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Author:
Samantha Dewitt
The lifecycle of your coffee might not be something you’ve thought about before, but it actually greatly affects the Green coffee beans in your cup. This article explains it all, in simple terms. Let’s go!
Coffea Arabica is the most common, with about 70% of the world coffee market, but the robusta still has a good following with it’s more bitter and earthy blend.
Both of these grow in tropical climates between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, though they can grow in regions outside of this area as well.
Coffee beans are actually the seeds of the plant. If they haven’t been processed they can simply be planted into the ground.
They do best in shaded areas and can be left to their own devices for several days after they start to sprout. Then they are transplanted into pots and kept in the shade with plenty of water.
Once the plants start to grow, after a few years, they’ll bear fruit. You’ll get something that looks like a cherry, with a dark red color that’s ready to be harvested.
Cherries are generally picked by hand but could be picked through strip picking, where everything from a branch is taken at once, or selective picking, where only the really ripe cherries are picked.
Cherries that are picked have to be processed either by a dry method where they are spread out to dry in the sun (usually for up to 20 days) or a wet method, where they are skinned and pulped to get the beans out just right.
The beans have to be hulled, polished, graded and more to be prepared for the market. The hulling process consists of getting rid of all of the exterior parts of the coffee bean.
Green coffee beans are exported to other parts of the country or the world to get to the places where they will be sold by stores.
Green coffee beans are then roasted and tasted to make sure they meet certain quality standards. They have to be rated on factors like taste, aroma, color and appearance.
Once the coffee has been roasted it’s ready to be ground and brewed. This can be done by anyone along the product line including the end consumer.
If you prefer to buy pre-roasted beans or roasted whole beans you can grind your own coffee and then brew it to your preference.
If someone else grinds the coffee they are also responsible for packaging it. This keeps the coffee from being exposed to the air and makes sure that it retains as much flavor as possible. The packages are usually also resealable.
The final step is enjoying your cup of coffee.
When you’re ready to get a great cup of coffee all you have to do is go to the store to buy the beans or grounds, but the process to get there is long.
How Coffee is Made
https://www.techlifeland.com/how-coffee-is-made/
The Process of Coffee Production: From Seed to Cup
https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/article/28006/process-coffee-production-seed-cup/
What is Coffee? A Basic Explanation From Seed to Cup
https://perfectdailygrind.com/2016/01/what-is-coffee-a-basic-explanation-from-seed-to-cup/