Coffee bean morphology: From fruit to roast, learn about the appearance of coffee beans

Appearance characteristics of coffee beans

Coffee beans are one of the most common foods in our daily life. They go through the process from fruit to roasting, and their appearance also changes. This article will focus on the appearance characteristics of coffee beans and introduce the appearance of coffee beans from fruit to roasting in detail.

1. Coffee fruit on the tree

Before we talk about coffee beans, let's take a look at where they are produced. In their original state, coffee beans are wrapped in fruits grown on coffee trees. These fruits are usually red or yellow and have a round or oval shape.

The fruits have a smooth and shiny surface that reflects bright colors in the sun. When ripe, they gradually become soft and can be easily crushed by fingers.

2. Remove the peel and wax

After picking, people need to process these coffee fruits with different maturity but all of which have reached the harvesting standard. First, they will soak the fruits in water for a period of time to soften the skin and wax.

The softened skin and wax are then removed by machine or by hand, during which the beans begin to reveal themselves and their appearance becomes more distinct.

3. Appearance characteristics of coffee beans

Once the peel and wax are removed, we can see the actual coffee beans. They are usually flat and slightly oval in shape, with a dividing line dividing them into two hemispherical parts.

The surface of coffee beans is smooth and shiny, reflecting golden or dark brown in the sun. The color depends on the different varieties used and the degree of roasting.

4. Changes after baking

The final stage is roasting the coffee beans, during which they undergo temperature rise, water evaporation, and chemical reactions.

The appearance of coffee beans changes significantly after roasting. They become fuller and darker in color. Generally speaking, lightly roasted coffee beans appear lighter brown, while darkly roasted coffee beans appear darker black.

Summarize

From the fruit to the roasted coffee beans, they go through several stages and their appearance characteristics change significantly. On the tree, they are covered with red or yellow skin; after the skin and wax are removed, they show a flat oval shape with a golden or dark brown surface; finally, after being roasted, they become fuller and darker in color.

These appearance characteristics are not only helpful for us to recognize coffee beans, but also one of the important factors in evaluating their quality and taste. Therefore, when choosing to buy or taste coffee, please pay attention to these details!