Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. The average American consumes three cups of coffee per day, and many people drink even more than that.
But are you getting the full experience out of your daily cup? If you’re buying cheap beans from a grocery store or fast food restaurant, then probably not!
When it comes to coffee quality and flavor, there’s a huge difference between regular and specialty brands.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| The true cost of cheap coffee includes negative social, economic, and environmental impacts. |
| Sustainable coffee farming practices prioritize environmental protection and social equity, leading to better quality coffee. |
| Choosing sustainable coffee can support farmers’ livelihoods, protect the environment, and result in higher quality coffee. |
| Fair trade coffee certification ensures that farmers receive fair prices for their products and work under safe and humane conditions. |
| Consumers can make more informed and sustainable coffee choices by choosing organic, fair trade, and sustainably produced coffee, minimizing wastage, and choosing reusable or recyclable coffee cups and packaging. |
The Environment
Today, coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world, after oil. And with good reason: it’s a delicious way to start your day (or end it).
But there’s more to consider when buying coffee than just its taste and aroma. It turns out that our favorite brew has an environmental impact on the planet as well. In fact, some experts believe that coffee may be contributing to climate change more than we thought!
Sustainable coffee farming practices not only benefit the environment but also lead to better quality coffee. Our Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Coffee Farming Practices provides information on how to make ethical and sustainable choices when it comes to coffee consumption.
Fair Wages For Farmers
As we’ve seen, there are many reasons why fair wages for farmers is an important issue in the coffee industry. But it is not just a problem in coffee alone.
Fair wages for farmers is also an issue in many other industries, including clothing and jewelry making. And it’s not just a problem in developing nations; developed countries like America struggle with this as well.
This means that you have choices: You can choose to buy coffee that supports fair wages and sustainable farming practices, or you can choose not to pay more than you have to for your daily cup of joe (or tea or whatever else).
The choice isn’t just about what you eat or drink; it’s about who gets paid for their work so that they can feed their families and send their kids to school—and whether those people live or die from malnutrition or illness because they don’t have access to nutritious food through their own farms’ output.
Quality Of The Beans
If you’re looking to save money on your morning cup of coffee, you may be tempted by the idea of buying cheap beans. But is it really a good idea?
Coffee beans are one of the most important ingredients in making a high quality cup of coffee. While some things like temperature and water quality can affect how your brew tastes, there’s no getting around the fact that the quality of your beans will have an enormous impact on how delicious it turns out.
Choosing sustainable coffee has several benefits, including supporting farmers’ livelihoods and protecting the environment. Our article on The Surprising Benefits of Choosing Sustainable Coffee takes a closer look at the positive impacts of sustainable coffee production.
Picky Palates
Coffee is a personal thing. You may love strong, dark-roasted beans with a smoky flavor and an intense aroma. Or maybe you like to keep it light and sweet.
If so, there are certain roasts that will be up your alley. But not all people are as picky about their coffee—and this can impact how much they spend on their daily cup of joe.
If you’re one of those people who doesn’t have any specific preferences when it comes to coffee, then you probably don’t mind drinking whatever’s available at the local gas station or convenience store.
But if there’s one thing we’ve learned from Julia Childs (and countless other food experts), it’s that first impressions matter; if something tastes bad or feels weird going down your throat straight away, chances are good that feeling won’t go away after just one sip! People who have been in this situation know what I’m talking about—the disappointment lingers long after the drink has left their mouth…
Third-Wave Coffee Shops Are The New Starbucks
You might be more familiar with the term “third wave coffee,” which refers to a growing trend among coffee shops that supply high-quality beans and brew them using more traditional methods.
Third wave coffee is often more expensive than Starbucks or other similar chains, but it’s worth it for the quality of your morning cup o’ joe.
That’s not just because you’re getting fresh beans (and not stale ones that have been sitting in storage for months).
Third wave shops are also usually dedicated to sourcing single origin beans instead of blends (and they’ll tell you exactly where your coffee came from), which means no two cups of joe will ever taste exactly alike—they may all be delicious, but they’ll each have their own subtle differences based on where they were grown.
Also, while we’re talking about beverages: Did you know that pour over methods are still used at many third wave coffee shops? The process involves pouring water over freshly ground grounds one by one into a filter cone until you’ve got your desired strength of brew—no machine necessary!
The coffee industry has a dark side that many consumers are unaware of, such as labor exploitation and environmental damage. Learn more about these issues by reading our article on The Dark Side of the Coffee Industry: What You Need to Know.
Quest For The Perfect Cup Of Joe
When it comes to coffee, there’s a lot that goes into creating your perfect cup. There’s the roasting process, which determines how much of the bean is caramelized and how much is left green-tasting; then there’s the brewing process, which affects how long water stays in contact with grounds during extraction; and finally, there are factors like grind size and temperature that play an important role as well.
