Coffee (quite literally) has its highs and its lows. Whether you're a daily brewer or a weekend warrior, there's some truths you should know about coffee. We've put together this guide to help you ensure that your caffeine hit is as healthy as it can be.
1. Choose Certified Organic
This really is non-negotiable. What's on your coffee can hurt your health. Coffee is one of the most chemically treated crops, with some estimates stating every acre of coffee gets treated with 250 pounds of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.
Coffee-growing countries each have their own monitoring systems for pesticide use. The grower’s regulations may be very different from the residue limits of the country you live in. The reality is, many coffee-growing countries use chemicals that are banned in Australia, the US and Europe.
2. Only drink freshly-brewed coffee
As tempting as it is to pre make your coffee the day before, or to choose that quick-and-easy cold brew that's sitting in the shop fridge, it's best to avoid pre-made coffee. Coffee can quickly go rancid which increases it's toxicity. Always choose freshly-brewed coffee.
3. Pass on the plastic pods
If you use a coffee pod machine, avoid using plastic, single-use pods. Not only are they harmful to the planet, heating plastic releases dangerous chemicals which are incredibly toxic to humans. We suggest purchasing reusable stainless steel pods and filling them with your own freshly ground organic coffee. It's much better for you and the planet.
4. Read your milk label
Many plant-based milk alternatives have a sinister ingredient lurking on their ingredients list. Vegetable oil. Often added to give a creamier taste and texture, these polyunsaturated fats are highly toxic and inflammatory. Avoid them, not just in your cup of joe, but in other foods too.