Organic coffee is turning up in most coffee shops, and we’re seeing more of it on grocery store shelves, too – but what makes it special? Is organic coffee really worth the price markup? There are some real differences, and knowing about them can help you when you buy your next bag of beans.

First, you’ll need to understand how conventional coffee is grown. Generally, a number of practices are used that are not terribly environmentally friendly or good for coffee plantation workers. Pesticides and fertilizers used to increase yield are prone to leaking into groundwater and surface water supplies, and may cause the overgrowth of local greenery, as well.

Clearing local forest, including rainforest, decreases the available number of trees and results in increased erosion, plus it displaces wildlife and increases the threat to many species. In countries where the chemicals used are unregulated, they can be extremely dangerous to the workers.

How is organic coffee different? To be labeled as organic, no chemical fertilizers or pesticides may be used. Generally, these plantations involved crop rotation and shade growing methods that involve less deforestation, and thus less loss of habitat and erosion. The danger to workers is much lower with organic coffee as well. These coffees are often richer in flavor than conventional types.

Organic coffee is often, but not always, Fair Trade certified as well. This means that the low pay and long hours traditional in coffee production have been replaced by fair wages and improvements in the local community. Certain standards of pay and treatment of workers apply to Fair Trade certified coffee.

If the quality of your coffee and the conditions in which it is grown are important to you, it might be worthwhile to check out organic coffee varieties available near you. If you don’t have access to a good selection, try looking online. There are plenty of great specialty retailers on the Internet who can offer an incredible selection of organic coffees. You’re sure to find the one you prefer. It’s worth it for coffee this good.