In this fun episode, Kenneth sits down with Katie Thomas to debate and provide a comprehensive answer to one of the biggest, most long-standing coffee debates – shade or sun - which is best for growing coffee?
Kenneth walks the audience through the pros and cons of each growing method. Looking at which is best for the environment, the farmer, and taste in that final cup. He provides an overview of how agroforestry polyculture and monoculture growing techniques work.
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS

Shade-grown coffee is usually grown under native trees and is good for the environment. Kenneth explains why.
Beans grown under shade tend to mature more slowly, which usually results in better taste.
Growing under shade creates some extra challenges for farmers, so it is not sustainable in all parts of the world.
Shade growing does have some advantages for farmers. The presence of birds reduces the incidence of the coffee berry borer by up to 70%.
Unsurprisingly, more coffee is being grown in the sun than ever before.
In some circumstances, coffee grown in full sun can have better cup quality than beans grown in shade.

 
BEST MOMENTS
‘Shade provides wind protection for the plants... and helps to prevent erosion. ´
‘A study in 2016 showed the best cup quality at higher altitudes, in full sun and/or medium shade.’
‘Shade-grown coffee isn't the answer to everything and sun-grown coffee isn't the devil.’
 
EPISODE RESOURCES
The Bubba Cup - https://www.bubbabrands.com/
 
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Award-winning single-origin specialty coffee: https://umblecoffee.com/
You’re disciplined and high achieving. You never settle. Shouldn’t the fuel that helps you reach your goals be held to those same standards? Instead of a crash-inducing cup of jo, you need coffee with optimal antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. A coffee so good that you can drink it black.
At Umble Coffee, we only roast specialty-grade arabica coffee from around the world with cupping scores 84 and above. Don’t sabotage yourself in pursuing your goals - drink coffee that tastes better and is better for you. No crash, great taste, and better long-term health benefits. That’s Umble Coffee. 
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umblecoffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umblecoffee/
Twitter:  https://mobile.twitter.com/umblecoffee
 
ABOUT THE HOST
As a coffee lover, physician, chemical engineer, serial entrepreneur, competitive runner, writer, and family man, Kenneth knows what it’s like to push yourself to achieve goals very few accomplish. He’s one of the best specialty coffee roasters in the United States as he’s a multi-year US Coffee Roasters’ Competition Finalist. He created Umble Coffee Co with the belief that, if sourced and roasted right, coffee can taste phenomenal and be good for you.
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.”
 
CONTACT METHOD
Want to reach Kenneth? Have questions, show ideas, or want to just let us know you’re enjoying the show? The best way is to leave us a great review and put your thoughts in the comment section - Kenneth reads all of them! The second-best way is through DM on social media.
Podcast Description
Coffee 101 is an educational show on all things coffee. The host, Kenneth Thomas, starts with the most basic questions about coffee and builds your knowledge from there. If you love coffee, are curious about coffee, or you’re a business just looking for a resource to train your team, Coffee 101 is without question the show for you! 
Season 1 - Coffee's Journey From Seed to Shelf
 BUY COFFEE!: https://umblecoffee.comThis show was brought to you by Progressive Media