The Best Organic Coffee Beans: Our Selection

What Are the Best Organic Coffee Beans in the UK?

The best organic coffee beans in the UK combine a recognised certification, such as Soil Association or EU Organic, with fresh roasting and tasting notes suited to how you brew. Many coffee drinkers in the UK now look beyond taste alone, wanting a cup that also supports cleaner farming and a fairer supply chain. Our top picks below are certified organic Arabica coffee beans from Colombia and Ethiopia, roasted for espresso, filter coffee and Moka pot brewing, and further down we also cover other certified organic coffee brands worth knowing in the UK.

What Is Organic Coffee?

In very simple terms, organic coffee is coffee that is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Despite being widely used in agriculture, these chemicals are harmful to the environment, wildlife, and even our health. Organic farming practices rely on natural methods, such as crop rotation, companion planting, and biological control agents, to maintain soil health, control pests and diseases, and boost biodiversity. Organic coffee is more sustainable than conventional coffee, as it does not contribute to water pollution or the overuse of pesticides.

Is Organic coffee the same as speciality coffee?

In short, no. While some speciality coffee can be organic, the two terms are not synonymous

The fundamentals of speciality coffee are:

• Traceability
• Coffees rated over 80/100
• Zero defects in the cup
• Fair remuneration for the producer

So, if you buy organic speciality coffee, you will have even more traceability than you already have with non-organic speciality coffee. Speciality coffees are coffees with such a high score that they cannot be grown intensively. These batches require special care to preserve the plant and avoid stressing it. This is what makes it possible to achieve quality at this level. Chemical inputs may sometimes be used, but are generally kept to a minimum.

The Cost Of Organic Coffee

​​Certifications are not free and can cost a lot of money, particularly for organic farming. This means that certified organic coffee is almost always more expensive than non-organic coffee. This also means that some farms can’t afford to pay for certification because they don’t have the financial means, even though their coffees could claim to be organic.

Organic Coffee Certifications

Several different organizations certify organic coffee, and these will largely depend on your country of residence. In the UK, organic food must be certified by an approved UK organic control body. The certification process involves following strict guidelines laid down by national and international law, keeping thorough and accurate records of production processes, and allowing annual and random inspections. To label a product as organic in the UK, at least 95% of the agricultural ingredients must be organic, and all other ingredients, additives, and processing aids must be listed as permitted within the organic regulations.

When it comes to coffee, it is important to note that some coffees may be organic but do not have any labels or certifications. Obtaining a certification has a significant cost. For example, in Ethiopia, a large proportion of coffees are organic, but the producers do not pay for certifications because they are very expensive.

However, without an Organic label, the consumer has no proof that the protocols have been followed, so the coffee may or may not be organic.

What Are The Criteria For Organic Produce?

Specific criteria vary from one label to the other, as certain regulating bodies have stricter requirements than others.

However, as a rule, to be certified as organic, coffee and most other produce must meet all of the following requirements:

• No synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers
• No genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
• No irradiation: Irradiation is a process that uses high-energy radiation to kill pests and bacteria. It is not allowed in organic coffee products, as it can damage the flavour and nutrients of the coffee beans.
• Pure soil: The coffee must be grown on land that has been pesticide and chemical-free for at least 5 years
• Extensive Traceability: Organic coffee must be traceable from the farm to the supermarket. Farmers must be able to document the origin of their coffee beans and roasters and retailers must be able to verify that the coffee they are selling is organic.
• No processing aids: Processing aids are chemicals that are usually used to help coffee beans be processed and stored.
• Storage: Organic coffee must be stored in dedicated areas. It cannot be stored next to or on top of a non-organic product. Generally speaking, all tools that handle organic products must be identified and never come into contact with coffee or any other non-organic material.

If any of these criteria are not met, the coffee may lose its label and be downgraded to non-organic. It is also important to note that the whole production chain has to be certified to claim to be organic: the coffee grower, the exporter, the importer and the roaster.

Organic Coffee vs. Other Certifications

So, the benefits of organic coffee are clear. You are guaranteed coffee that is pesticide and chemical-free, environmentally friendly and with a greater traceability. If you’re wondering about how this works for coffee blends, rest assured that blends can only be certified if 100% of the coffees making up the blend are certified organic.

But what about other certifications? You will often find several labels on one packet of ground coffee or coffee beans. One very common one you’ll find is the Fairtrade logo. Organic and Fairtrade have nothing to do with one another. You can find non-fairtrade organic coffees or non-organic fairtrade coffees. But there are also organic and fair trade coffees. The Fairtrade certification ensures that producers receive fair prices for their products and that farmers and workers improve their living standards.

Another common label is the Rainforest Alliance logo. The Rainforest Alliance works to protect forests and biodiversity, but also to improve the lives of farmers and forest communities.

Light, Medium or Dark Roast: Find a Smooth, Bold or Fruity Organic Coffee for Your Cup

Roast level changes the taste of organic coffee beans far more than certification alone. A light roast keeps more natural acidity and a brighter, fruit-forward profile, a medium roast gives a smooth, balanced taste, and a dark roast delivers a full body with chocolatey notes, sometimes leaning into milk chocolate or brown sugar sweetness, and lower acidity. From the first sip, a washed process tends to taste cleaner, while a natural process is usually sweeter and more fruit-driven. For a more consistent coffee experience, it helps to stick with one roast level while you dial in your grinder.

