In my opinion, shade-grown coffee is one of the best-kept secrets of the java world. It boasts a flavor profile as rich and nuanced as its environmental benefits.
Unlike sun-grown coffee, which is cultivated in vast monoculture plantations, shade-grown coffee is grown under the canopy of trees, mimicking its natural habitat. Below is a picture of what a typical shade-grown coffee farm looks like:
In this article, I will explore the perks of buying and drinking shade-grown coffee. I have separated the benefits into three sections: Environmental, Coffee Quality, and Social/Economic.
Environmental
I feel great drinking shade-grown coffee because it has numerous environmental benefits that are crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Benefit #1: Biodiversity conservation
One of the most significant advantages of shade-grown coffee is the preservation of biodiversity. By protecting the forest and growing coffee under tree canopies, farmers create habitats for numerous species, including birds, insects, mammals, and other wildlife. These habitats are essential for maintaining ecological balance within the region.
Unfortunately, conventional coffee farming methods often lead to deforestation and habitat destruction. These large monoculture plantations cut down diverse rainforests to grow coffee in direct sunlight.
Just look at the picture below of a sun-grown coffee farm. It's hard to imagine much of anything living there!
Benefit #2: Helps fight climate change
Shade-grown coffee plays a vital role in carbon sequestration. By maintaining tree cover, shade-grown coffee farms contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It's a much more sustainable option compared to conventional coffee farming methods, which often lead to deforestation.
Benefit #3: Water and soil health
The additional trees and plants that grow on a shade-grown coffee farm help regulate water flow by trapping rainwater and reducing runoff. When water runoff is reduced, soil erosion is prevented, which helps maintain healthy nutrient levels in the soil.
And when rainwater doesn't run off, more moisture is retained in the soil. Because of this fact, shade-grown coffee farms need much less irrigation than sun-grown coffee plantations.
Coffee Quality
You will LOVE this benefit of shade-grown coffee, even if you don't care about any of the others on this list!
Benefit #4: Superior taste!
One reason coffee is grown in the sun is that sunlight SPEEDS up the maturation process of a coffee bean. A sun-grown coffee plantation produces a higher yield per acre than a shade-grown coffee farm.
While that is good news for the profits of whoever owns the sun-grown plantation, it's actually bad news for us coffee drinkers.
That's because when a coffee bean matures too quickly, it loses flavor.
Coffee grown in the shade allows the beans to grow and mature naturally.
And while it takes longer, the beans develop more evenly and become more saturated with oils and sugars, leading to a more flavorful coffee.
Delicious coffee is one of those things that you can't rush!
Social and Economic
Shade-grown coffee is not only good for the environment and our taste buds. It also benefits local communities, small farmers, and our health!
Benefit #5: More money for farmers
One of the most significant advantages is the potential for increased income. As consumers become more aware of the benefits associated with shade-grown coffee, they are often willing to pay a premium for these ethically sourced products.
This higher price point translates into better financial returns for farmers, enabling them to invest in their operations and communities.
Benefit #6: Eco-tourism opportunities
Additionally, shade-grown coffee can attract eco-tourism opportunities that further bolster local economies. Coffee farms that practice sustainable methods often welcome visitors eager to learn about the cultivation process and the environmental benefits of shade-grown coffee.
This tourism can provide an additional income stream for farmers and their communities, enhancing the overall economic stability of the region.
For example, Finca Rosa Blanca is a coffee farm in Costa Rica that you can tour (or even stay at the lodge). And to put it in their own words...
"...the tour winds through shaded fields and forests, and is home to over 143 bird species, including Parrots, Toucans, Aracaris, Motmots and Oropendolas." - Finca Rosa Blanca
Benefit #7: Health benefits!
What I like best about the health benefits of shade-grown coffee is that it's two-faceted - healthy for you AND healthy for the people living near farms.
First, let's talk about the fact that shade-grown coffee does not need as many chemical fertilizers and pesticides as a sun-grown plantation. Farmers who grow their coffee in the shade often rely on natural processes and biodiversity (such as birds) to manage pests and enhance soil fertility.
In fact, a lot of shade-grown coffee is grown organically, without the use of ANY fertilizers or pesticides!
As a result, you will find that shade-grown coffee is less likely to contain harmful chemical residues.
The reduced usage of pesticides and fertilizers is also great news for local communities. Shade-grown coffee farms are much safer to live near than a sun-grown coffee plantation, as the water, soil, and air are not contaminated with these poisons.
What is the drawback to shade-grown coffee?
I have done my best to cover the biggest benefits of drinking coffee that grows in the shade. But if it's so great, why doesn't everyone drink it?
Well, the biggest reason is the price. Sun-grown coffee plantations can produce more coffee per acre at a lower cost. Remember how I said that coffee beans mature faster in the sun? These large farms do anything they can to speed up the growing cycle of a coffee plant, which results in cheaper coffee.
But, cheaper coffee comes at a huge cost for the environment, local communities, and your taste buds.
There are some things worth paying a little extra for, and shade-grown coffee is DEFINITELY worth it. :)