Coffee beans source: Animal power

Coffee beans source: Animal power

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and coffee beans are an important raw material for making coffee. However, did you know that animals play an important role in the production process of coffee beans? In this article, we will explore the origin of coffee beans with animals as the center.

Picking: Humans and cats working together

When it comes to picking ripe coffee cherries, people often think of farmers picking them by hand. However, in some regions, farmers are joining forces with their little friends: cats. In regions like Indonesia and the Philippines, farmers train squirrel monkeys, elephants, or other agile animals to help them find ripe cherries.

These well-trained animals can accurately determine which cherries are fully ripe and peel them off with clever techniques. Thanks to their excellent vision and keen perception, finding coffee cherries in the dense jungle becomes more efficient. This partnership not only improves picking efficiency, but also reduces damage to plants.

Fermentation: The contributions of bats and birds

Fermentation is a crucial step in the production of coffee beans, and some animals, such as bats and birds, make great contributions to this process.

Let's start with bats. In Latin America, especially in Costa Rica and Mexico, there are many species of fruit-eating bats that love to eat coffee cherries. As they fly, they drop saliva containing ripe coffee cherries onto other trees or the ground. This saliva is rich in natural fermentation agents and helps promote chemical reactions inside the coffee beans.

Other animals, such as certain species of birds, also participate in the fermentation process. They eat ripe coffee cherries and excrete them, which contain fermenting agents. The contribution of these animals makes the coffee beans have a better taste and flavor during the fermentation process.

Protecting Coffee Beans: Cats and Elephants

Once the coffee cherries are picked, the beans go through a series of processing steps before they become a usable product. Animals also play an important role in this process.

For example, in some parts of Africa, farmers hire elephants to help them transport picked coffee cherries from farms to processing plants. Elephants are strong and stamina-rich, and can easily carry cargo weighing more than 200 kilograms. They not only improve transportation efficiency, but also reduce the consumption of the environment and human resources.

Additionally, in some Latin American countries, cats are kept by farmers to protect piles of unprocessed coffee beans, as cats are excellent at catching mice and are an effective way to prevent pests such as rats from invading and damaging their precious cargo.

Conclusion

Animals play an important role in the production of coffee beans. From picking to fermentation to protection, they work closely with humans to create high-quality coffee beans. This partnership not only improves production efficiency, but also reduces damage to the environment. Therefore, when enjoying a cup of delicious coffee, we should also thank these animals for their help.