Coffee is easily one of the favorite beverages of Americans and many people worldwide. Its delicious aroma and flavor paired with its energy boosting caffeine make it easy to see why it is so widely loved and consumed. While coffee is available in every store, gas station, diner, fine restaurant and even juice bars, it is not always a high-quality product or one that is worth investing your money in. Many companies use practices that deplete and pollute the Earth and its wildlife, all while exploiting the people and communities that are growing their coffee.
As vegans, we try to do our best to minimize the negative impact we have on the Earth while protecting the animals and people that live on it. Buying coffee that exploits the Earth and its people and animals is not a sustainable practice and not one to support in the vision of the world we’re creating together. We believe that veganism is a lifestyle that embraces a variety of practices and paths that work towards the goal of a sustainable, cruelty-free future for both animals and humans. And that includes how we spend our money and the impact our purchases have.
We’ve dug deep to find the best tasting and most ethical coffee companies available, as well as those who simply support a more sustainable future by choosing to use plant-based milk or ingredients in lieu of animal-based ones. The following list is extensive and offers brands to brew your own coffee, brands for on-the-go purchase, as well as recipes to make at home for all true coffee lovers. We believe that coffee can and should be enjoyed regularly without guilt, so read onward to discover how to buy the best coffee and how to make it taste just as good at home without fake ingredients. (You may also want to read about our post on recipes and reviews on vegan coffee creamers.)
What’s in a Label Anyway?
The following labels are great to look for on your bag of coffee. While they don’t always ensure 100% that the coffee is as sustainable as humanely possible, they do ensure that a variety of steps are in place and action is being taken to either produce a high quality bean with minimal environmental damage and/or while making a positive impact on the local environment, economy and lives of those who grow it.
Certified Organic: According to the USDA website:
USDA certified organic foods are grown and processed according to federal guidelines addressing, among many factors, soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives. Organic producers rely on natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods to the fullest extent possible.
Produce can be called organic if it’s certified to have grown on soil that had no prohibited substances applied for three years prior to harvest. Prohibited substances include most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. In instances when a grower has to use a synthetic substance to achieve a specific purpose, the substance must first be approved according to criteria that examine its effects on human health and the environment”
Fair Trade: According to the Fair Trade Certified page:
“Fair trade is a global movement made up of a diverse network of producers, companies, shoppers, advocates, and organizations putting people and planet first.”
This certification ensures income sustainability for its workers, making sure that basic needs such as housing and food costs are accounted for regardless of whatever the global market prices may be for the products. It also works to ensure empowerment of its workers, individual and community well bell being, and environmental stewardship. A full explanation of what Fair Trade means and stories of its direct impact are available here as well as here.
Rainforest Alliance Certified: According to the Rainforest Alliance page:
“Our green frog certification seal indicates that a farm, forest, or tourism enterprise has been audited to meet standards that require environmental, social, and economic sustainability. “
The Rainforest Alliance certification means that biodiversity is promoted, natural resources are conserved, endangered species and land are protected, effective farm management is used, climate change is mitigated, human well being is considered and livelihoods are improved through decent wages and the ability to organize, and local communities are benefitted. For a more in-depth explanation of what the Rainforest Alliance Certification stands for and who it impacts, read more here.
Shade Grown: According to Consumer Reports Greener Choices:
“Our green frog certification seal indicates that a farm, forest, or tourism enterprise has been audited to meet standards that require environmental, social, and economic sustainability. “
“Coffee farms typically can cut many trees down in order to increase yields from coffee crops. “Shade grown” implies that the coffee was grown on farms that maintain tree canopy as habitat for native and migratory birds and other wildlife. Although not a replacement for native tropical forests, shade-grown coffee plantations can provide the last refuge for species that are threatened by the removal of original forest cover. But there is no common standard that producers have to meet to use the term “shade grown” on the label of a coffee product, and verification is not required.”
