Coffee Cherry to Bean: The Complete Transformation

From coffee cherry to coffee bean: the complete transformation

Coffee is a widely consumed beverage in the world, and coffee beans are the raw material for making coffee. However, few people know that coffee beans actually come from a fruit called "coffee cherry." In this article, we will take a deep dive into the complete transformation process from coffee cherry to coffee bean.

1. Beautiful flowers and fragrance

A mature coffee tree will usually produce small white or crimson flowers. These flowers have an intoxicating aroma and bloom beautifully in the sun. These blooms usually last from a few days to a few weeks.

2. From green to red: a sign of maturity

After several months, the flowers that have been pollinated and fertilized gradually develop into olive-sized, rich red flowers and begin to store energy to support seed development. At this time, the coffee cherries are considered ripe.

3. Picking: a difficult but important step

Picking is the most critical step in the coffee bean production process. Usually, manual picking is preferred because it ensures that only coffee cherries of the right maturity are collected. In some areas, mechanical equipment is also used for picking, but this may result in the mixing of unripe or overripe cherries.

4. Removing the outer layer: peeling and fermentation

Once the coffee cherries are picked, the outer layers need to be removed. The peeling process begins, which removes the red outer skin and the sticky yellow part. The inner seeds are then soaked and lightly fermented in fermentation tanks.

5. Drying: Let the seeds become dry

After fermentation, the seeds need to be dried to remove excess water and bring them to the ideal moisture content range (usually around 10-12%). This stage is very important because humidity that is too high or too low will have a negative impact on the quality of the coffee beans.

6. Roasting: giving coffee beans a unique flavor

The final step is roasting, which is the key to making coffee beans. The dried seeds are heated to the right temperature and time by controlling the temperature and time. During this process, the coffee beans undergo chemical changes, producing a variety of different flavors and aromas.

7. Grinding and brewing: Enjoy the delicious moment

After the above steps, we finally get the final product of the complete transformation process - coffee beans. However, it still needs to be ground and brewed before drinking. Choose the appropriate coarseness for grinding according to personal taste preference, and use tools such as filter cups and espresso pots for brewing.

In summary, the process from coffee fruit to coffee beans needs to go through multiple stages, including flower opening, fruit turning red, picking, peeling and fermentation, drying and finally roasting. Each stage has an important impact on the quality and taste of the final coffee beans. Therefore, when we enjoy a cup of delicious coffee, we should also pay tribute to the complete transformation process behind it.