I tested a dozen organic coffee brands for two years, and I’m sharing what I actually drink nonstop. The best coffee is made with certified organic beans verified to be mold free and without any harmful chemicals or pesticides. Read on for my personal thoughts on the best coffee brands that don’t compromise on flavor or purity.

Why I Switched to Mold Free Coffee

First off, you might be wondering how the heck there’s mold in coffee and “what in the world are mycotoxins?!” Yes, coffee is susceptible to mold depending on the climate it grows in and how it’s processed and stored. Mycotoxins are chemicals produced by mold, which are commonly found at trace levels in various foods like cereal, peanut butter, nuts, and alcohol. The most commonly ‎encountered mycotoxins are Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), and fumonisin B1 (FB1). According to information I found online, over 90% of commercial coffee is contaminated with mold. Most companies don’t go to the extra mile of third party testing their coffee to ensure it’s safe. Even organic coffee can still develop mold during the harvest, transport, and storage stages.

Generally speaking, if you’re a healthy adult, your liver already does a great job at neutralizing and detoxifying it out of your body. But for us coffee obsessed folks, the risk lies in regularly consuming it. Plus, some people are just sensitive to mold or are already overexposed to toxins, leading to adverse effects like nausea, skin inflammation, GI issues, chronic exhaustion, sinus infections, cold and flu-like symptoms, immune deficiency, and more. It’s also been found in human breast milk, so pregnant and nursing women may want to avoid.

What to look for in nontoxic coffee

Here are some tips on how to read coffee labels so you can find the absolute best.

• First, look for coffee that’s certified organic, 3rd party tested, mold-free, mycotoxin-free, single origin, shade grown, and low acid. You can also check if it’s made in small batches which allows for higher quality control.
• For ultimate quality, look for biodynamic, sustainably and regeneratively farmed coffee.
• Look for mold testing lab results. Most companies who market themselves as mold free will also have their testing results available on their website or on request.

Coffee Certifications Explained

Certifications are a surefire way to know a company’s coffee has been verified by a third party.

• Certified Organic: Verifies organic farming methods without synthetic chemicals. It can be certified by USDA, EcoCert, CCOF and OCIA.
• Fair Trade Certified: Ensures fair prices and social standards for small-scale farmers.
• Rainforest Alliance Certified: Verifies that the coffee has been produced in a way that promotes environmental, social, and economic sustainability. 
• Specialty Grade: To be considered Specialty, the coffee must score 80 points or higher on a 100 point scale SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) or by a licensed Q-grader. The coffee is scored based on attributes like acidity, body, flavor and aroma. 
• Demeter-certified Biodynamic: Guarantees the coffee is made from biodynamic agriculture and a holistic, ecological, and ethical approach to farming.
• Regeneratively farmed: Meets the highest standards in the world for soil health, biodiversity protection, promoting human rights and building climate resilience.

I tried Holistic Roasters Biodynamic Coffee (healthiest)

I found Biodynamic Coffee by Holistic Roasters to be THE healthiest coffee on the market, hands down. They not only tick all the usual boxes, but they go above and beyond across certifications, sustainability, freshness and transparency. Besides being lab tested (with results available on their site), USDA Organic and Specialty Grade, they’re also Demeter-certified Biodynamic and Ecocert certified. It’s a step above just organic coffee and means exceptional care has gone into every stage of growing, harvesting, processing, sorting, drying, and shipping. All their single origin Arabica coffee beans are shade grown using regenerative organic farming practices that improve soil’s natural fertility while eliminating the need for pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and chemical fertilizers.

They also don’t just claim their coffee is freshly roasted, they actually ship directly from their roasting facility within one week of roast date (they roast fresh every Mon & Wed). Meanwhile, all that coffee sitting in grocery stores are stale. Naturally, the taste is seriously delicious! I tried all three roasts using my moka pot, French press and automatic coffeemaker and love the medium roast the most. The light roast is insanely smooth and easy on my stomach, and the medium and dark roast (plus decaf) have amazing depth and flavor!

This is the ONLY organic coffee brand I’ve found that offers a 2 lb and 5 lb bag, so you don’t have to keep buying a new bag every month. Coffee snobs can rejoice, because Biodynamic Coffee offers a whopping 8 different grinding options to choose from depending on how you brew your coffee (whole bean, French press, pourover, drip, filter, espresso and more).

