While a great cup of coffee is always a welcome treat, there are just some days that call out for coffee. You look out the window and see nothing but an expanse of white. Yes, it is snow and more is falling. The wind is howling and no matter what you do, you can't seem to get warm. The coffee maker is just calling your name. But you don't want just any cup of coffee, you want something really special.

What makes a coffee special? What sets certain coffees apart? Great flavor is not enough. You need to feel good about your coffee. After all, who could enjoy a cup of coffee knowing that kids were used harvesting it or that the growers were being taken advantage of by the company that was bringing the coffee to you. How do you make sure your coffee is great and was grown, harvested, and brought to you without exploiting the farmers that grew it?

First, look for coffee that is 100% organic. Just like other foods, coffee that is certified as 100% organic means the coffee is grown without fertilizers, pesticides or other chemical products. Be sure you look for the USDA symbol certifying that the coffee is organic.

Second, check to see if the coffee is Fair Trade Certified. Fair Trade Certified means that the product the farmers were paid a fair price and the workers were paid a fair wage. No child labor was used. These practices result in stronger communities with better education and health care. You can feel good about the coffee you are purchasing.

But flavor is still important. You can't feel good about saving the world when you are still freezing. There are two things that make a superior coffee. Coffee that is shade grown and infrared roasted.

Shade growing gives coffee a better taste and richer flavor. It is also a better environment for wildlife, providing a natural home for birds which help eliminate pests naturally. The shade is also a better environment for farmers and workers as they are protected from the sun.

Last, but not least, is infrared roasting. Most coffee is roasted at high temperatures and with either direct or indirect flame. The roasting is what gives coffee its flavor, but flame roasting can lead to acidity and bitterness in the coffee, which is why coffee causes stomach problems for some people. With infrared roasting, the beans absorb the heat and essentially roast themselves. This eliminates the bitterness and acidity, making a more flavorful cup of coffee that is easier on the stomach.

So go ahead and brew your 100% organic, shade grown, fair trade, infrared roasted coffee. Sit back, watch the snow, and enjoy!

Copyright (c) 2009 Soaring Eagle Companies LLC