Where Coffee Beans Grow: Discovering the Secrets of Their Growth

Coffee bean growing environment

Coffee beans are a tropical plant that grows mainly in high altitude areas near the equator. They need plenty of sunlight and moderate rainfall to grow healthily. These areas usually have a warm and humid climate, which is conducive to the survival of coffee trees.

In addition, soil also plays an important role in the growth of coffee beans. Good soil should be rich in organic matter and well-drained. Acidic soil is ideal for coffee trees because they can absorb more nutrients from it.

Coffee tree and berries

Coffee beans actually come from a plant called a "coffee tree." These trees usually begin to bear fruit in the third year and produce about 2-5 kilograms of fruit each year.

When the berries are ripe, they are red or purple and have a strong and fragrant aroma. Each berry contains two small beans, which are the coffee beans we know as coffee beans.

Harvesting and processing coffee beans

Once the berries are ripe, farmers begin harvesting the beans. They usually pick the berries by hand and select only the ripest ones. This ensures that the harvested beans are of the best quality.

Next, farmers need to separate the coffee beans from the pulp of the cherries. They can do this in two ways: dry or wet.

The dry process involves laying the whole fruit out in the sun to dry out the outer skin and make it easier to peel. The outer skin and pulp are then removed by machine or by hand.

Wet processing, where the whole fruit is soaked in water before running it through a machine to remove the outer skin and pulp, usually requires more water and creates more waste.

Coffee Bean Processing

Once the cleaned coffee beans are completely dry, they can be shipped to the processing plant for further processing.

First, the coffee beans need to be roasted. During this process, the coffee beans are subjected to high temperatures to bring out their aroma and flavor. Different degrees of roasting will produce coffee with different tastes.

Next, the roasted coffee beans need to be cooled and the remaining skin and impurities removed. Then they can be packaged and shipped.

Conclusion

From coffee trees to finished coffee beans, the whole process is full of mystery and delicacy. Only when grown in a suitable environment and carefully processed can high-quality coffee beans be produced.

When we enjoy a cup of fragrant and rich coffee, please remember that there are countless farmers working hard and carefully caring for these small and precious seeds.