The coffee bean process: from fruit to black gold

The coffee bean process: from fruit to black gold

Coffee is one of the world's most popular beverages, and coffee beans are the key ingredient to making delicious coffee. However, few people know how coffee beans come to be. In this article, we will explore the process from cherry to fragrant black gold.

1. Coffee tree growth and flowering

It usually takes three to five years for a healthy coffee tree to start flowering. When the temperature, humidity and light conditions are right, the coffee tree will produce small white flowers. These flowers emit a light fragrance and attract insects such as bees to pollinate.

2. Fruit formation

After successful pollination, each fertilized egg develops into a small fruit, which we call a "cherry." These cherries are usually red or yellow and sparkle in the sun.

3. Cherries are ripe

It takes several months for the cherry to fully ripen. During this process, the cherry gradually changes color from green to red or yellow. At the same time, the coffee beans inside the fruit continue to develop.

4. Harvesting and processing

When the cherries are fully ripe, farmers will pick them. They use hand or machine to pick the cherries from the trees and send them to processing plants for processing.

5. Peeling and fermentation

Once at the processing plant, the coffee beans need to have their outer skin removed. This is usually done using a machine or human labor. Next, the coffee beans are placed in large fermentation tanks for the fermentation process.

6. Wash and dry

After a period of fermentation, the coffee beans are washed in a pool of water to remove residual substances. Then they are spread out in the sun to dry.

7. Baking and packaging

The final step is to roast the coffee beans. This process heats the beans to high temperatures, mellowing them and producing their characteristic coffee flavor. Once roasted, the beans are packaged and ready for sale and use.

In summary, the process from fruit to fragrant black gold can be summarized as: coffee tree growth and flowering, fruit formation, cherry ripening, picking and processing, peeling and fermentation, washing and drying, and finally roasting and packaging. Each step has an important impact on the final coffee quality.

Whether we’re drinking a light Americano or savoring a rich espresso, we should all be grateful for those little beans that go through a long process to become the flavors we love.