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Buy NowMold-Free Coffee: A Guide to Mycotoxin-Free, Lab-Tested Coffee
By Mike Cullen, Founder · Last updated October 20, 2026
Key takeaway: "Mold-free coffee" means coffee that has been tested by an independent lab and found to have no detectable mycotoxins, the toxins some molds can make. At Edge, we send green (unroasted) bean samples to Eurofins. In our sample reports, no mycotoxins were detected. This guide explains what that means, what roasting does and doesn't do, and how to choose a mold-free coffee for yourself.
What does "mold-free coffee" actually mean?
Coffee is the seed of a fruit. Between the farm and your mug it gets picked, dried, stored, shipped and roasted, and at several of those steps mold can grow if conditions are warm and damp. Our article Is coffee moldy? walks through where that happens.
Mold itself isn't the main concern. What matters is mycotoxins: chemical compounds that certain molds (mostly Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium) can produce. The ones most often discussed in coffee are:
- Ochratoxin A (OTA): the mycotoxin most studied in coffee.
- Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2): found in many crops, and tested for in coffee too.
- Others such as deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins, T-2 and HT-2 toxins, and zearalenone, which are more common in grains but can be included in a full panel.
How common are they? A global meta-analysis of 3,182 samples found OTA in about 53% of coffee and coffee-product samples, usually at low levels (pooled average 3.21 µg/kg) (Khaneghah et al., Fungal Biol 2019). A 2024 worldwide review found typical OTA intake from coffee was generally within tolerable intake values, and recommended controlling mold along the supply chain (Massahi et al., Food Addit Contam 2024).
So when we say "mold-free coffee" or "mycotoxin-free coffee," we mean something specific and checkable: no detectable mycotoxins (lab-tested). That means an independent lab looked for each mycotoxin by name and found none at or above its reporting limit. For the deeper background, see our page on mold and mycotoxin-free coffee.
How does Edge test its coffee?
We test green, unroasted beans at Eurofins, an independent food-testing lab. Testing before roasting means we see the beans at their "worst case," before heat has a chance to reduce anything.
Here is what our two sample reports found. Both are posted in full on our lab results page.
| Sample | Ochratoxin A | Total aflatoxins | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pure Health Coffee green beans (Eurofins, Mar 2024) | below 1 ppb | below 2 ppb | No detectable mycotoxins |
| Green decaf coffee (Eurofins, Apr 2026) | below 5 ppb | below 5 ppb | No detectable mycotoxins |
"Below 1 ppb" means the lab looked and found nothing at or above 1 part per billion, the smallest amount its method reports reliably. The full panels also covered DON, fumonisins, T-2, HT-2 and zearalenone, all below reporting limits. These are sample reports, not an exhaustive list.
New to lab reports? Our guide How to read a coffee lab report goes line by line through a real Eurofins report.
Does roasting remove mycotoxins?
Partly. Roasting reduces some mycotoxins, but not all of them, and not by a predictable amount:
- Ochratoxin A is often cut by 60% or more. A review of roasting studies found most reported reductions of 60% or more (van der Stegen et al., J Agric Food Chem 2001).
- But results vary. One study found roasting cut OTA by 66.5% on average, with a "heterogeneous" reduction from sample to sample (PĂ©rez De Obanos et al., Food Addit Contam 2005). On an industrial line, roast-and-ground coffee still kept about 16% of the OTA in the green beans (Blanc et al., J Agric Food Chem 1998).
- Roast level matters. Studies found OTA reduction depended on roast severity and on starting contamination (Romani et al., J Agric Food Chem 2003).
- Aflatoxins too. In naturally contaminated coffee, roasting plus brewing reduced aflatoxins by about 40–62% and OTA by about 59–65%, depending on roast level, which still left measurable amounts (Al Attiya et al., PLoS One 2021).
That's why we don't count on the roaster to fix a problem. We check the beans first. Prevention starts even earlier: studies found good farm, drying and storage practices help keep OTA from forming (LĂłpez-RodrĂguez et al., J Fungi 2024).
Is organic coffee mold-free?
Not automatically. USDA Organic describes how coffee is grown and handled, not whether it was tested for mycotoxins. Our coffee is organic and lab tested, but the two are separate things. More in Is organic coffee mold-free?
How to choose a mold-free coffee
Use this checklist with any brand, including ours. It takes only a few minutes:
- Look for a real lab report. A claim on a bag is not a report. Ask for the document.
- Check that the lab is independent. Eurofins and similar third-party labs are a good sign.
- Make sure each mycotoxin is named. At minimum ochratoxin A and aflatoxins, ideally a wider panel.
- Check the reporting limits. Lower numbers (for example "below 1 ppb") mean a more sensitive test.
- See what was tested and when. Green or roasted? Which product? What date?
- Store it well at home. Keep beans airtight, cool, dry and out of light. See How to store coffee beans.
Comparing brands? Our side-by-side pages lay out published lab limits, origin, roast and price: Edge vs Purity Coffee and Edge vs Bulletproof.
Our lab-tested coffees
- Pure Health Coffee: shade-grown Peruvian specialty coffee, USDA Organic and Fair Trade, with no detectable mycotoxins (lab-tested).
- All Day Decaf: Swiss Water Process decaf from Alto Mayo, Peru, organic and specialty grade, with no detectable mycotoxins (lab-tested).
Free shipping on all orders. Questions about our testing? Email us at drinkedgecoffee@gmail.com.
FAQ
What is mold-free coffee?
Mold-free coffee is coffee that an independent lab has tested for mycotoxins, the toxins some molds produce, and found no detectable levels. At Edge that means Eurofins testing of green bean samples.
What is the difference between mold and mycotoxins?
Mold is a fungus. Mycotoxins are compounds certain molds can make. Roasting kills mold, but studies found it only partly reduces mycotoxins, so testing for the toxins themselves is what matters.
Is Edge Coffee lab tested?
Yes. Edge sends green bean samples to Eurofins. Our sample reports found no detectable mycotoxins: in 2024, ochratoxin A below 1 ppb and total aflatoxins below 2 ppb; in our 2026 decaf report, both below 5 ppb.
Does roasting make coffee mycotoxin-free?
Not reliably. Studies found roasting often reduces ochratoxin A by 60% or more, but results vary from sample to sample, and some toxin can remain. That's why we test the beans before roasting.
Is decaf coffee mold-free?
Decaf can contain mycotoxins like any coffee, so it should be tested too. Our All Day Decaf green beans were tested by Eurofins, with no detectable mycotoxins (lab-tested).
How can I tell if a coffee is lab tested?
Ask for the lab report. Check that it comes from an independent lab, names each mycotoxin, shows reporting limits, and says what sample was tested and when.