The Mystery of How Coffee Beans Grow: Where Do They Come From?

The Mystery of How Coffee Beans Grow: Where Do They Come From?

Coffee is one of the world's most popular beverages, and coffee beans are the key ingredient in making it. However, few people know how coffee beans grow and where they come from. This article will shed light on this fascinating mystery.

1. Origin of the Coffee Plant

To understand the mystery of the growth of coffee beans, we first need to understand the plant they belong to - the coffee tree. According to scientists, the earliest records of planting and using coffee trees can be traced back hundreds of years ago in Ethiopia, Africa.

As the legend goes, a shepherd noticed that his flock became euphoric after eating certain red berries. He tried making a drink from the berries and found that it kept him awake and energized. This was the first recorded use of "coffee" (the Ethiopian word for "strength") in a beverage.

Over time, coffee trees spread to the Arabian Peninsula and other regions, where people began to cultivate coffee trees and discovered that their berries made a delicious beverage.

2. The growing environment of coffee beans

Coffee beans can only grow in certain climate conditions. They need a warm and humid climate and are usually grown in mountainous areas between 1,000 and 2,000 meters above sea level.

These regions usually have stable and moderate rainfall and plenty of sunshine. In addition, soil quality also plays an important role in coffee bean yield and quality.

Due to these special requirements, only a small part of the world is suitable for growing coffee trees. Countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam and India are the main coffee bean producing countries.

3. Coffee bean ripening process

When we see ripe bright red or purple berries, it means that they contain precious and delicious coffee beans. However, the ripening process of coffee beans is not simple.

Coffee trees usually produce fruit at a specific time of year. These fruits go through several stages to fully ripen. Initially, they are green and contain high water content and low sugar content.

Over time, the fruit gradually turns yellow or red, and the water content gradually decreases and the sugar content increases. When the fruit is fully ripe, farmers harvest them and process them to obtain coffee beans.

4. Coffee bean handling and processing

Once the berries are harvested from the coffee trees, farmers need to treat and process them to get the beans that can be used to make coffee drinks.

First, in the wet process, farmers will remove the outer peel and wash off the sticky material. Then they will put the remaining part into fermentation tanks for a period of time. This process helps to remove the remaining gelatinous material that is wrapped around the beans.

Next comes the dry process, in which farmers lay the fruit out in the sun to dry. They turn the fruit regularly to ensure even drying.

Finally, farmers need to remove the outer membrane from the coffee beans and screen and grade them to ensure quality and taste.

5. Transportation and roasting of coffee beans

Once the coffee beans are processed, they need to be shipped to coffee manufacturers around the world. This often involves long-distance transportation and warehousing.

Coffee beans are usually unroasted before they reach their destination. However, before they can be made into a beverage, they need to go through a special process - roasting.

By controlling the temperature and time, roasters can change the flavor, aroma and color of coffee beans. Different degrees of roasting from light to dark will produce different types of coffee tastes: light is acidic and light; medium is balanced and a little bitter; dark is bitter and shiny.

6. Grinding and brewing coffee beans

Finally, the coffee beans need to be ground and used to make coffee drinks. This is usually done by the consumer at home or in a coffee shop.

Different brewing methods and equipment will affect the taste and quality of the final drink. From drip, French press to espresso, each brewing method has its own characteristics.

Regardless of the method used, when water comes into contact with the ground coffee, a chemical reaction occurs between them that releases aroma and flavor. This is how the coffee drink we all love is born.

in conclusion

By understanding how coffee beans grow and where they come from, we can better appreciate and enjoy a great cup of coffee. From the Ethiopian legend, it takes multiple steps in the process of growing, harvesting, handling, shipping and processing around the world to get to the final product - the fragrant and invigorating cup of black liquid in our hands.

The mystery of coffee bean growth is a story about the cooperation between humans and nature. It not only allows us to taste the deliciousness, but also makes us cherish this hard-won process even more.