If you are a coffee lover, you're in luck: Coffee is naturally vegan.
The processes of harvesting and roasting coffee beans do not involve the use of animals. Because coffee beans come directly from the Coffea plant, you can rest assured your cup of joe in the morning is plant-based.
Nevertheless, you may want to keep a close eye on the beans' journey from the fields to the roaster to your supermarket and local coffee bar. There are environmental issues within the coffee industry worth considering when you're choosing between brands.
Here, we dive into why coffee is vegan and which coffee choices are the most sustainable.
Why Coffee Is Vegan
There are no animals or animal by-products involved in harvesting or roasting coffee beans, which are sourced directly from the Coffea plant. Some, but not all, Coffea flowering shrubs or small trees produce the red or purple fruits, which yield the pip, or cherry. After the beans are processed from the cherries, they are dried, milled, roasted, and, in some cases, ground before being packaged and shipped to stores.
Sustainability Considerations
While coffee is vegan, some coffee producers have better sustainability standards than others. Vegans typically aim to align themselves with ethical consumerism, so it might be of interest to research and avoid companies associated with damaging rainforest practices, as well as farmers who are unfairly paid because coffee prices are so low.
Fortunately, some of the most flavorful fair-trade, organic-certified coffees are produced by small, independently owned roasters around the United States. These businesses support ethically operated coffee producers.
Beyond the fair trade and organic seals on coffee packaging, keep an eye out for indications of the following attributes:
- Production in a LEED standard energy-efficient factory.
- Shelf-stable, fully biodegradable coffee packaging.
- Shade-grown beans.
- Championing workers' rights.
Treehugger Tip
You can donate to coffee charities to show your support for farmers and counter sustainability issues within the industry. The Coffee Trust supports Guatemalan producers and the regeneration of their land, and World Coffee Research has led to innovations like drought- and disease-resistant coffee plants that benefit farmers.
Vegan Coffee Beans & Ground Roasts
Enjoy your morning or afternoon coffee fresh at home or on the go. In addition to delicious roasts by a few big-name brands you know, we included a small sampling of the many boutique brands available in the United States.
- Starbucks Blonde Roast Ground Coffee
- Cafe Du Monde Ground Roast Chicory
- Peet's Coffee Organic French Roast
- Seattle's Best Coffee (Toasted Hazelnut is a top-selling flavor)
- Bones Coffee Company
- Grady's Cold Brew Coffee (coarse grind)
- GOODSAM - Organic Arabica Ground Coffee
- Don E. Gains Cherry Medium Roast Ground Coffee
- Ethical Bean Ground Coffee
- Concentric Lift Sustainable Ground Roast Coffee
- Artisan La Petite Turkish Coffee
- Kawaii Hawaiian Ground Roast Coffee
- Mayorga Organics Cafe Cuban
- Well Bean Premium Ground Roast Coffee
- Equal Exchange
- Cafédirect
- Doma Coffee Roasting Company
- Kickapoo Coffee Roasters
- Birds & Beans Coffee
- Grounds for Change
- Blue Bottle Coffee
- Stumptown Coffee
- Café Mam Ground Coffee
- Higher Ground Roasters
- Conscious Coffees
- Salt Spring Coffees
- Cafédirect Coffees
- Grumpy Mule
Vegan Instant Coffee
Instant coffee is a wonderful and sometimes necessary option to have on hand, especially when you're short on time. Here are some instant coffees you can count on to be vegan and sustainably produced.
- Maxim Mocha Gold Mild Coffee Mix
- La Republica Organic Instant Coffee
- Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee Dark Roast Packets French Roast
- Highground Regular Organic Kosher and Vegan Instant Coffee Single Serve Packets
- Alpine Start Premium Instant Coffee
- Four Sigmatic Foods Mushroom Instant Coffee
- Tiger 5 Mushroom Coffee - Organic Superfood Mushroom Coffee
- Nuvia Healthy Gourmet Instant Coffee
- Milksta Vegan & Decaf Lactation Coffee
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
Veganism involves abstaining from all animal products emphasizing plant-based ingredients. Coffee beans are indeed the roasted seeds of the Coffea plant, which naturally classifies them as a vegan-friendly substance.
Is coffee vegan or not? ›
Coffee is considered vegan because it's made entirely from plant-based ingredients. The coffee beans themselves are vegan-friendly, as they come directly from the Coffea plant and do not contain any animal products. In fact, coffee is one of the most widely consumed vegan beverages in the world!
What makes vegan coffee vegan? ›
Why Coffee Is Vegan. There are no animals or animal by-products involved in harvesting or roasting coffee beans, which are sourced directly from the Coffea plant. Some, but not all, Coffea flowering shrubs or small trees produce the red or purple fruits, which yield the pip, or cherry.