Price: $19.95 for 10.5oz | $57.95 for 2lb | $133 for 5lb
How it tastes: rich, nutty and bold
Bean type: whole bean, French press, pourover, drip, moka pot, medium espresso, fine espresso and very fine espresso
Bag size: 10.5 oz, 2 lb and 5 lb (whole bean only)
Decaf available: Yes
✔ Produced on regenerative organic farms  ✔ Specialty Grade (85-87) ✔ 3rd party tested ✔ USDA Organic ✔ Demeter-certified Biodynamic ✔ Ecocert

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I tried Fabula Coffee Dark Roast (best flavor!)

I’ve been drinking Fabula Coffee for two years now, including their flavored and decaf options, and they have the richest tasting organic coffee on the market in my opinion. Fabula’s mold testing and lab results are available on request and they also test for 350+ chemical compounds. They’ve got so many varietals and the taste just hits different – soo flavorful and well-rounded. My favorite is the Dark Roast and their gourmet flavored coffee. I love how I can use my moka pot to make espresso (they do have a separate espresso blend), French press or Moccamaster machine, and the taste is always smooth and rich. When I get bored of my usual coffee I opt for their Buttery Caramel and Chocolate Nut, or if I’m in the mood for a refreshing cold brew, their cold brew bag. Fabula Coffee is USDA certified organic, fair trade, low-acid, mold-free, mycotoxin-free shade grown, small-batch made and tested at independent laboratories for more than 350 chemical compounds and mycotoxins. Sadly, I am not a fan of their instant coffee, and I wish they had larger bag sizes because I run through mine so fast.

Price: $29.99 for 12 oz
How it tastes: sooo rich, flavorful and complex
Bean type: Ground, whole bean, pods, instant coffee, cold brew
Bag size: 12 oz only
Decaf available: Full decaf and half caff
✔ USDA Certified Organic  ✔ Specialty Grade ✔ 3rd party tested for more than 350 chemical compounds and mycotoxins ✔ Flavored coffee available

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I tried Purity Coffee (highest antioxidants)

Purity’s organic coffee was the first clean coffee brand I started drinking several years ago and they remain consistently top tier. I love that Purity is the only brand to test for BOTH mold and antioxidants, to ensure the retention of antioxidants and micronutrients. Purity tested over 100 coffee brands and found that their antioxidant levels are 65% higher than the competition. They’re also B Corp certified, specialty grade, 3rd party tested and their coffee is produced on regenerative organic farms, making them of the best mold-free coffee brands on the market. I find the taste of Purity’s coffee beans to be very clean and smooth, and consistently so as I’ve been buying from them for years. Ease, which is their Dark Roast, is so rich and full-bodied. They’re the only organic coffee brand offering a 2/3 decaf option, which I actually found convenient for when I want less caffeine but not completely so. Also, Purity’s new Sacred Cups Dark Roast Instant Coffee is the best tasting one I’ve tried compared to all the other brands, but only comes in single serve sachets. Once you try clean coffee you can’t go back to conventional.

Price: $29 for 12 oz | $139 for 5lb
How it tastes: smooth, clean, crisp
Bean type: Ground, whole bean, pods, instant coffee and single serve bags
Bag size: 12oz and 5lb (whole bean only)
Decaf available: Full decaf and 2/3 decaf
✔ Tested to have 65% higher antioxidant levels ✔ B Corp Certified ✔ Produced on regenerative organic farms  ✔ Specialty Grade ✔ 3rd party tested

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I tried Lifeboost Coffee

Lifeboost makes low-acid, sustainable, toxin-free coffee that’s mountain shade grown in one of Nicaragua’s National Protected Areas. Their light roast is so easy on the stomach and smooth. The medium roast tasted nutty and robust enough but maybe just a touch sour and lacked the complexity and uniqueness that other coffees that cost $28 had. People seem to really love this brand, especially those with sensitive stomachs, so I may be in the minority here! I can confirm that it tastes low acid and smooth though. I also preferred Lifeboats to Allegro Coffee. I always update this post with new coffee I’m trying and right now I’m loving their Fermented Wine Infused Coffee. Super unique twist to my regular cup! Lifeboost has THE largest variety of flavored coffee options I’ve seen.

