The process of making fresh coffee beans: from picking to roasting

Picking coffee beans

The process of making fresh coffee beans begins with picking. Generally, the berries on the coffee trees are ripe and will show a bright red or yellow color. At this time, farmers begin to pick the coffee beans by hand. They carefully select the berries that are moderately ripe and cut them off with scissors or their fingers.

Remove the peel and pulp

Once the coffee is picked, farmers need to quickly separate the beans from the skin and pulp. The most common methods are through a washed or dry process.

Water washing method

The water washing method is a common and traditional processing method. First, the picked coffee beans are placed in a large barrel and soaked in water, and stirred for a few minutes to remove the outer mucus. Then, the unqualified particles that float to the surface during the soaking process are removed through tools such as sieves.

Dry method

The dry method is simpler and more direct than the washed method. In this method, farmers place the picked coffee beans directly under the sun. They turn the beans regularly to ensure that they dry evenly. This method usually takes longer, but can produce a special flavor.

Fermentation and mucus removal

After both the washed and dry methods, coffee beans need to be fermented to remove the mucous membrane remaining on the pulp. In the washed method, the washed coffee beans are placed in a large barrel for fermentation. In the dry method, this is achieved through the action of microorganisms under natural environmental conditions.

Drying and screening

After fermentation, the beans need to be dried further to reduce their moisture content. Farmers usually spread them on a flat, well-ventilated surface and turn them regularly to ensure they are evenly heated and dried.

At the same time, the coffee beans are also screened at this stage. By using mesh sieves of different sizes or other equipment, farmers can separate coffee beans of different sizes, shapes and qualities.

Baking

Finally, the coffee beans need to be roasted to bring out their best flavor. During this process, the coffee beans are heated to high temperatures and constantly stirred to ensure even heating. Over time, the coffee beans will gradually change color and emit a rich aroma.

Farmers can control the roasting time and temperature to adjust the flavor characteristics of coffee beans according to different taste preferences and market demands. For example, lighter roasting can produce more acidic and floral coffee, while darker roasting will make the coffee more bitter and full-bodied.

Conclusion

From picking to roasting, fresh coffee beans go through a series of delicate and complex processes. Each link has an important impact on the final product. Only fresh coffee beans that have been carefully handled and carefully made can bring us that delicious cup of coffee.