Five First-Class Sydney Coffees That Are Also Organic and Ethical

As much as we all love our coffee, it's no secret that the coffee bean industry is fraught with ethical issues, from exploitation of farmers to deforestation. What's more, coffee is the world's second most traded commodity, deferring only to oil. More than 2.25 billion cups are drunk every day worldwide.

Here are five Sydney coffee spots where you can maintain your caffeine addiction while knowing that your cash is supporting chemical-free, ethical agricultural practices.

THE O CAFE

The O Cafe went certified organic before any other cafe in Sydney. Their coffee comes from Woolloomooloo homies Toby’s Estate, but it’s the Fairtrade Organic Blend. So you get all the earthy tones, spiciness and smooth finish that you’re used to, with minimum wages and humane working conditions added. Plus, there’s a seriously serious menu of potent superfood smoothies, with names like Liverlicious Green Smoothie (kale, spinach, parsley, mint, celery, cucumber, apple, camu camu, flaxseed and coconut water) and Mactac Energy Smoothie (avocado, mango, silken tofu, kale, spinach, almond milk and maca).

487 Crown Street, Surry Hills

ESPRESSO ORGANICA

At any one time, gourmet boutique roaster Espresso Organica sells up to 30 Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic single origins and blends. They’re constantly on the hunt for the latest in Grand Cru coffee beans, which they source from all over the world. And whenever they come across an outstanding crop, they buy it up — the whole kit and caboodle. So there’s every chance you’ll find yourself drinking a coffee that can’t be drunk anywhere else on the planet.

43 Majors Bay Road, Concord

EARTH FOOD STORE

If you need a caffeine hit to boost your swim, surfing session or coastal sprint, do it sans pesticides at the Earth Food Store. The team has been keeping the starving, salty, sandy crowd organic since 1992. Service is especially friendly, the vibe unpretentious and the coffee a delicious nutty, chocolatey house blend. Plus, you can match it with an array of exotic food products, like locally sourced honey from the Urban Beehive and Luvju organic chocolate.

81a Gould Street, Bondi Beach

GET YORK COFFEE

This light, airy cafe is smack bang in the middle of the CBD. Their coffee comes from Marrickville-based roasters and blenders Sacred Grounds, where the beans are 100 percent Arabica, fully certified organic and Fairtrade. Every producer is featured on the company's site. The Sacred blend has its origins in Nicaragua, Colombia, Papua New Guinea and Ethiopia and delivers a well-balanced flavour, combining sharp acidity, sweet and spicy tones, and a dark chocolate finish.

1 York Street, Sydney

ABOUT LIFE

Wherever you are in the inner city, you're never more than a hop, skip and jump away from an About Life organic cafe. Their beans are of the premium roasted, Fairtrade variety, and there's a range of organic milks to choose from - including dairy, soy, rice, almond and oat. In an added bonus for our beleaguered environment, coffees come in BioCups, which are sourced from managed plantations and 100 percent biodegradable. At $2.70 each takeaway, they're more affordable than many a non-organic hot beverage.

605 Darling St, Rozelle; 31-37 Oxford St, Bondi Junction; 520 Miller St, Cammeray

Top image: Toby's Estate.