Can you drink coffee if you're vegan? ›
You can either buy your beans whole and grind them up at home or buy them already ground. Either way, coffee is both a vegetarian and vegan beverage because there are no animal products involved in its journey from bean to cup!
Does coffee have any animal products in it? ›
There is no such thing as “vegan coffee” because, well, all coffee is vegan. Coffee beans are roasted seeds of a plant. There's no animal involved from start to finish—not even animal by-products.
What is surprisingly not vegan? ›
Beer and Wine
Isinglass, a gelatin-based substance derived from fish, is used as a clarifying agent in some beer and wine. Other non-vegan ingredients sometimes used are casein (from milk) and egg whites.
Is Starbucks vegan or not? ›
Caffè lattes (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the whipped cream) Caffè mochas (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the whipped cream) Caramel Macchiatos (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the caramel drizzle) Ombré iced coffees (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk)
What is a healthy vegan alternative to coffee? ›
In search of a coffee alternative? There are plenty of healthy vegan coffee swaps. Try vegan turmeric lattes, healthy hot chocolate, dandelion root tea, matcha, or warm lemon water. Smoothies are also a great way to kickstart the day as a coffee alternative that serves as meal, too!
Which coffee brands are vegan? ›
Vegan Coffee
- Union Coffee - Union Revelation Espresso Bean, 200g. ...
- Cafédirect - Decaf Fairtrade Freeze Dried Machu Picchu, 100g. ...
- If You Care - Unbleached Coffee Filters, 100 Filters | Multiple Sizes. ...
- Percol - Americano Fair Trade Instant Coffee, 100g. ...
- Cafédirect - Instant Coffee (Fairtrade), 100g | Multiple Aromas.
Both meal plans have made headlines for their health benefits in recent years, and while they are similar, there are some key differences: Vegan diets eliminate all animal products, while plant-based diets do not necessarily eliminate animal products but focus on eating mostly plants, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, ...
Decaffeinated coffee is obviously a little different from regular coffee and this poses a question: is decaf coffee vegan too? Simple answer here – yes! Coffee can be decaffeinated in a number of ways, none of which involve animal-derived products.
Are tea bags vegan? ›
Tea bags can be vegan, but it depends on the specific brand and type of tea. Some tea bags are made with non-vegan materials like silk or animal-based adhesives (what?). However, many tea bags are made with plant-based materials such as paper, cotton, or other natural fibres, which are vegan-friendly.
What do vegans put in their coffee? ›
You can add alternative dairy options and vegan creamers if you want to add flavor to your coffee. Almond, coconut, and oak milk are delicious dairy alternatives that you can add to your regular or iced vegan coffee to make it taste even better.
Can vegans drink coffee creamer? ›
Warning: Most Creamers Are Non-Vegan
Most commercial coffee creamers are not vegan-friendly. For example, Coffee-Mate's regular creamers contain either sodium caseinate or micellar casein, milk derivatives that make them non-dairy but not dairy-free.
Do vegans eat eggs? ›
People who follow a vegan diet don't eat any animal foods, including dairy, eggs, and honey. About 3% of Americans follow a vegan diet. Their reasons for eating this way vary. Some vegans do it to improve their health, as research shows that a plant-based diet could lower the risk of certain diseases.
What milk is vegan? ›
Vegan milk is any milk that is made from plant-only sources — an alternative that is just as suitable for all the same purposes of regular milk. The majority are sourced from beans and nuts including soy, almond, and macadamia, but can also be sourced from oats, coconuts, and even rice.
Are any drinks not vegan? ›
Beer, wine and cider can be non-vegan due to the products used in the filtration process, such as isinglass, gelatine and casein. Additionally, some non-vegan flavourings such as honey may be added, and some co*cktails rely on milk and eggs.
Is most coffee vegan? ›
Yes, coffee beans are completely vegan-friendly because they're grown on trees. There may be trickier questions to answer around how ethical some coffee is, but that doesn't stop it being suitable for vegans.
Do vegans drink tea or coffee? ›
All coffee grounds, beans and instant coffee are vegan; all you have to do is substitute cow's milk for one of the many fantastic plant milks out there. Likewise, most teas should be vegan-friendly, except those containing honey.
Can vegans drink alcohol? ›
Yes, they absolutely can. To be clear, alcohol itself is 100% vegan-friendly. It's what gets added to it that can cause issues for those on a plant-based diet. And, unfortunately, these additional animal-derived ingredients always escape the labels, making it difficult to know what you're actually consuming.