Best Organic Arabica Whole Bean Coffee for Espresso, Filter Coffee and Latte

Most of the organic Arabica coffee beans in the UK featured in our selection are roasted specifically for espresso and filter coffee, which covers the vast majority of home set-ups in the UK, from bean-to-cup machines to a simple cafetière or French press. If you use a bean-to-cup machine, our guide to the Best coffee beans for bean to cup machines can help you narrow down a roast that suits your grinder settings. For a milky latte or cappuccino, a medium or dark roast with chocolate or nutty notes usually holds up best against milk, while a lighter roast suits black coffee brewed as a pour-over, AeroPress or French press, whether you grind whole beans fresh at home or buy ground coffee ready to brew. For a wider comparison beyond organic coffee, see our Best coffee beans UK round-up.

Our Organic Coffee Beans Selection

Cafés Lugat – Organic Coffee Beans Las Planadas from Colombia – 250g

The rich and sweet Las Planadas Colombian coffee beans, with dominant notes of red berries, are grown on the Granja La Esperanza family farm, located in the southwest of Colombia. This medium roast organic Arabica blend reveals notes of cocoa, blackcurrant, and walnut. These beans are especially good for an exceptional espresso.

Cafés Lugat – Organic Coffee Beans Moka Nekemte – 250g

This medium roast specialty 100% Organic Arabica Moka is exceptional. Artisanally roasted in France, these Moka Nekemte organic coffee beans reveal floral and fruity notes, with particular notes of lemon zest, jasmine and candied orange.

Cafés Lugat – Organic Coffee Beans Yirgacheffe from Ethiopia – 250g

This medium roast specialty coffee comes from the Yirgacheffe Gedeo region of Ethiopia and is a certified organic, washed Arabica with notes of candied orange, grapefruit, milk chocolate and white flowers. It is especially good for espresso and filter coffee, whether you grind whole beans fresh or buy it ready ground.

Green Lion Coffee – Organic Coffee Beans Moka Baraka Ethiopia – 250g

If you like your morning cup of coffee to be a medium roast, 100% arabica, rich & sweet with notes of citrus, then look no further. Green Lion Coffee is a brand that grows its coffee beans with respect for the environment and biodiversity. This particular coffee is roasted in France and offers a balanced cup with floral & fruity notes.

Green Lion Coffee – Organic Decaf Coffee Beans Sweet Dreams – 250g

These 100% Arabica beans are not only organic but they are also decaffeinated using a water process, which is 100% chemical-free and helps to preserve all the aromas. Sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee with smooth notes of spices and biscuits.

Green Lion Coffee – Organic Coffee Beans Aymara – 1kg

If you like your morning cup of coffee to be a medium-dark roast, 100% Arabica, rich and sweet with notes of caramel and wood, then look no further. Green Lion Coffee is a brand that grows its coffee beans with respect for the environment and biodiversity. Sourced from Peru and roasted in France, this organic coffee offers a smooth, balanced cup with low acidity, a rounded body and a pleasantly lingering finish. Perfect for both espresso and longer coffees.

Where to Buy the Best Organic Coffee Beans in the UK

You can buy organic coffee beans in the UK directly from specialist roasters’ websites, from online retailers such as MaxiCoffee, via marketplaces such as Amazon UK, or from the organic and Fairtrade ranges stocked by some UK supermarkets. Buying online from a dedicated roaster usually means fresher beans with a roast date printed on the bag, while supermarket ranges can be a convenient, cheaper entry point among organic coffee options if you simply want a reliable everyday cup. Whichever route you choose, check what customers say in reviews and look at the roast date before buying, and compare organic coffee options by price per 100g or per cup rather than by bag price alone, since pack sizes vary widely. For most people, the easiest option is beans that perform well in espresso machines, a cafetière or a French press without needing extensive testing of different brands, though independent testing results are reassuring if available. If a smooth taste matters most to you, a medium roast is usually the safest choice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Organic Coffee Beans

What Coffee Is 100% Organic?

A coffee is 100% organic when every bean in the bag, and every ingredient in a blend, has been certified organic by an approved body such as the Soil Association or under the EU Organic Regulation. Single-origin organic coffees, like our Las Planadas or Yirgacheffe beans, are certified 100% organic because they come from one certified farm or cooperative rather than a mix of sources.

Is Organic Coffee Mould-Free?

Organic certification confirms that no synthetic pesticides or fertilisers were used during growing, but it does not, by itself, guarantee that a coffee is mould or mycotoxin-free. If this matters to you, look for a brand that publishes independent laboratory test results for mould and pesticide residues alongside its organic certification, as testing methods and results vary between brands.

Can You Buy Organic Instant Coffee in the UK?

Yes, organic instant coffee is available in the UK, though the selection is much smaller than for organic whole bean or ground coffee. If you usually drink filter, espresso or Moka pot coffee, whole bean organic coffee such as the selection above will give you a noticeably better cup than instant coffee, whatever mix of whole bean, ground or instant coffee you drink day to day.

How Much Do Organic Coffee Beans Cost in the UK?

Organic coffee beans in the UK typically range from around £6 to £15 for a 250g bag, depending on certification, origin and roaster. Price is only one factor, but our selection above sits in the £6.60 to £9.90 range for 250g, which is a competitive price for certified organic, freshly roasted Arabica beans with great flavour, and a fair reflection of what many people expect to pay for quality without going to the most expensive end of the market.

It’s clear that choosing the best organic coffee beans in the UK goes beyond just taste. Not only do they offer a delicious and flavourful cup of coffee, but they also promote sustainability, fair trade practices, and the benefits of organic farming. So next time you reach for your morning cup of joe, consider making the switch to organic. Don’t just take our word for it – try it out for yourself and experience the difference in each sip.