In our daily lives, coffee has become a need. Numerous individuals concur that their day begins with that first mouthwatering cup, and the universe appears to center on the rich, dark liquid. Most people, meanwhile, haven't stopped to think about the origins of coffee beans.
You are in the correct area if you have questions concerning the beans used in your brew. You can satisfy your hunger for coffee knowledge by continuing to read our guide, which aims to teach you everything there is to know about coffee beans.
Which country produces the coffee beans?
The coffee plant, which resembles a shrub and may grow rather tall, is the source of coffee beans. To maintain the plant healthy, coffee farmers often cut it to a height of around five feet. Coffee beans, Arabica, and Robusta, are found within the clusters of cherries that grow on these bushes.
What time will the coffee plant be ready?
The coffee plant begins to yield fragrant, white flowers after about a year, and it may take up to four years for the blossoms to turn into fruit. The commercial production of coffee beans, which hold the most value for the farmers, is expected to commence in around a decade from now, when the coffee plants mature. Although they can live considerably longer with proper care, coffee plants typically have a lifespan of thirty to forty years!
A keen eye is required to determine when the berries are ripe and ready for harvesting, as picking them too early or too late can significantly alter the final flavour. Berries will turn red when they are ready.
A fun fact is that, although being referred to as a "bean," they are actually seeds!
A shrub with coffee cherries.
Where is coffee grown?
Around the equator, between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, is an area known as "the bean belt," where the majority of coffee plants are grown. These regions provide ideal conditions for coffee plants to flourish, which is why they are home to the coffee capitals of the world, including Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, and Ethiopia.
Remarkably, coffee's flavour can vary depending on where it is grown. A coffee's flavour can be affected by various factors, including soil type, elevation, and climate.
Landscape of a coffee farm
Are the coffee beans produced by separate plants?
While there are over 120 different types of coffee plants, each yields a unique type of coffee bean, most of the coffee we drink comes from just two of these species: Arabica (also known as Coffea Arabica) or Robusta (also known as Coffea Robusta or Coffea Canephora), or a combination of the two. Taste, growth environment, and cost are different between the two types.
Arabica coffee grains
Considered to be among the earliest coffee species ever grown, Arabica beans are widely grown and have roots that date back to 1,000 BC. Larger than Robusta beans, the beans typically have an oval form with a noticeable central crease.
Coffee enthusiasts adore these beans because of their lively and nuanced tastes, which range from fruity and floral to chocolatey and nutty. Despite having a greater acidity level, they have a comparatively milder tone.
In comparison to Robusta, it is typically more costly. This is a result of its greater sensitivity and demand for more particular growing conditions, like climate and elevation. Arabica coffee beans are typically low in caffeine and produced at elevations ranging from 500 to 2500 metres. Currently, the world's top producer of Arabica coffee is Latin America, more especially Brazil.
Green coffee beans of Arabica
Durable Robusta coffee beans
Due to its lower acidity than Arabica coffee, Robusta coffee—which is primarily grown in Africa, Vietnam, and Indonesia—tastes far less sweet. Tones of wood or burnt rubber can be produced by Robusta because of its deeper and richer taste components and simpler acidity. Because of the deep flavour and thick crema layer it provides, it's a popular option for espressos.
At elevations of up to 1000 metres, robusta coffee is cultivated. They yield more crop per tree and produce fruit more faster than Arabicas, which take several years to reach maturity. For this reason alone, they are generally less expensive than Arabicas because they are more resistant to pests and weather. Remember that Robusta coffee beans have more caffeine than other types of coffee.
In comparison to Arabica coffee beans, Robusta coffee beans are typically smaller, rounder, and have a less noticeable center crease. They are also typically paler.
Durable Robusta coffee beans
And coffee beans that aren't caffeine?
Since coffee beans naturally contain caffeine, decaf coffee beans do not exist. In order to extract the caffeine, either with water, an organic solvent, or activated carbon, the decaffeination process is done first, using steam or water to swell the beans before roasting them. Lastly, to restore their natural moisture content, the decaf coffee beans are dried.
Decaf coffee beans aren't truly "decaffeinated"; some caffeine is still there because the technique can't eliminate it completely.
Before roasting, they are decaffeinated by swelled with steam or water, and the caffeine is then extracted using water, an organic solvent, or activated carbon. Ultimately, the decaf coffee beans undergo drying to restore their typical moisture content.
Even though they are called "decaffeinated," decaf coffee beans never completely eliminate caffeine since it is impossible to do so.
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