Cup A Joe (Timberlyne)

organic coffee is certified according to usda organic rules to be pesticide and artificial fertilizer free in its production, and free from those and all other contaminants, including non-certified organic coffee, in its handling by shippers and coffee roasters.

fairly traded coffee is coffee that is bought and sold between roasters and co-operatives or individual farmers that exceeds the "fair trade" minimum pricing, and is traded in the spirit of transfair's rules, but without a third party certifying the deal.

shade grown (or bird-friendly) coffee is certified by the rainforest alliance, the smithsonian, or another environmental organization to have been grown under a canopy of shade trees, not in clear-cut conditions. most arabica coffee, and certainly all older arabicas, are optimally grown under a canopy.

certified fair trade coffee is coffee sold above a certain minimum price, under stringent rules governing coffee-producing cooperatives as certified by trans fair, usa.