So I’ve talked about Caffe Ibis, which offers a lotta different shade grown certified coffee. But if you’re looking for other blends, keep your eyes open for these shade grown certifications: Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (pic right) — which is rigorous but rather costly — and Rainforest Alliance (below left) — which is said by some to be too lax.

BirdBarista of Coffee & Conservation outlines other difficulties with certification: costs, and problems with applying one-size-fits-all biodiversity criteria to different regions. Plus, shade coffee certification’s only available for Latin and South American sources.

To make it even more confusing, many people mistake the Northwest Shade Coffee Campaign as a shade-grown certification label. However, that label just means that the coffee company’s paid money to join the NWSCC, a consumer education organization. Joining’s a nice start, but perhaps not the end-all…

What’s a bird-loving coffee drinker to do? For now, BirdBarista gives some suggestions for the consumer.

I’ll be keeping an eye on Coffee & Conservation for new shade-grown research findings. Plus — Some notes on why I’m generally not a stickler for the shade-grown certification to come –

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