The mysterious origin of coffee beans: the surprising contribution of the animal world

The mysterious origin of coffee beans: the surprising contribution of the animal world

Coffee is one of the indispensable drinks in people's daily life. Every morning, we can't wait to drink a cup of fragrant coffee to refresh our minds. However, have you ever thought about where these delicious coffee beans come from? It turns out that the animal world has also made wonderful contributions to our enjoyment of delicious coffee.

1. Leopard and Goat

There is an amazing story on the Ethiopian Plateau near the Sahara Desert in Africa: local residents discovered that intact coffee berries with strong germination ability could be found in the feces excreted by leopards and goats after digestion.

According to scientists, leopards and goats eat wild coffee fruits that are ripe but not fallen. The outer pulp is digested by stomach acid and intestinal digestive juice, while the coffee beans are not completely digested due to their high hardness. When they are excreted, these coffee beans are naturally buried in the soil.

After a period of fermentation and washing, these coffee beans "processed" by animals will gradually become more fragrant and have a more complex taste. When people pick, roast and brew them into coffee, they can taste a unique and delicious flavor.

2. Monkeys and Birds

In addition to leopards and goats in Africa, there are similar stories in Asia. On the Indonesian island of Bali, there lives an animal called the Indian black macaque. This small monkey with black hair and a long tail is one of the best friends of local farmers.

Farmers have discovered that these little monkeys like to pick unripe but already red coffee berries from the trees and swallow them. Unlike other animals that only eat the pulp, these monkeys swallow the entire coffee fruit, including the outer pulp and the coffee beans inside.

When the monkeys excrete, farmers will carefully look for coffee beans in the feces. After fermentation and washing, these coffee beans "processed" by monkeys can also bring a special and delicious flavor.

3. Guinea Pigs and Elephants

In addition to Africa and Asia, there are similar stories in South America. In the Peruvian Andes lives an animal called "Kuima", which is a small, furry animal similar to a guinea pig but with the strength and speed of a beast.

When Kuima eats the ripe but unripe wild coffee berries, the outer pulp is digested by gastric juice and the hard, indigestible coffee beans are excreted. Farmers collect the intact coffee beans in the excrement and process them into coffee.

In addition, in Thailand and Indonesia, elephants also provide people with a special kind of coffee beans. After elephants eat wild coffee berries, they excrete the undigested coffee beans. These coffee beans "processed" by elephants can also bring a unique and delicious flavor.

Conclusion

The animal world has many strange and mysterious contributions to the delicious coffee we enjoy every day. Whether it is near the Sahara Desert in Africa, on the island of Bali in Indonesia, or in the Andes Mountains in Peru, various animals participate in the entire production process in their own unique way.

These coffee beans "processed" by animals not only have a different taste and aroma from those obtained through ordinary commercial production methods, but also show a unique flavor full of stories and emotions. Because of this, they have become a special coffee experience pursued by many people.

So, when you enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, think about these mysterious contributions from the animal world. They bring us more diverse and richer coffee flavors, and also make us respect nature and animals.