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Whether you enjoy drinking Starbucks coffee or are simply one of those coffee lovers, have you ever wondered, "is Starbucks coffee organic?"
Here, we'll provide you with everything you need to know about whether Starbucks provides organic coffee.
We'll discuss whether or not Starbucks serves organic regular and decaf coffee, whether or not they use organic coffee bean varieties, organic ingredients, and more.
Does Starbucks Serve Organic Regular & Decaf Coffee?
The short answer to this is kind of. There isn’t Starbucks organic coffee served with caffeine at the chain.
Starbucks coffee is not organic as the coffee beans that Starbucks uses in stores aren’t organic coffee beans.
However, they do have organic ground roasts that you can purchase.
For Starbucks decaf iced coffee and hot brews, on the other hand, they do sell decaffeinated organic coffee. So if you're willing to forgo the caffeine content, you're in luck.
So, let's see how all of this works.
Even though Starbucks has been around for numerous years and is doing what they can to source coffee beans that are both sustainable and environmentally friendly, they don't have regular organic coffee as they are not using organic coffee beans.
They do, however, have a couple of the best organic coffee roasts. Some of them include the following:
Starbucks Dark Roast Ground Coffee - Organic French Roast: This Starbucks coffee roast has a great smoky flavor and is perfect for coffee drinkers who enjoy bolder coffees.
It's definitely a nice organic french roast to purchase!
Starbucks Medium Roast Ground Coffee - Organic Yukon Blend: This Starbucks coffee roast comes with some earthy tones and has an acidic touch to it.
As mentioned earlier, Starbucks does sell organic decaffeinated coffee - making up only a fraction of their selection.
Even though it isn't advertised as its regular coffee, they do have it in all of their stores.
Not only is this coffee fair trade and shade grown, but it's also decaffeinated using something called the Swiss water process.
The types of decaffeinated coffees that are organic are the decaf Komodo dragon blend and the instant decaf Italian roast.
So if you're looking for a Starbucks organic decaf coffee that's delicious, eco-friendly, chemical-free, and caffeine free, you'll want to try their decaffeinated organic coffees.
Now that we know that the regular coffee that Starbucks serves doesn't have an organic option, what about whether or not its coffee is GMO-free? Is Starbucks coffee healthy?
Well, even though Starbucks does use GMO-free, non-organic milk in its drinks, it's difficult to say that all of the products that Starbucks has is non-GMO - especially since it isn't organic.
Starbucks instant coffee can also contain GMOs as they are a micro-ground coffee.
What Makes A Coffee Organic?
You might be wondering, okay, so now I know whether Starbucks serves organic coffee, but what exactly makes a certified organic coffee?
A coffee that's certified organic is essentially:[1]
- 1Made from beans that are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides or herbicides
- 2Processed without chemicals or artificial agents
A great way to tell whether or not you're drinking organic coffee is to either look at the packaging or the website of the product.
The primary health benefits of drinking an organic blend are avoiding additional contents and good manufacturing practices.
If it's organic coffee, it should have the organic certification - a USDA Certified Organic seal on it.
To get the seal, the farmers from which the company buys the coffee beans must comply with the Certified Organic Requirements.
In the case of Starbucks, for the coffee to be completely organic coffee, it would need to make sure that EVERYTHING it was using to make its cup of organic coffee was sourced within organic guidelines.
This means:
As mentioned above, Starbucks does not have an organic coffee menu (other than decaffeinated coffee drinks) as it doesn't use organic coffee beans, and it also uses non-organic milk (the majority of their dairy products are non-organic other than Starbucks soy milk).
Hence, it constitutes as non-organic coffee.
What Coffee Does Starbucks Use? (Guide For All Roasts)
Starbucks Beans: Arabica Beans
Starbucks uses Arabica whole beans and doesn't use any robusta beans.
While Starbucks doesn't sell organic coffee (the non-decaffeinated kind), it does serve 100% Arabica Coffee in all of their brewing methods.
Arabica beans are known for having a great flavor and undergo a rigorous selection process before being roasted.
As a result of this process, this is likely how Starbucks is able to deliver coffee drinks that are rich and flavorful.
When it comes to where Starbucks sources its Arabica coffee from, it does so from three key regions - Latin America, Africa, and Asia Pacific - all using the whole bean from the Arabica coffee tree.
Starbucks Roasts: Dark, Medium & Blonde Roasts
So, what are the three different roasts that Starbucks has? Well, they are the Starbucks Blonde Roast, Medium Roast, and Dark Roast.
The Starbucks Blonde Roast is a lighter roast that has a shorter roasting time, resulting in a cup of coffee that has more mellow flavors.
The Starbucks Blonde Roast mainly consists of beans from either Latin America or Africa.
The Medium Roast is what you would expect in a conventional coffee, and it has a smooth, balanced, and rich flavor.
The Medium Roast is made with beans from Latin America, Asia Pacific, or Africa.
Finally, there's the Dark Roast which comes with a robust and bold taste for a delicious cup of coffee.
Dark Roasts are typically made with coffee beans from either Asia Pacific or Latin America.
Is Starbucks’ Claim of Ethical Coffee Sourcing True?
Is Starbucks coffee fair trade and are their coffee beans organically sourced?
Typically when it comes to ethical sourcing, the best way to tell if the entire coffee production is ethically sourced is if it comes with the Fair Trade seal on the packaging.[2]
Those that have the seal generally speaking adhere to Fair Trade guidelines.
Even though the seal might sound simple, adhering to the Fair Trade standards is more difficult than you think.
Instead, Starbucks looks at the Coffee and Farmer Equity (CAFE) practices - along with other coffee companies.
While CAFE may not be as strict as Fair Trade rules, it does dictate that the supply chain comprises of suppliers, local farmers (coffee farms), and processors.
That being said, Starbucks's standard Espresso Roast is 100% Fairtrade certified and made with fair trade practices; hence, it's fair to say that they do have fair trade coffee.
This is the same roast used in specialty coffee favorites such as the Pumpkin Spice Latte, cappuccino, and other Starbucks espresso drinks.
However, not all of the coffee that Starbucks uses is Fair Trade certified. With CAFE, however, Starbucks is still socially responsible and ensures that they are benefiting coffee farmers while at the same time still providing customers with high-quality coffee and fair prices.
Related Organic Starbucks Coffee Questions
Does Starbucks coffee have toxins?
When it comes to mycotoxins, Starbucks coffee typically doesn't have them as Starbucks regularly tests their coffee for these toxins.
Is Starbucks coffee full of pesticides?
Starbucks coffee is not known to have any more pesticides or contaminants than any other brand or coffee shop.
How do you know if coffee is organic?
Coffee is organic if it is grown without sprayed chemical-based fertilizers, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, harmful chemicals, or genetically modified organisms.
Is Dunkin Donuts coffee organic?
No, Dunkin Donuts coffee is not organic, and they do not offer organic options.
Is Starbucks Winter Blend organic?
Yes, Starbucks organic line includes the seasonal Winter Blend, which is sold in grocery stores across the US, including Target, Walmart, and other brands.
Conclusion
Is Starbucks coffee organic?
Even though Starbucks is a coffee chain and one of the biggest coffee purchasers, it does not serve organic coffee but only organic decaf coffee, and organic blends.
There are other alternatives, such as other organic coffee brands and sustainable companies out there if you're looking for an organic coffee menu.
What you can expect from Starbucks, however, is ethical sourcing, great coffee, and a Starbucks menu with a great option at any time of the year.
References:
1. https://www.info.equalexchange.coop/articles/organic-vs-conventional-coffee
2. https://www.fairtradecertified.org/
