Coffee World: From Cultivation to Tasting, Everything You Want to Know is Here

The origin of coffee

Coffee is a plant that originated in Africa and was first discovered in the highlands of Ethiopia. According to legend, a shepherd found that his sheep became unusually active after eating a red fruit. So he tried the fruit and felt refreshed. This is the origin of coffee.

Coffee cultivation

Coffee plants need suitable climate and soil conditions to grow well. They usually grow in tropical and subtropical regions, at altitudes between about 1,000 and 2,000 meters above sea level. The best places for cultivating coffee include countries such as Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam.

Coffee bean picking and processing

When ripe red berries appear on coffee plants, farmers pick them. They use hand or machine to peel the berries from the tree and separate them into two parts: the outer skin and the inner bean.

Next, the beans need to be processed to become coffee beans that are ready for roasting and grinding. One common method is to ferment the berries in water and then rinse them off with water. Another method is to dry process the berries in the sun until they are dry.

Coffee Bean Roasting

Roasting is the process of heating green coffee beans to a specific temperature to change their chemical properties and flavor. Different degrees of roasting will produce coffee with different tastes and aromas.

Light roasts often retain the sour and floral flavors of the original coffee beans, while dark roasts make the coffee more bitter and have rich chocolate or nutty flavors.

Brewing method

There are many different ways to make delicious coffee. One of the most common and easy methods is drip brewing, which involves slowly pouring boiling water over a paper filter and coffee grounds and letting it filter.

Other popular brewing methods include French press, espresso machine, and pour-over kettle, etc. Each method has its own unique characteristics and taste.

Coffee tasting

Tasting coffee involves savoring its aroma, acidity, bitterness, and mouthfeel. Professional baristas use a method called cupping to evaluate different samples of coffee.

In cupping, a small cup of hot water is used to settle the coffee grounds and its quality is assessed by smelling, inhaling the aromas, and tasting the liquid. This process can help determine the optimal roast level for each batch, as well as improve cultivation and processing techniques.

Conclusion

From cultivation to tasting, learning about the world of coffee is an exciting and endless journey. Whether you are a person who enjoys delicious coffee or someone who is interested in the agricultural and food production process, knowing the story behind coffee will make you appreciate this intoxicating beverage even more.