Coffee bean farming: the whole process from sowing to harvesting

Coffee bean farming: the whole process from sowing to harvesting

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and coffee beans are the key ingredient in making coffee. While we enjoy delicious coffee, few people think about how these fragrant beans are grown and harvested. This article will focus on coffee bean planting and introduce the entire process from sowing to harvesting in detail.

1. Choose high-quality seeds

Before starting to plant, farmers need to carefully select high-quality coffee bean seeds. These seeds should come from healthy, strong and high-yielding mother plants. Only by selecting good quality and strong adaptability seeds can the later plant growth be guaranteed.

2. Prepare the soil

Preparing the soil is an integral step in successfully growing healthy coffee plants. In most cases, the following conditions are required for coffee growth: good drainage, rich in organic matter, and a pH between 6-6.5. Farmers need to conduct soil tests and apply appropriate fertilizers and amendments based on the test results.

3. Planting seeds

Once the soil is ready, farmers can start sowing coffee beans. They will place coffee bean seeds in the small holes they have dug and lightly cover them with a thin layer of soil. When sowing, they should be careful to keep the appropriate spacing so that the plants have enough space to grow.

4. Manage Growth

After the coffee beans sprout, farmers need to regularly manage the plant's growth process. This includes timely watering, weeding, pruning branches and leaves, etc. In addition, they also need to pay attention to pest and disease control to ensure the healthy growth of the plants.

5. Flowering and fruiting

After about 2-4 years, the coffee plant will begin to flower and produce fruit. These fruits are usually red or yellow, and only ripe fruits can be harvested for making coffee.

6. Harvesting and processing

When the coffee cherries are ripe, farmers will harvest them. They can choose to pick them by hand or use mechanical equipment. Either way, the ripe cherries need to be carefully separated and processed as quickly as possible to prevent them from spoiling.

There are two ways to process coffee beans: dry and wet. The dry method involves drying the beans in the sun until they are completely dry. The wet method involves removing the pulp from the beans, washing them with water and fermenting them for a period of time before drying them again.

7. Storage and transportation

Once the coffee beans are completely dry, they are ready for storage and transportation. Farmers will pack the beans into appropriate containers and ensure that they are not affected by moisture, heat, or other harmful factors during storage.

8. Baking and making

The final step is the roasting and preparation process of the coffee beans. This stage is completed by professional baristas, who roast the coffee beans at a specific temperature to achieve different taste and aroma requirements. Afterwards, the roasted coffee beans can be used to make a variety of coffee drinks.

Through the above steps, we can see that the whole process from sowing to harvesting is a complex and delicate process. Each link requires farmers to work hard and be patient in order to produce high-quality coffee beans.