The Coffee Story - A Deeper Appreciation for Coffee
Have you ever wondered about the coffee story? How your favorite cup of espresso came about? There is more to coffee than meets the eye and taste buds. And knowing the coffee story will make you appreciate and understand the tedious process of producing your favorite drink.
Coffee is a valuable commodity. It is grown mostly in tropical regions since the coffee plants best thrive in warm tropical climates. The first recorded history of cultivating coffee plants was in Arabia. And the finest blend of coffee is called Arabica, derived from the region. Robusta blend is the second best.
The most important part of the coffee plant is the fruit where the coffee beans are enclosed. The fleshy coffee cherries are discarded to extract the beans to prepare them for drying, fermentation and roasting.
The Coffee Story in Detail
The coffee cherries are harvested by hand to prevent them from damage and destruction of the beans. Plantation workers hand-pick the precious coffee cherries and separate the red from the green ones. Separating the coffee cherries by color is crucial for the quality of the end product.
The coffee cherries are soaked in water to soften the fleshy part. Scouring and rubbing is required to rid off the fleshy part of the cherries. Fermentation follows after washing out the remaining flesh.
Coffee beans are extracted through fermentation. Then the beans are sun dried on concrete slabs to remove the excess water content.
After drying, the coffee beans are segregated by size and color. This can be done by hand or by machine. Low grade beans are discarded while others are polished to remove the remaining skin.
The coffee beans are then distributed, shipped and sent to the clients- coffee houses, retail stores, online shops, etc. Roasting is usually done by the client or they commission coffee roasting outlets to do the job for them.
Roasting the coffee beans at 400 degrees Fahrenheit expands and browns the beans. The oil that comes from the beans gives the distinct flavor and aroma of coffees.
The coffee story doesn’t end with the brewing of your favorite espresso. There are many techniques in brewing coffee and all of which makes a perfect cup when done properly.
Your coffee experience shouldn’t be the start of your coffee story. It shouldn’t be the end either. The coffee story is a cycle- from the plantation to the cup, to the table and to your satisfaction.
