Holistic Roasters FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Biodynamic coffee shade grown?
Yes. Biodynamic Coffee plants are integrated into natural forest environments and are surrounded by many other types of trees and plants. Sometimes referred to as agroforestry, these trees not only provide shade but also celebrate the diversity of plant and animal life that is part of a natural, healthy & resilient ecosystem.
2. Are Organic & Biodynamic similar?
Yes, Organic and Biodynamic agriculture are similar – each has the goal of eliminating the use of pesticides and other chemicals that industrial agriculture uses to grow our food. However, Biodynamic certification has broader and more stringent requirements. For example, unlike organic farming, which makes exemptions for the use of certain broad-spectrum natural pesticides such as rotenone, ryania and sabadilla (which kill pollinators), there are no exemptions for their use in Biodynamic farming.
Biodynamic farmers also set aside at least 10% of the total farm acreage for biodiversity – riparian zones, wetlands, grasslands, and forests – and Biodynamic certification now includes soil testing for carbon sequestration.
3. Do you offer a freshness guarantee?
Yes :) We include the roast date on each bag and guarantee that all coffee is shipped within one week of the roast date.
We roast on Probat, Probatone coffee roasters that are custom-spec'd by Scott Rao.
4. What is “Specialty” grade coffee?
To be classified as Specialty, a coffee must achieve a score of 80 or above by the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) or by a licensed Q-grader who inspects the coffee for defects and assigns scores to each of the coffee’s attributes, such the acidity, body, flavour and aroma .
Specialty coffee represents a small fraction of the world production and our Biodynamic Coffee qualifies as Excellent with scores typically ranging between 85 and 87.
5. How long does delivery usually take?
We ship directly from our coffee roasting facility and transit times will vary depending on the destination, weather and other conditions.
Nationwide delivery usually takes between 2-7 days. You'll receive a tracking number for you to stay updated with the delivery.
6. Where can I buy Biodynamic Coffee?
We work with traditional as well as online retailers such as Primal Pastures. Please see our Retailers section for a complete list of our partners.
7. Is your packaging eco-friendly?
Of course! Our bags are 100% compostable including the degassing valve and resealable zipper :)
8. Do you offer wholesale accounts?
Coffee shops, grocers, retailers and other organizations that purchase a minimum order quantity (MOQ) will get wholesale pricing and free shipping in the USA and Canada. Contact us to set up an account
9. How do I track my order?
You can use our chat function at the bottom-right of the page to sign in with an email address to manage your order and get tracking information.
10. How do I manage my subscription?
It's now super-easy to access your subscription portal with just your email address. You can skip, re-schedule, delay, edit quantities & delivery frequencies, update shipping & billing information or simply cancel your subscription at any time.
--> Access your subscription portal <--
Conventional vs Biodynamic
Adds to landfill waste
100% compostable
Conventional
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Lower quality
Typically a blend of older harvest coffees that may include lower quality robusta beans
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May contain Toxins
Not lab tested for mold or other toxins that can negatively impact health
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Destroys the Environment
One of the most heavily sprayed crops. The heavy use of chemicals pollutes soil & water
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Loss of Biodiversity
Mono crop that degrades ecosystem resilience & the diversity of life
Biodynamic
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Higher quality
Specialty grade, single origin arabica coffee beans from the most recent harvest - great taste!
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Mold & toxin free
3rd party tested for mycotoxins, heavy metals & biological contaminants
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Rebuilds the Environment
Regeneratively grown without pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers
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Promotes Biodiversity
Promotes biodiversity and a healthy soil microbiome through the use of natural compost
