Coffee bean production process

Coffee bean production process

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and coffee beans are the key ingredient in making coffee. Here's how to make coffee beans.

Picking and processing

The first step is to pick the ripe coffee cherries. Usually, only red or yellow cherries are picked. Workers use hand or machine to remove the cherries from the tree and put them into baskets.

Next, the collected fruits need to be processed. First, they need to be peeled and pulped. This can be done by soaking in water or using mechanical equipment.

Then, after processing, the coffee beans are left with two seeds inside (what we call "beans") and a sticky substance covering them. These seeds are called "wet" coffee beans.

Fermentation and washing

Wet beans need to go through a fermentation stage to remove the sticky substances remaining on the surface and improve the taste. The wet beans are placed in large fermentation tanks, which usually lasts one to two days.

After fermentation is complete, the coffee beans need to be washed to remove any remaining pulp and other impurities. This can be done by rinsing in water or using mechanical equipment.

Dry

Washed coffee beans need to be dried to reduce the moisture content. The most common way to do this is to spread them out on a flat surface and turn them regularly to ensure even drying.

The drying process may take several days or even longer, depending on the environmental conditions and the type of coffee beans.

Baking

Once the coffee beans are completely dry, they are ready to be roasted. This step is very important because it has a huge impact on the flavor of the coffee beans.

During the roasting process, the temperature gradually increases and the coffee gradually darkens over time. Different degrees of roasting produce coffee with different taste and flavor characteristics.

Generally speaking, a light roast produces a more sour flavor and a bright taste, while a dark roast produces a more bitter flavor and a rich taste.

Cooling and packaging

After roasting, the beans need to be cooled to prevent them from cooking further. This is usually done using specially designed equipment to quickly cool the beans.

The final step is to package the coffee beans to preserve their freshness. This can be done in vacuum sealed bags or other appropriate containers.

Conclusion

From picking to packaging, coffee beans go through several key steps to become the delicious coffee we love. Each step has a significant impact on the quality of the final product and changes the taste and flavor characteristics to varying degrees.

So, when you enjoy a cup of delicious coffee, remember that there are many people who have put in the effort and gone through a complex and precise production process behind it.