“Is coffee unfriendly to birds?” And other questions from coffee lovers… Coffee Resource, Community, Culture If you’re a big coffee drinker, you’ve likely become more interested in what goes on behind the scenes (behind the beans?). AND you’ve probably come across a company or two… or seven… advertising their coffee as Shade Grown and/or Bird Friendly. This could have led to some questions… “Are other coffees unfriendly to birds?” “Is there sun-grown coffee?” Or maybe you don’t even like birds, so you immediately moved on. 🦜 Regardless, coffee has grown into a specialty business and many certifications and buzz words have surfaced concerning the quality of coffee. Two of these terms go hand in hand – Shade-Grown and Bird Friendly. These environmentally conscious terms may seem self-explanatory, but there are some nuances that are worth investigating. Read on to learn WHAT these terms actually mean for your morning coffee, WHY they matter, and HOW you can be sure your coffee is sustainably grown… What is Shade-Grown Coffee? Shade-Grown coffee is coffee grown in full or partial shade. Okay, pretty straightforward! Why is Shade-Growing important? The common explanation has to do with how your coffee tastes. Essentially, the idea is that shade-grown coffee develops a deeper flavor by providing the most optimal growing conditions for a coffee plant. Roots and plant matter enrich the soil, which provides extra nutrition to the coffee plants without the use of fertilizer or chemicals. Plus, trees attract birds and other wildlife, which make for natural pest control 🙂 Another benefit of shade-grown coffee is protection from nearby traffic and other man-made disruptions. The extra foliage acts as a buffer from things like vehicle exhaust, protecting the delicate coffee plants and offering an opportunity for farmers to diversify with other useful crops like fruit trees. Should I only buy Shade-Grown Coffee? One key thing to note — shade-grown coffee can look different in different parts of the world! Some farms position their coffee plants under a canopy of trees, while others grow their coffee in naturally shady valleys. With that, there is no official certification or regulation for shade-grown coffee, so it’s tough to make your coffee buying choices based on packaging alone. At Atlas, we prefer to partner directly with passionate farmers who we know do what’s best for their coffee, community, and country. Showcasing “Buffer Plants” and how they protect from the ground up. These often separate coffee plants from roads and protect against any vehicle exhaust. What is Bird-Friendly Coffee? Bird-Friendly coffee is coffee grown in a habitat that supports local bird populations by providing tree coverage and native flora. Why is it important? Bird Friendly coffee goes hand in hand with shade-grown coffee because of the forest-like canopy trees and ground plants associated with each. With added coverage for shade and the use of buffer plants to separate the fields from road traffic, local bird populations enjoy both shelter and food. And as an added bonus, these birds act as natural pest management and fertilizers for the coffee plants! This certification is not standardized across all regions, but typically there are detailed standards for how far the canopy of the natural forest needs to be from the coffee shrubs, ensuring that local vegetation isn’t competing for canopy space. Sustainability is complex—here’s how we prioritize it The primary purpose of these two environmentally conscious terms is to support the local flora and fauna of a region. Unfortunately, most mass-market and big brand coffee is grown and harvested by clearing large swaths of trees for coffee production, which puts both the immediate environment and the future of coffee itself in jeopardy. The farm’s Atlas Coffee Club partners with are all shade-grown at least in part – the only exception is our coffee sourced in Brazil, where we work with two farms within a cooperative. The coffee there is grown on hills to create a natural balance of shade and sun in the growing season. Coffee grown in the valleys between hills. While we can confidently say that most if not all of the farms we work with are shade-grown, certifying each farm as bird-friendly is a bit tougher. Bird-friendly farming recognizes that the farm has preserved or promoted local vegetation rather than displacing migratory native birds by clearing land. While each farm may meet this qualification, the actual certification for each region differs and can be a significant burden for the farmer to maintain.. We have seen firsthand the presence of this shade-grown representation and how each farm we work with supports its local vegetation and bird population. And we’re keen on doing consistent research, helping to achieve what’s not only the best for the farmers and their crops, but also for the environment and for coffee lovers like you! Logan Allender with Cooperativa Santo Domingo in San Juan Del Rio Coco, Nicaragua. Notice the coffee height relative to the people and the “Sombre” or canopy overhead. It is a combination of Red and Black Guava trees, along with local flora. By building strong personal relationships with each farm/cooperative, we get closer and closer to creating a global coffee community that encourages wins all around! From farm and farmer to you at home! Interested in joining a global coffee community of coffee lovers, coffee adventurers, and passionate coffee farmers? Try the club to take a world tour of coffee from home 🙂
