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How to Make a Better (and Healthier) Cup of Coffee

Well hello there! Walker here: husband, father and coffee lover and I wanted to wish you Happy National Coffee Day!In the holistic health community, coffee
Sep 29, 2016 | Walker Jordan

Well hello there! Walker here: husband, father and coffee lover and I wanted to wish you Happy National Coffee Day!

In the holistic health community, coffee doesn't always get a lot of love. It's a stimulant that can cause a whole host of undesirable effects, including digestive problems, elevated cortisol (stress hormone) levels, anxiety, and – when abused – can make other conditions far worse, such as adrenal fatigue.

On the other hand, research has shown that a cup of coffee can have positive health benefits, including lower rates of cardiovascular disease, liver disease and can even prevent cancer!

So who's right? Both sides perhaps.

You see, coffee, like many other commodities, ranges drastically in quality, and I think quality may be the difference between a healthy cup and a not-so-healthy cup.

Note: When I say coffee, I'm referring to black coffee. Mocha-frappa-lattes and such do not apply.

As an enthusiast who enjoys the drink but knew relatively little about it, I reached out to our good friend and coffee Czar Alan Smith of Rise Cafe (and husband of the lovely Julie Daniluk) to break down what makes a great cup.

Alan's been in the coffee industry for 19 years and definitely knows his stuff. We sat down for a coffee and a quick chat. Here's what I learned:

It all starts with the bean

Coffee starts as a cherry on a tree, which is grows naturally in bio-diverse, mountainous rainforest environments. In its natural environment, no pesticides or chemicals are needed to allow the tree to thrive – natures natural balance takes care of that.

Unfortunately, like most foods and produce, coffee has become industrialized and large producers have brought crops off the mountains to the valleys where they can yield a larger harvest. Here, the coffee plant is treated with chemicals, pesticides and herbicides to help it survive outside of its natural habitat.

Like many other industrialized agricultural practices, mono-cropping introduces a whole other set of problems.

So how do you know if you're buying a quality bean? Look for these labels: 

Fair Trade 

It means farmers are being paid a fair price for their product, which means they can afford to keep their land, and continue to harvest the best product possible on the best land.

Organic

Ensures no chemicals or pesticides were used on the crop. Also beneficial for farmers because they aren't exposed to toxic chemicals. 

Bird-Friendly

The gold standard In Alan's opinion. Bird-friendly status is issued by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and guarantees that not only is the coffee 100% organic, but that it was produced in a high-quality shaded, bio-diverse environment. Basically, it was grown the way coffee was meant to be grown.

Roast, grind, repeat 

After the cherry is picked, it's dried to a "green bean," when it becomes extremely shelf stable (up to 10 years). After it's dried, the green bean is roasted, which takes its stable fats and converts them into volatile oils that start to oxidize immediately. As of this point, the bean is on the clock.

A roasted bean has a shelf life of seven days before it goes rancid. That bitter cup of black coffee you just had? That's because all of the oils have fully oxidized and have gone bad.

The shelf life of a ground bean is even shorter: 4-6 hours to be exact.

Which brings us back to industrialized coffee: the big three producers (Sara Lee, Kraft and Nestle) roast, grind and package their products months in advance, which means if you buy coffee from the coffee aisle in the grocery store, you're likely drinking a rancid, oxidized gross cup of coffee every morning.

And no, vacuum sealing or storing beans in a freezer does not help. 

So how can you make sure you are getting a fresh cup? 

  • If you're going to a cafe, make sure they're freshly grinding the beans.
  • Check the roast date. Reputable cafes will know when the beans were roasted, and if you're buying coffee for home, a roasting date should be clearly stamped on the package.
  • Roast your own beans. 450F for 15min will do the trick!
  • Basically, stay away from grocery store brands.

So there you have it! I hope some of this info helps you in your pursuit for a better cup of joe. Much like anything else we eat, freshness and quality are absolutely key. Only then will we optimally benefit from the positive health effects of food, including coffee.

