Coffee beans: Cats' secret contributor

Coffee beans: Cats' secret contributor

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and coffee beans are the key ingredient in making coffee. However, you may not know that cats play a mysterious but important role in this process. Let's explore the hidden story behind coffee beans.

1. Cats and picking

In certain regions, such as Brazil and Colombia, coffee cherries are harvested using traditional methods. This method, known as hand picking, requires workers to remove the ripe cherries from the trees by hand.

However, something sometimes went wrong during this process: Farmers couldn’t tell which fruits were fully ripe. To solve this problem, they began to rely on one of nature’s best judges: cats.

When the berries are fully ripe, they become very sweet and have an attractive aroma. Farmers have observed that when wild animals, especially cats, approach coffee trees, they often choose to eat the ripest berries. This becomes a signal to farmers which berries are ready to be picked.

2. Cats and Digestion

When cats eat coffee cherries, their stomach acid and digestive system process the beans. After a period of digestion, the beans are excreted.

However, something interesting happens during this process. Due to the action of stomach acid and digestive juices, the outer pulp of the beans is completely removed and slightly rubbed as it passes through the intestines. This special treatment makes the surface of the coffee beans smooth and shiny.

In addition, after being partially broken down by cats, coffee beans produce a special enzyme substance - caffeine. This is why wild animals are usually very active and energetic after eating coffee cherries.

3. Cats and Quality

You might be wondering: Why do we need to put coffee beans through a cat's digestive system? The answer is quality.

Through the cat's digestion, the pulp on the surface of the coffee beans is completely removed and slightly rubbed when passing through the intestines. This treatment makes the coffee beans smoother and helps improve the uniformity of the roasting and extraction process.

Caffeine also plays an important role. The enzymes produced by the decomposition of wild animals can affect the content and ratio of other chemical components in coffee beans. These changes may give the final coffee a special flavor and taste.

4. Cats and sustainable development

In addition to contributing to quality, involving cats in the harvesting process also has sustainability benefits.

First, relying on nature to determine the ripeness of fruit can reduce waste caused by human misjudgment. Picking fruit only when it is truly ripe ensures maximum utilization of resources and avoids wasting fruit that is not fully ripe or has expired.

Secondly, letting cats participate in picking can protect the ecological environment. This traditional picking method avoids the use of mechanical equipment or chemicals to treat coffee trees, reducing the pollution of soil and water sources.

in conclusion

When it comes to making a delicious cup of coffee, we tend to focus only on the beans themselves and the roasting and extraction process. However, behind the scenes there is a mysterious and important role - cats. They contribute to the quality and sustainability of coffee beans by participating in the picking process.

So, next time when you enjoy a cup of delicious coffee, please remember to thank those unknown but indispensable little animals.