Coffee Beans: The Best Conscious Brands Available
We wanted to highlight a few of our favorite coffee brands that stand out as leaders in the industry. These companies produce amazing coffee while also honoring the environment and the people that produce their coffee as well as their communities. We can’t speak highly enough of these coffee brands, so make sure you pick them up if you see them locally or purchase them online to see just how amazing they are.
Brand: Equal Exchange
Flavors Available: All organic
Why We Love It
Equal Exchange offers a wide variety of coffees that have unique and complex flavor profiles and differing roasts. This means there is a flavor for everyone regardless of preferences. We love that this company is a true fair trade company that establishes personal relationships and contact with its farmers. The company even offers above-average bonuses for exceptional products as a way to incentivize learning new and sustainable growing techniques and practices to produce the best crop while remaining organic and environmentally friendly. Additionally, this worker-owned company has exceptionally high standards when its workers roast the coffee as well as when they cup the coffee. They leave out no part of the coffee-making process and use their highly trained staff as well as special skills and techniques all along the way to produce the best coffee possible.
Brand: Kicking Horse
Flavors Available
Why We Love It
Equal Exchange offers a wide variety of coffees that have unique and complex flavor profiles and differing roasts. This means there is a flavor for everyone regardless of preferences. We love that this company is a true fair trade company that establishes personal relationships and contact with its farmers. The company even offers above-average bonuses for exceptional products as a way to incentivize learning new and sustainable growing techniques and practices to produce the best crop while remaining organic and environmentally friendly. Additionally, this worker-owned company has exceptionally high standards when its workers roast the coffee as well as when they cup the coffee. They leave out no part of the coffee-making process and use their highly trained staff as well as special skills and techniques all along the way to produce the best coffee possible.
Brand: Conscious Coffees
Flavors Available
Why We Love It
Conscious Coffees is on a mission to provide amazingly delicious coffee without compromising the environment or the people and communities that produce it. This company is a certified B Corporation. “Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.” This company seriously cares about its impact while also caring about making outstanding coffee. They work directly with coffee co-ops to eliminate middlemen which helps these communities thrive. In addition to their commitment to the people and communities that produce coffee, this company sources only organically grown beans. This means they care about the earth as well. Delicious coffee that partakes in multiple ways to improve lives and the Earth? Yes, please!
Brand: Four Sigmatic
Flavors Available
Why We Love It
This company uses organic and fairly traded coffee in extremely unique blends to create delicious and medicinal drinks. They offer a bag to brew as well as packets of dissolvable, on-the-go coffee with a variety of different medicinal mushrooms that have a wide array of purported benefits. This company’s adaptogenic mushrooms, depending on which, are said to aid in focus, strengthen the immune system, counteract stress, fight inflammation and provide anti-aging benefits. This coffee is quite dark and delicious but has a slight hint of mushroom depending on the flavor. Adding a hint of creamer or plant milk is a great option to make them more palatable.
Other Organic Coffee Companies
Additionally (because we just can’t leave them out), check out these organic companies with a variety of sustainable practices:
Ready to Drink Coffee: The Best Bottled Brands for an On-the-Go Lifestyle
Brand: Califia Farms
Flavors Available: All cold brew
Why We Love It
Califia Farms makes delicious almond milk and they’ve taken that and blended it with cold brew coffees to make coffee shop quality lattes that are absolutely delicious. We love the wide variety of flavors available and most have far less sugar than any other products, especially those purchased from coffee chains. Additionally, we love that they give a caffeine meter on the back of each bottle so you can buy the beverage that’ll best suit your needs whether you just want a nice pick me up or something to power you through your entire day.
Brand: Chameleon Cold Brew
Flavors Available
Why We Love It
This company makes a deliciously dark cold brew from organic coffee and we couldn’t be more in love. If you love a good dark and strong coffee, these coffees are both delicious and minimally processed to give you a real bang for your buck. As a fair warning, each bottle contains well over 200 mg of caffeine, so proceed with caution!
