Coffee beans: the whole process from planting to roasting

Coffee bean cultivation

The cultivation of coffee beans is a complex and time-consuming process. First, farmers need to choose the soil and climate conditions that are suitable for growing coffee. Generally speaking, high altitude areas and warm and humid climates are the most suitable environments for coffee growth.

Once a planting site is identified, farmers prepare the soil and plant the coffee trees. They provide each tree with adequate sunlight, water, and nutrients to ensure they grow healthily.

Coffee bean picking

When coffee trees have ripe berries, farmers can start picking them. This usually happens during a certain season each year, and they need to employ a large workforce to complete this task.

During the picking process, workers are required to select only fruits that are ripe and bright red or yellow in color for harvesting. These fruits are called "red berries" and contain two unfermented or semi-fermented coffee beans.

Coffee Bean Processing

Once the coffee beans are picked, farmers need to process them. First, they wash and peel the red berries in a tank. Then, they place the peeled berries in a specific area to dry.

After drying, farmers usually choose two different methods to process coffee beans: dry method and wet method. The dry method is to store the completely dried fruits directly in large warehouses and expose them to the sun for several weeks to remove the outer pulp. The wet method is to separate the outer pulp by using water and ferment it for a period of time.

Coffee Bean Roasting

After processing, the beans need to be roasted to become the fragrant, black grains we know and love.

Roasting is a critical step that changes the flavor, aroma, and taste of the coffee beans. Different degrees of roasting produce different types and flavor characteristics of coffee.

Generally speaking, there are three main levels of roasting: light roasting, medium roasting and dark roasting. Light roasting usually retains the original acidity and floral aroma of the coffee beans, while dark roasting makes the coffee beans more bitter and full-bodied.

Conclusion

From planting to roasting, coffee beans go through a complex and delicate process. Each step has an important impact on the quality of the final coffee. Understanding these processes can help us better appreciate and enjoy a cup of quality coffee.