But first things first: what kind of bean are you using? For a better tasting brew than what you might get from Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts, start by choosing quality beans from local roasters—which may also mean paying more than $5 per pound for them (but trust us—it’s worth it).
Beans from specialty stores tend to be less processed than commercial ones; this means more flavor in each sip!
Sales Of Other Types Of Beverages Going Down As Coffee Sales Rise
It’s no wonder why coffee sales are up. It’s a $30 billion industry, and it seems like we’re all drinking more of it than ever before. The most recent data from the NPD Group shows that in 2015, Americans drank an average of 2.25 cups of coffee per day—that’s one cup per person per week!
That’s up from 2.19 cups in 2014 and 2.15 cups in 2013, which is good news for people who sell coffee because they can make more money off your addiction to their product.
Thankfully for those who have been worried about the health effects of their daily caffeine fix (and those who simply want something new), there may be a solution: tea! Although tea has never been as popular as coffee in America (we drink 1% less tea than our European counterparts), the percentage of Americans drinking this beverage has increased by almost 10% since 2001 according to Gallup polls conducted between 2006-2016).
Sales figures show that while bottled water consumption nearly doubled during this same period (from 17% to 32%), tea consumption went up less than half as much–from 12% to 16%.
Coffee production can have a significant carbon footprint due to factors such as transportation and packaging. Our article on 15 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint with Your Coffee Choices provides practical tips on how to make more sustainable coffee choices and reduce your carbon footprint.
Coffee Is Becoming More Affordable.
This brings us to the most important question: is cheap coffee actually worth it? In short, no.
It’s not just about taste—in fact, it’s not about taste at all. Coffee is becoming more affordable for everyone and that’s great news for people who love a cup of joe but don’t have much money to spend on fancy blends.
But if you’re buying your favorite brew from store brands or bulk bins (or worse yet, a discount grocery chain), you’re probably sacrificing quality for cost savings in ways that go beyond flavor.
The fact is, there are trade-offs when we consider how to save money on coffee—and those trade-offs are worth paying attention to so you know what you’re getting into before committing to an expensive habit!
More Farmers Are Embracing High-Quality Coffee Production Methods
This is a win for everyone involved; while the farmers get to make more money, you get a better cup of coffee. This is good for your health and the environment as well.
High-Quality Coffee Production Methods
| Production Method | Characteristics | Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Trade | Encourages direct relationships between farmers and roasters; fair prices for farmers; higher quality beans | Counter Culture Coffee, Intelligentsia, Blue Bottle Coffee |
| Shade-Grown | Grown under a canopy of trees; protects biodiversity; produces higher quality beans | Equator Coffees, Allegro, Intelligentsia |
| Organic | Produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides; protects soil and water quality; higher quality beans | Kicking Horse Coffee, Allegro, Equal Exchange |
More farmers are embracing high-quality coffee production methods that prioritize sustainability and quality. This includes direct trade, shade-grown, and organic production methods, which offer several benefits.
Direct trade production encourages direct relationships between farmers and roasters, promoting fair prices for farmers and producing higher quality beans. Brands that prioritize direct trade include Counter Culture Coffee, Intelligentsia, and Blue Bottle Coffee.
Shade-grown production involves growing coffee plants under a canopy of trees, which protects biodiversity and produces higher quality beans. Brands that use shade-grown production include Equator Coffees, Allegro, and Intelligentsia.
Organic production methods involve producing coffee without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, which protects soil and water quality and produces higher quality coffee beans. Brands that prioritize organic production include Kicking Horse Coffee, Allegro, and Equal Exchange.
High-Quality Coffee Brands Are Working To Produce Less Waste And Be More Eco-Friendly
One of the best things about high-quality coffee brands is the fact that they’re working to reduce the amount of waste they produce.
All around the world, we’ve been seeing more and more eco-friendly initiatives from companies like Starbucks, who are striving to make their products more sustainable. For example, in 2018 Starbucks announced plans to eliminate plastic straws from every store by 2020.
This is a great step in the right direction for reducing waste and encouraging people to use reusable straws instead of disposable ones—but it also illustrates one clear downside of higher quality coffee: all those single-use items have to come from somewhere!
This means that even though you might be making a smaller impact on your wallet than you would if you bought cheaper beans at your local gas station (wherever it may be), there could still be some environmental costs associated with drinking coffee at home—and this makes sense when you look at how much coffee companies spend on advertising alone each year (according to Statista).
Fair trade coffee certification ensures that farmers receive fair prices for their products and work under safe and humane conditions. Learn more about the benefits of fair trade coffee and how to make ethical coffee choices by reading our article on When to Choose Fair Trade Coffee for a Better World.