Brand: Rebbl
Flavors Available
Why We Love It
This company creates truly unique, outstanding products that taste amazing. Rebbl uses organic ingredients to create superfood based drinks that include adaptogens such as maca, reishi and ashwaghanda. These drinks tend to use a base of organic coconut milk, omit refined sugar and instead use stevia or coconut sugar and very few other ingredients, making them a great healthy coffee option for when you want a boost but also would like something a little more nutritionally dense.
Coffee Recipes: The Best Vegan Coffee Recipes to Get You Caffeinated
Recipe: Healthy Coffee Smoothie
Where to Find It: Detoxinista
Why We Love It: This recipe’s flavor rivals the best frozen coffee drinks you’ve ever had out but is actually packed full of healthy ingredients instead of syrups and artificial flavors. We love the use of frozen coffee ice cubes to thicken the shake without using banana, which adds a flavor we prefer not to have with coffee. It’s full of vitamins, minerals, omega 3’s and fiber too, so there’s no reason to feel any guilt while enjoying this caffeinated icy treat.
Recipe: Coconut Milk Thai Iced Coffee
Where to Find It: What Great Grandma Ate
Why We Love It: This recipe is so flavorful and simple to make! The creamy coconut milk helps offset the acidity of coffee. And the maple syrup imparts a subtle sweetness without adding refined sugar or too much sugar at all. It’s the perfect recipe to serve to guests or to make at the beginning of the week and enjoy daily.
Recipe: Vegan Bulletproof Coffee
Where to Find It: Running on Real Food
Why We Love It: We all know at least one person who is obsessed with adding butter to their coffee. And while they may feel amazing, we know butter is not a good choice for us or the animals. Thankfully, this vegan version of bulletproof coffee tastes amazing and uses MCT oil, which helps provide sustained and balanced energy. This recipe is not only amazingly easy to make, we love all the suggestions to “upgrade” your coffee including adding cacao, adaptogens, and nut milks.
Recipe: Creamy Maple Oat Milk Latte
Where to Find It: The Wooden Skillet
Why We Love It: This recipe is a great option if you’re looking to spend less on purchasing morning lattes. It’s easy to make and use the oh-so-trendy oat milk in place of more traditional soy or almond milks that are available. It’s quite cheap per serving and may just be the ultimate replacement for your daily coffee take out habit.
Recipe: Salted Cashew Latte
Where to Find It: A Saucy Kitchen
Why We Love It: This recipe is so creamy and combines the best of both worlds, adding both salt and sweet to this latte. We love how easy it is to make and yet it still feels like a gourmet treat that you would find at some tiny coffee shop.
Homemade Vegan Coffee Recipes: Unique and Tasty Recipes from Our Kitchen
Recipe: Creamy Cacao Coffee
This coffee drink is creamy with a subtle sweetness thanks to the Brazil nut milk. The cacao gives an ample boost of antioxidants, magnesium and energy while blending perfectly with the flavors of the milk and coffee. This drink is also refined sugar-free, so it’s great for anyone looking to lower their sugar intake!
Ingredients
Serves 1
Directions
Add Brazil nuts and water to blender and blend on high until smooth and milky. Strain through a nut milk or paint straining bag to remove any chunks for a creamy milk. Rinse the blender then add the nut milk maple syrup, coffee and cacao powder and blend on high until creamy. Add ice if desired.
Recipe: Adaptogenic Superfood Coffee
This superfood coffee is so delicious and contains omega 3’s from the hemp seeds. It also includes an adaptogen to help alleviate stress and balance out hormones. What more could you really ask for in a coffee?
Ingredients
Serves 1
Directions
Add hemp seeds, dates and water to blender and blend on high until smooth and milky. Strain through a nut milk or paint straining bag to remove any chunks for a creamy milk. Rinse the blender then add the nut milk, adaptogen of choice and coffee and blend on high until creamy. Add ice if desired.
Recipe: Coconut Water Coffee
This beverage is really easy to make. It is great for an on-the-go mix if you want something a little sweet and refreshing that isn’t plain black coffee. It’s a great option as well because coconut water is extremely hydrating and can help offset the dehydrating nature of coffee.
Ingredients
Serves 1
Directions
Pour cold brew and coconut water into a cup and enjoy!