Popular Science of Coffee Bean Production: From Bean to Cup, a Scientific Coffee Journey

From bean to cup, a scientific coffee journey

Coffee is an essential drink for many people every day, but have you ever wondered how it is made? From coffee beans to the fragrant coffee in the cup, there are many scientific principles and technologies behind it. This article will take you on this scientific coffee journey.

1. Coffee bean picking and processing

First, we need to understand how coffee beans are produced and picked. Coffee trees usually grow at high altitudes and under suitable climatic conditions to obtain high-quality fruits. When the fruits are ripe, farmers will pick them by hand or machine.

The next step is to process the picked fruits. The first step is to remove the outer skin and expose the yellow substance inside, which is called "pad skin". Then this layer of yellow substance is removed through fermentation, washing or drying, leaving red or green granular objects - what we call "green beans".

2. Coffee Bean Roasting

Roasting is an important step in coffee beans, which can change the color, aroma and taste of coffee beans. During the roasting process, the moisture inside the coffee beans will be evaporated and a series of chemical reactions will occur.

According to different roasting degrees, coffee beans can be divided into light roasting, medium roasting and deep roasting. Light roasting usually retains more original flavor, while deep roasting makes the coffee beans have a fuller and more bitter taste.

3. Coffee grinding and extraction

Once we have coffee beans that have been properly processed and at the right level, we can move on to grinding and extraction. This process is very critical because it directly affects the quality of the coffee you get in the final cup.

First, whole or broken coffee beans are placed in a device called a "brewer" and filled with warm water. Over time, the soluble substances in the coffee beans are gradually extracted by water to form the coffee liquid we are familiar with.

Then the coffee liquid is separated from the solid residue through the filter. Finally, we can pour it into the cup and taste the fragrant coffee.

4. Caffeine and Health

In addition to the production process, another topic related to coffee that is often overlooked is caffeine and health issues. In fact, drinking coffee in moderation has certain benefits to the human body.

First of all, it can refresh the mind. Since it contains a certain amount of caffeine, drinking it within a reasonable range can help improve concentration and reaction speed.

The second is to promote metabolism. Studies have shown that moderate intake of caffeine can speed up metabolism and help the body digest food more efficiently.

However, it should be noted that excessive drinking may cause adverse reactions such as insomnia and palpitations, and may have negative effects on certain groups of people (such as pregnant women and heart patients). Therefore, while enjoying coffee, we should also pay attention to drinking in moderation.

Conclusion

From beans to cups, a scientific coffee journey allows us to better understand the scientific principles and techniques behind making a cup of fragrant coffee. Whether it is picking, roasting or extraction, each link needs to be carefully handled to get delicious results. At the same time, while enjoying the pleasure brought by coffee, we should also pay attention to drinking in moderation to stay healthy.