Coffee knowledge revealed, from origin to brewing techniques

Coffee knowledge revealed: from origin to brewing techniques

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, with a long history and rich culture. This article will start with the origin of coffee beans and gradually introduce the knowledge of coffee growth, processing, roasting and brewing techniques.

1. Origin

Coffee originated in the Ethiopian Plateau in Africa and later spread to the Arabian Peninsula and other regions. Today, the world's major coffee producing areas include Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam and other countries.

Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer, with fertile soil and climate conditions ideal for coffee cultivation. Colombia is known for its high-altitude growing areas that produce high-quality Arabica beans. Vietnam is known for producing large quantities of Robusta beans.

2. Growth and Harvest

Coffee trees usually grow at high altitudes and require suitable climate and soil conditions to grow. Coffee trees generally produce fruits once a year, which are called coffee cherries.

When harvesting coffee cherries, farmers select the fruits that are at the right maturity to pick. This is usually a time-consuming and labor-intensive process because there are fruits of different maturity levels on the coffee trees at the same time.

3. Processing and baking

After being picked, coffee cherries need to be processed and roasted before they can become the coffee beans we know as coffee.

There are two main processing methods: dry, where the whole cherries are dried to reduce their moisture content, and wet, where the pulp is removed before drying.

Next comes the roasting process, which heats the raw beans at high temperatures and converts them into a brewable state. Different degrees of roasting will produce beans with different flavor characteristics, from light roasting to dark roasting, each has its own pursuers.

4. Brewing techniques

Brewing is the last step in coffee making and is also the key factor affecting the taste. Here are some common brewing methods:

Drip coffee: Put the ground coffee powder into the filter paper and then slowly pour boiling water into it. This method is suitable for making light-tasting coffee.

French press: Coarsely ground coffee and water are placed in a pot, and then pressure is applied to squeeze out the longer steeped concentrate. This method produces a full-bodied, rich coffee.

Espresso machine: This uses high temperature and pressure to force water through finely ground beans, resulting in an extremely rich espresso with a slightly oily texture.

Summarize

This article introduces a comprehensive knowledge of coffee from its origin to brewing techniques. Understanding this knowledge not only allows us to better appreciate and taste coffee, but also allows us to respect the labor and culture behind it.

Whether it is the origin of coffee, growth and harvesting, processing and roasting, or brewing techniques, each link has its own uniqueness. I hope this article can help readers better understand coffee and add a bit of knowledge and fun while enjoying coffee.