purchasing is coming from areas that aren’t being deforested.
Yes, you will pay more to drink coffee that is Fair Trade and part of the Rainforest Alliance. But you will be making a stand against evil coffee corporations valuing their profits over the environment or humanity.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to give up purchasing from Starbucks and other major coffee retailers. Responsible coffee is only available in a very small market. You can find it at organic grocery stores and various websites online.
On the bright side, major coffee retailers mark up the price so much that you’ll actually be saving money by brewing your coffee at home. Even though responsible coffee costs more, it doesn’t cost as much a Starbucks charges for their coffee!
In conclusion, coffee production throughout the world comes with serious environmental and humanitarian issues. But you can solve these issues by looking for the right certifications. You can also make your coffee healthier to drink by brewing it with super alkaline water. This will neutralize the acidity and bring out natural flavors creating a smoother taste.
