Safer Coffee & Creamer
- Alex Kelly
- Jul 8, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 15
Shop full list of coffees on Amazon HERE.
Pesticides & Mold
Pesticides:
Coffee beans are one of the priciest agricultural products in the world, and mostly grown by farmers in third world countries who want to protect their crop. Because of this they are heavily sprayed. However, the beans are protected by a cherry and then roasted, so the pesticide exposure is minimized to some extent. But, to further protect yourself its best to choose organic. Organic coffee is also friendlier to the environment.
Mold:
Coffee is very high in mycotoxins (mold toxins). You want to stay away from “blends” and “mass market” coffee (like Folgers), because they are typically mixed with cheap beans from multiple sources. This raises the risk of moldy beans being included. Ideally you want to buy coffee from single origins/countries.
Safer K-Cups
Most coffee pods contain an aluminum foil top and a plastic base. So not only is boiling water pouring through aluminum, but it then strains through plastic, leaching microplastics into your beverage.
John Sylvan, the inventor of the K-Cup, has even admitted he regrets creating the single-serve coffee pod because of its environment impact and cost.
Nevertheless, coffee pods are extremely convenient. If you want a safer option, consider filling your own reusable stainless steel pod. I like these because they are 100% stainless steel (many stainless steel K-cups have a plastic top, so hot water is still running through plastic).
Safer Bagged Coffee
Look for organic single origin or local coffee that tells you exactly where the beans come from.
For the freshest coffee buy whole beans and grind yourself (most grocery stores have a grinder). Whole bean bags contain a one way valve that lets CO2 out, but no air in. This valve allows the bag to stay fresh for 3 months before opening. Once you open the bag, you will receive peak freshness and flavor for the first 3 weeks.
Pre-ground coffee maintains peak freshness and flavor for about 10 days - 2 weeks once. When you buy pre-ground coffee, you typically have no way of knowing how long it’s been sitting in the bag.
Safer Creamer
The USDA says that if a product contains under a certain amount of sugar they can technically call it “zero sugar.” Many mainstream creamers will label themselves as zero sugar, even though they contain corn syrup solids. They are able to get away with this because their “serving sizes” are so small they technically fall under the USDA’s regulation for zero sugar. Many also contain hydrogenated vegetable oil (inflammatory and genetically modified) to make it shelf stable and creamier. Mainstream creamers also contain artificial flavors, even if labeled “original.”
Shop full list of coffees on Amazon HERE.
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