Price: $27.95 for 12oz ($2.33 per oz)
How it tastes: low acid and smooth
Bean type: Ground, whole bean, pods, cold brew
Bag size: 12 oz
Decaf available: Full decaf and half-caff
✔ Certified Organic ✔ Fair trade and Direct Trade ✔ Flavored coffee available

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I tried Vitacup Low Acid Perfect Coffee (budget!)

I’ve tried both Vitacup’s ground coffee and instant coffee and I think they make the best budget friendly organic instant coffee. I find their little packets especially convenient when I’m traveling to developing countries or staying at airbnb’s where organic coffee and decaf isn’t available. I can definitely tell the taste is soo much richer than commercial options. Vitacup is organic, low acid, and third-party tested for mycotoxins and pesticides and they use beans from Mexico. They differ from other clean coffee brands in that they enhance their products with extra antioxidants and vitamins like ginseng, electrolytes, turmeric, fiber and more. Even though Vitacup wouldn’t be my first pick, I like that it’s affordable, and it’s a versatile product for those looking to get in extra nutrients. They offer such a wide variety of vitamin-infused coffee: electrolyte coffee, fiber coffee, mushroom coffee, magnesium caffeine-free coffee for sleep.

Price: $18.99 for 10oz
How it tastes: clean, smooth
Bean type: Ground, whole bean, pods and instant coffee
Bag size: 10 oz and 20 oz
Decaf available: Yes
✔ Produced on regenerative organic farms  ✔ Specialty Grade ✔ 3rd party tested free of mycotoxins

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I tried BulletProof Coffee The Original Ground Coffee

I tested the famous BulletProof Coffee, a brand known for including fats like grass-fed butter or ghee and was surprised at how much I liked the taste considering the affordable price. There’s faint sweet and nutty notes that are super subtle. But compared to the more high-end bags, it leaves you wanting for more in the flavor department. Bulletproof sustainably sources from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms and is 3rd party tested for toxins and mold to ensure safety. I appreciate that they offer a reasonable price for mold-free coffee that’s still high quality and would consider them to be a great option for people who can’t spend over $20 for a bag but don’t want to go super cheap either. Bulletproof doesn’t disclose their testing results.

Price: $18.99 for 12 oz
How it tastes: rich and nutty
Bean type: Ground, whole bean and pods
Bag size: 12 oz and 36 oz
Decaf available: Yes
✔ Rainforest Alliance Certified  ✔ Sustainable sourced ✔ Specialty Grade (evaluated by the Specialty Coffee Association) ✔ 3rd party tested

I tried Kion Coffee

Kion’s Coffee is 3rd party tested and free of mold and mycotoxins, but they don’t disclose their test results on their site. Kion’s 100% organic Arabica beans that are grown and harvested on sustainable, fair-trade coffee cooperatives in Honduras and roasted locally in Boulder, Colorado. They’re USDA Organic Certified, Specialty Grade and offer light, medium, and dark roast options as well as decaf. I find the taste to be smooth, clean and slightly nutty, but wish they had more flavors!

Price: $24.95 for 12 oz
How it tastes: clean and rich with sweet notes
Bean type: Ground and whole bean
Bag size: 12 oz only
Decaf available: Yes
✔ USDA Organic ✔ Specialty Grade ✔ 3rd party tested

My Verdict

After testing all the top-rated organic coffee brands, my favorites are Biodynamic Coffee by Holistic Roasters, Purity Coffee and Fabula. They’re not only the highest quality and healthiest cup of coffee but also the tastiest!

I’m not saying you need to throw out all the coffee in your pantry. It’s about making small informed steps, not perfect steps. I’d love to hear from you. What’s been your favorite organic coffee brand so far?

A Note on Decaf Coffee

Keep in mind that decaf coffee & instant coffee are higher in mycotoxins. If you drink caffeine-free coffee only, then I highly recommend opting for a brand that tests for them. Most coffee manufacturers today use chemicals that are commonly used in paint removers like methylene chloride and ethyl acetate (this is the main ingredient in my nail polish remover!) to strip away caffeine. (My fave decaf is Biodynamic Coffee and fave instant is Purity Coffee). The levels that remain are under FDA limits, but I’d rather avoid since there ARE methods that don’t require the use of these toxins. Also, pregnant women and people with health conditions are more vulnerable to the effects of these trace chemicals.