I tested a dozen organic coffee brands to find the best mold-free cup of joe. I finally created my non-toxic coffee guide to help you find the healthiest beans that fit your budget, lifestyle and taste! Plus, I’ll share why I ditched commercial coffee, what exactly to look for and an in-depth comparison of all the top-rated brands!

Why I Switched to Organic 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.

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.

But, I want to emphasize that choosing clean coffee isn’t just for our physical health! It’s also about the health of the planet and the welfare of the workers along the ENTIRE farm-to-cup journey. If you care about these things, then organic is the way to go.

My two cents

I don’t think that people who only occasionally drink coffee and are otherwise not sensitive to mold or are immune compromised need to throw out all their coffee. But since I drink multiple cups of coffee each day, this is one easy and super effective way to do reduce my body’s toxic load.

I’d love to hear from you. What’s been your favorite organic coffee brand so far?

How to Find the Best Nontoxic Coffee

Here’s how to read coffee labels. 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.

Coffee Certifications Explained

Looking for these certifications can help you find the very best of the best, but just because a company doesn’t have some of these doesn’t mean that they make bad coffee. Here are some certifications that show their coffee has been vetted:

• 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.⁣

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. 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.

Mold-Free Coffee Brands Compared

I tried Holistic Roasters Biodynamic Coffee (highest quality!)

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 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, it tastes seriously delicious! I tried all three roasts using both my moka pot and French press and love the medium roast the most. The light roast is insanely smooth and easy on my stomach, and both the medium and dark roast have amazing depth and flavor!

There’s 3 roast options: light (Rubicon), medium (Rise & Shine) and dark (French Roast) plus 8 different grinding options to choose from depending on how you want to brew your coffee (whole bean, French press, pourover, drip, filter, espresso and more). It’s truly a coffee snob’s dream come true!

Price: $19.95 for 10.5 oz / $57.95 for 32 oz / $133 for 2 lbs
How it tastes: rich, nutty and bold
Bean type: whole bean, French press, pourover, drip, mocha pot, medium espresso, fine espresso and very fine espresso
Bag size: 10.5 oz, 32 oz and 2 lbs
Decaf available: Yes (sister brand Melk Organics available on their site)
✔ Produced on regenerative organic farms  ✔ Specialty Grade (85-87) ✔ 3rd party tested free ✔ 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. Fibula’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.

I use my moka pot for an espresso like drink (they do have an espresso blend) and my French press as well. I love their flavored ones like Buttery Caramel and Chocolate Nut. 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 wish they had larger bag sizes because I run through mine so fast.

Price: $28 for 12 oz
How it tastes: sooo rich, flavorful and complex
Bean type: Ground, whole bean, pods, instant coffee
Bag size: 12 oz only
Decaf available: Yes`
✔ USDA Certified Organic  ✔ Specialty Grade ✔ 3rd party tested for more than 350 chemical compounds and mycotoxins

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I tried Purity Coffee Protect Light Medium Roast

Purity’s organic coffee was the first clean coffee brand I tried several years ago and they remain consistently top tier. I love that this brand actively tests for and optimizes 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. Commercial coffee just can’t compare. I also tried their sachets because they’re so travel-friendly and the taste is noticeably weaker but still quite smooth.

Price: $26 for 12 oz / $129 for 5 lb
How it tastes: smooth, clean, crisp
Bean type: Ground, whole bean, pods and sachets
Bag size: 12 oz and 5 lb
Decaf available: Yes
✔ B Corp Certified ✔ Produced on regenerative organic farms  ✔ Specialty Grade ✔ 3rd party tested

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I tried Lifeboost Coffee Grata Medium Roast

Lifeboost makes low-acid, sustainable, toxin-free coffee that’s mountain shade grown in one of Nicaragua’s National Protected Areas. For the price point, I sadly found their coffee somewhat paled in comparison to other brands to be honest. 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.

Price: $27.95 for 12 oz ($2.33 per oz)
How it tastes: low acid and smooth
Bean type: Ground, whole bean and pods
Bag size: 12 oz
Decaf available: Yes
✔ Certified Organic ✔ Fair trade and Direct Trade

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I tried Vitacup Low Acid Perfect Coffee (best instant coffee!)

I’ve tried both Vitacup’s ground coffee and instant coffee and I think they make the best organic instant coffee for the affordable price point. 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 ground coffee 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 sooo many varietals: electrolyte coffee, mushroom coffee, magnesium caffeine-free coffee for sleep, and even slim coffee for those looking to slim down.

Price: $13.99 for 10 oz / $25 for 20 oz
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 Natural Force Clean Coffee

I like Natural Force’s other products, so I tried their USDA Organic Clean Decaf Coffee which uses the Swiss Water Method. It didn’t disappoint! I love the pure, clean and smooth taste of their coffee. In terms of quality and safety, they are among the best and are lab-tested for mold, mycotoxins, and pesticides, high altitude and shade grown as well as Specialty Grade.

Price: $27 for 12 oz / $119 for 5 lb
How it tastes: smooth and clean
Bean type: Ground and whole bean
Bag size: 12 oz and 5 lb
Decaf available: Yes
✔ B Corp Certified ✔ USDA Organic  ✔ Specialty Grade ✔ 3rd party tested

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I tried BulletProof 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 3rd party test 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.

Price: $15.99 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

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I tried Kion Coffee

Kion’s Coffee is 3rd party tested and free of mold and mycotoxins. I actually came to discover Kion during my recent fitness journey when I needed a quality clean protein powder and amino acids, but I also tried their USDA certified organic coffee to see how it compared to other brands I love drinking. 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

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My Verdict

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