I live for my morning cup of coffee. Navy coffee, I call it – strong, hot and black as night. As I take my first few sips, pesticides are the furthest thing from my mind. But should they be that far back in my thoughts? And how do I know if the coffee I’m buying is pesticide free?
Fruits such as apples, pears and peaches have a greater chance for containing pesticides than coffee beans do. Imagine an apple still on the tree. Pesticides are sprayed on the skin as the apple grows. It is then picked, washed and sent to the store. Some consumers simply rinse the apple under water and go right for the first bite.
A coffee been, however, is a seed inside of a fruit. The seed is removed during processing, soaked, fermented and roasted at high temperatures. It is then ground and cooked in boiling water. Could there be pesticides in coffee? Yes. But there are ways you can minimize the risk.
02 March 2010, 12:58 pm
Oh no. I purchased coffee beans regularly from my local shop. I know what to look for now. Thanks.
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03 March 2010, 10:04 pm
You make an interesting point, I never thought about the possibility of pesticides in my coffee. I suppose it’s possible that when the beans are roasted that may burn off any pesticides in them, though maybe it could burn them in too? In either case, you’re definitely right that since they’re the seeds of the coffee fruit they probably have less in them. And I’ll make sure to stick to Arabica beans from now on. Thanks!
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