Thanks again to Alan for lending his expertise! If you're in Toronto, check out his excellent cafe Rise Espresso Bar.

P.S. Here are some fun coffee facts!

  • Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee.
  • Rumor has it, the stimulating effects of coffee were first observed when a farmer noticed his goats were full of beans (both literally and figuratively!) after eating the cherries from the coffee plant.
  • Lloyd's of London's original business was insuring coffee and sugar shipments.

Do we have any other joyous coffee lovers out there? Let me know your favourite way to enjoy a cup or your favourite coffee shop (I'm always looking for good ones to check out) in the comments below! 

Sep 29, 2016 BY Walker Jordan
24 Comments
Amanda   •   September 29, 2016

Fatty coffee's are the best with Mct Oil or Brain octane oil, so good! which doesn't leave you with a crash to follow, also known as bulletproof coffee!

Reply
Walker Jordan   •   September 30, 2016

Melanie   •   September 29, 2016

I've just given up coffee (again) thanks to Joys book. I doubt I will go back to it now but I never new any of this about coffee. Thanks for information!!

Reply
Walker Jordan   •   September 30, 2016

sam   •   October 1, 2016

Thanks a ton Jordan, I am a coffee love and hat to lower consumption due to my treatment for lower back ache, and these tips to brew a perfect cup will help me enjoy every cup i make. a few weeks ago i took on this very effective treatment that helped me reduce my back ache to a bare minimum!!, http://tinyurl.com/hbvudg5

Reply

Sharilyn   •   October 3, 2016

So, where does one buy dried green coffee beans in order to roast my own? Thanks, Sharilyn

Reply
Heather Allen   •   October 3, 2016

Steffi   •   October 5, 2016

Hey! I've always loved coffee and recently discovered the Lavazza brand. Are they considered a healthier brand to drink? They publish lots of info about how they harvest and produce their coffee online. http://www.lavazza-canada.ca/

Reply
Heather Allen   •   October 5, 2016

Nadine   •   October 10, 2016

Nice Post Walker! I'm Italian, so I'm obviously an Espresso fan. As you probably know, here in Italy we usually drink a "shot" of espresso, more times per day. Although we don't use the word "Espresso", but we just say: "Un Caffè per favore" (a coffee please) and we have it on the go (we don't seat at a table to drink just one cup of coffee). If you're a Coffee Lover and you come to Italy, you must visit Trieste because it is the city of ILLY CAFÈ, one of best Italian coffee roasts. Plus Trieste is really a beautiful City, especially during spring. P.S.: The "Julie Daniluk" link is broken :)

Reply

Kim maurice   •   February 26, 2017

Can you reccomend a brand of coffee that meets all the requirements you suggested?

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   February 27, 2017

Cheryl McMillan   •   February 26, 2017

Thanks Walker! I appreciate all that information you shared about coffee. I love a great (and fresh) cup of coffee. I'll be far more selective in my purchases now.

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   February 27, 2017

Colleen   •   April 12, 2017

What brand of coffee does Walker drink ?

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   April 13, 2017

Gaby   •   September 30, 2017

I don't drink much coffee. Don't need it but from time to time I like enjoying a cup. This is what I'm digging right now: I make chaga tea and use it as the water in my percolator. Then I grind the coffee (sometime I add some cinnamon or clove to it). I like it with milk, so lately I warm up ½ cup of coconut milk and add ¼ cup 2 tbsp of water. And voila!

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   October 2, 2017

Hong   •   September 30, 2017

Do you roast it in a cooking pan or the oven?

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   October 2, 2017

Teri   •   October 30, 2017

Great info!! I love the taste of a great cup of coffee (morning only). I purchase organic coffee beans as well however I wasn’t aware of the short shelf life. Thanks for the eye opener.

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   October 30, 2017

KEVIN LEBECK   •   December 27, 2017

Can you recommend a brand name coffee you drink, it would save me a lot of time trying to find something of quality.

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   December 29, 2017

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