Are coffee beans cherry pits? Solve the mystery and reveal the truth!

The origin and characteristics of coffee beans

Coffee beans are seeds from the coffee tree and are widely used to make coffee drinks. They are usually brown or green in color and have a bitter taste and strong aroma. However, there has been controversy over whether coffee beans are cherry pits.

Cherry Pit Theory

Some people believe that coffee beans are actually cherry pits. They point out that in the ripe coffee fruit, there is an outer pulp surrounding the inner seed (the so-called "bean"). This outer pulp is similar to the normal fruit and is edible.

In traditional farming, people pick fully ripe cherries that have turned red or yellow in color and peel them open to get the seeds inside. These seeds are then handled and processed to eventually become the coffee beans we know as coffee.

Opposition

However, not everyone agrees. Opponents argue that the outer pulp is removed during processing, so the coffee bean is not actually a cherry pit. They point out that wet or dry processing is often used during coffee production to remove the outer pulp.

In the wet process, the ripe coffee cherries are soaked in water and the outer pulp is separated from the seeds by mechanical means, while in the dry process, the ripe coffee cherries are dried and the outer pulp is removed by friction and wind.

The truth

So who is right? In fact, there is no unified conclusion in the scientific community. Although some people believe that coffee beans are cherry pits, this view is not widely accepted.

Anyway, in everyday life we ​​usually refer to the inner seeds as "coffee beans" rather than "cherry pits." This may be more due to tradition and habit, and not much scientific basis.

in conclusion

In conclusion, there is still controversy over whether coffee beans are cherry pits. Although some people believe that they are cherry pits, this view is not widely accepted. In daily life, we usually call coffee beans "beans" instead of "cherry pits". In any case, coffee beans, as an important agricultural product, are widely appreciated and used around the world.