You know whether you're a decaf, half-caf or double shot. But when it comes to coffee, there are just as many terms for sustainability.

So we put together this quick primer to help you get on the road to sustainable imbibing.

Shade-grown coffee: Coffee grows fastest in clear-cut, sunny fields, but a clear-cut forest means less canopy for rainforest birds. The label "shade grown" can describe different types of shade, from natural forest (major improvement) to planted monoculture (minor--if any--improvement). The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Research Center and the Rainforest Alliance both certify coffee growers that are kinder to the environment and bird populations.

Socially responsible: Fair Trade certification may be the best known label for socially sustainable coffee. But in the Northwest, several roasters apply their own strict guidelines for doing right by small-scale farmers. Seattle-based Caffe Vita's Farm Direct label indicates they've paid farmers above-fair-trade prices for producing premium beans with responsible practices like healthy environmental management and health services for employees. For other "direct trade" roasters, check out Portland-born Stumptown or 49th Parallel Roasters in Vancouver, BC.

The Rainforest Alliance and Utz Certified: A label from RA or Utz covers both environmental and working considerations. Arguably one of the oldest organizations in this field, Rainforest Alliance recently partnered with Unilever, makers of Lipton Tea, to certify all of its tea plantations worldwide by 2015.

The bottom line? "If they demand quality, consumers will help the farmer," says Philip Search of 49th Parallel. "The best thing you can do is find out who's roasting the coffee, go to their website and look at their practices."  

Learn more about fair trade from TransFair USA, or get involved locally with Community Alliance for Global Justice.