This is a collaborative post: Imagine life without coffee? I think we can all agree that it would be rather sad.
For many of us, this magnificent drink is absolutely essential to our daily lives, to the point where a day without coffee just isn’t a good day.
So, you’re wondering where this liquid magic actually comes from?
I’ll start by saying that coffee beans come from fruit!
And I’ll cover every other detail about the wonderful journey from the seed to your cup, below.
1. Growing Seeds into Coffee Plants
Did you know that it can take up to 5 years for a coffee plant to produce its valuable fruit and only in a specific climate?
Coffee trees typically grow near the equator – only in tropical locations with an abundance of sunshine, plenty of rain and well-drained soil.
The plants flower and produce little fruits, called coffee cherries. These fruits contain two beans (or sometimes just one – also known as a peaberry).
Two Main Types of Coffee Trees
The 2 most popular types of coffee beans are arabica and robusta. One isn’t better than the other – it just depends on your flavour preferences!
Arabica
Also known as Arabian coffee, Arabica coffee beans are commonly prefered by most people when compared to Robusta beans.
Why? It has sweeter, more balanced and extensive flavours.
It originates from Ethiopia but it’s now grown in many other tropical countries like Brazil, and Indonesia.
Robusta
Robusta coffee naturally has a higher caffeine content, and the flavour is more bitter, harsh and earthy.
This type of coffee originates from Sub-Saharan Africa however Vietnam is currently the world’s largest Robusta producer.
2. Processing Coffee Plants to Coffee Beans
Processing involves taking the seeds from the coffee berries and drying them, resulting in green coffee beans.
Let’s take a look at 3 common processing methods.
Natural Processing
Or the ‘Dry Method’ is the oldest known way to process coffee seeds.
The fruits are left out in the sun to ferment, and then they are removed from the fruity pulp. In the fermentation stage, the beans absorb the natural sugars from the fruit, which results in sweeter tasting coffee.
Washed Processing
Or the ‘Wet Method’ is a more modern method that involves removing the bean from the coffee cherry before it begins to ferment.
This ensures that the coffee has a cleaner, more consistent taste.
Honey Processing
This method is a combination of the two processes mentioned above.
The fruits are only partially removed before the fermenting and drying process. This results in coffee that has both a sweet and clean taste.
3. Roasting Coffee Beans
After the beans have been dried, there is another step before they are ready to be ground up into a warm cup of deliciousness.
The roasting process causes the beans to split and lose their coat while turning them from green into the brown beans we all know and love.
Not only does roasting change the colour of the beans, but it also gives them those rich, glorious flavours. The time and temperature of the roasting also affect the flavour.
The 3 different types of roasted coffee beans include:
- Light roast coffee: Bright floral and fruity flavours
- Medium roast coffee: More caramelised flavours
- Dark roast coffee: Full body, toasted flavours
4. Brewing Coffee into a Drink
The best part, right!?
After a long journey, the roasted beans are finally ready to be brewed.
The reason why brewing is necessary is that it draws the soluble flavour compounds out of the beans and into the hot water. And the finer the coffee is ground, the faster the incredible flavours can be extracted.
This explains why finely ground coffee is needed to make an espresso shot, while coarse coffee is typically used for a slower procedure, like a cold brew or french press.
There are endless ways to transform the ground coffee into a super tasty drink, from americanos, cappuccinos, lattes, macchiatos and mochas, to espressos, affogatos, flat whites, and more!
The Last Sip
Now you know that there is WAY more to coffee than just throwing some beans into the coffee machine.
It takes a long, tedious process to produce that lovely cuppa’ Joe, starting as a tiny berry grown in a tropical jungle. Perhaps keep that in mind when you savour your next sip.
If you enjoy brewing your own coffee, I recommend going for high-quality single-origin, or specialty coffees, like Glasshouse Mountains Coffee Beans to truly appreciate the aromatic and delicious flavours these incredible beans have to offer.