Have you ever wondered how that steaming cup of coffee made its way from the farm to your morning routine? Let's dive into the fascinating journey of coffee beans as they go through a series of processes before reaching your cup.
Harvesting
It all starts on coffee farms, where skilled farmers carefully handpick ripe - vibrant red - coffee cherries from the trees. This process is crucial as only the ripe cherries will produce high-quality coffee beans.
Processing
Once harvested, the coffee cherries undergo processing to extract the beans. There are two main methods:
- The dry (natural) method: where the cherries are sun-dried before the beans are removed
- The wet (washed) method: where the cherries are pulped to remove the outer skin before fermentation to break down the mucilage, washed and then dried
Each method imparts unique flavours and characteristics to the beans.
Roasting
After processing, the green coffee beans are roasted to perfection. Roasting is a critical step that transforms the beans into the aromatic, flavourful coffee we all love. The beans are roasted at specific temperatures and durations - in some cases using temperature curves - to bring out their unique flavours. Roasting profiles range from light (preserving original bean flavours) to dark (enhancing bold, smoky notes).
Grinding
Once roasted, the coffee beans are ground into the desired consistency. The grind size can vary depending on the brewing method, with finer grinds used for espresso and coarser grinds for French press. If possible, beans should be ground immediately before the brewing to ensure optimum freshness.
Brewing
Finally, it's time to brew the coffee. Whether you prefer a classic drip coffee maker, a French press, or a fancy espresso machine, the brewing process extracts the complex flavours from the ground coffee beans, resulting in a delicious cup of coffee.
Serving
And there you have it – from the coffee farm to your cup! Whether you take it black, with milk, or a splash of syrup, coffee has completed its journey to provide you with that much-needed caffeine boost to start your day.