More People Prefer Home Brewing Over Hitting Up Starbucks Every Morning
While there are plenty of people who have a bit of nostalgia for the old days, when Starbucks was just a little coffee shop in Seattle, more and more people are now opting out of the expensive concoction that is overpriced, mass-produced coffee. Instead, they’re making their own at home.
The reasons for this vary depending on who you ask—some say it’s cheaper; some say it’s easier; others say it’s a social activity—but whatever the reason, there are many ways to make your own delicious cup at home without breaking your budget or sacrificing quality.
There’s A Huge Difference Between Regular And Specialty Coffee Beans
While there is certainly a difference in taste between specialty and regular coffee beans, it’s not as dramatic as you might think. Specialty coffee is just a more refined version of the basic bean we all know and love.
The roasting process that makes specialty beans so much tastier also happens to make them more expensive. That said, there are still several other factors that can influence the price of your cup:
The quality of the bean itself plays an important role in determining its price point; higher-quality beans command higher prices for obvious reasons (if you’re going to spend time and money on something, why not get the best?).
A delicious cup can be had with either type of bean—but if you’re going through large quantities each week or month then your budget may be better served by going with cheaper options like Folgers or Maxwell House instead.
Environmental impact is another factor worth considering before making any purchases; most specialty farms use far less pesticides than conventional ones do—and studies show that these pesticides end up in consumers’ bloodstreams when they drink coffee made from non-organic sources.*
| Type of Beans | Characteristics | Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | Produced in large quantities; lower quality; less complex flavor profile; cheaper | Folgers, Maxwell House, Dunkin’ Donuts |
| Specialty | Produced in smaller quantities; higher quality; unique and complex flavor profile; more expensive | Blue Bottle Coffee, Intelligentsia, Stumptown Coffee Roasters |
Regular coffee beans are produced in large quantities, resulting in lower quality beans with a less complex flavor profile. These beans are often used in popular, mass-produced coffee brands like Folgers, Maxwell House, and Dunkin’ Donuts.
Specialty coffee beans, on the other hand, are produced in smaller quantities, resulting in higher quality beans with a unique and complex flavor profile. These beans are often used in specialty coffee brands like Blue Bottle Coffee, Intelligentsia, and Stumptown Coffee Roasters.
Although more expensive, specialty coffee beans offer a more nuanced taste experience for coffee enthusiasts.
Conclusion
So, if you’re in the market for some great coffee and you don’t want to spend a lot of money on it, what can you do?
First of all, make sure that the beans are high-quality. If possible, try to find them at a local roaster’s shop or from an online source that specializes in selling these kinds of beans.
Second of all, keep in mind that buying cheaper brands will likely lead down the road toward disappointment because they won’t taste as good as their more expensive counterparts — no matter how hard it might be for us spenders out there!
Further Reading
For additional information on the true cost of cheap coffee and sustainable coffee choices, check out the following articles:
Not Just a Few Beans: The True Cost of Coffee: This article discusses the hidden costs of coffee production, including negative impacts on the environment and coffee industry workers.
The True Meaning of Cheap Coffee: This article explores the consequences of buying cheap coffee, including the exploitation of coffee farmers and the degradation of coffee quality.
5 Reasons Cheap Coffee is Bad for the World: This article highlights the negative global impact of cheap coffee, including environmental damage, labor exploitation, and health concerns.
FAQs
What is the true cost of cheap coffee?
The true cost of cheap coffee refers to the negative social, economic, and environmental impact of producing and consuming low-priced coffee. This includes exploitation of coffee farmers, deforestation, pollution, and worker exploitation.
How does sustainable coffee farming differ from conventional coffee farming methods?
Sustainable coffee farming methods prioritize environmental protection and social equity, such as using organic farming practices, supporting worker rights, and conserving biodiversity. Conventional coffee farming often relies on synthetic chemicals, monoculture farming, and unfair labor practices.
What are the advantages of choosing sustainable coffee?
Choosing sustainable coffee can have several benefits, including supporting farmers’ livelihoods, protecting the environment, and enjoying higher quality coffee.
What is fair trade coffee certification?
Fair trade coffee certification ensures that farmers receive fair prices for their products and ensure safe and humane working conditions. Fair trade certification also promotes community development and environmental sustainability.
How can consumers make more informed and sustainable coffee choices?
Consumers can make more sustainable coffee choices by choosing organic coffee, fair trade certified coffee, and coffee produced using sustainable farming methods. They can also reduce their coffee carbon footprint by minimizing wastage and choosing reusable or recyclable coffee cups and packaging.
Hi, I’m Hellen James, founder of Unified Coffees. I created the platform to fill the gap in coffee blogging by providing tips on brewing coffee, rather than just focusing on beans and grinders.