Why do coffee beans need to be protected from light and why can't they be eaten?

Coffee beans are a common food, but they need to be kept away from light and cannot be eaten directly. This is because coffee beans require special treatment in the process of keeping fresh and high quality.

First of all, coffee beans need to be stored away from light. This is because the ultraviolet rays in the sun have an adverse effect on coffee beans. Ultraviolet rays can destroy the chemicals in coffee beans, causing them to deteriorate and lose their original aroma and taste. In addition, sunlight will accelerate oxidation reactions, making coffee beans more bitter and sour. Therefore, maintaining a properly dark environment during production, transportation and storage is crucial to maintaining the quality of coffee beans.

Secondly, you should not eat unroasted coffee beans directly. In its raw state, the coffee fruit is covered with a shell called the "peel" and a sticky substance called the "pulp" covers the seed (what we call the "coffee bean"). These outer layers need to be removed before roasting. The peel and pulp contain substances such as caffeine and acidic components, which make the coffee beans taste bitter and difficult to digest. In addition, unroasted coffee beans have a high water content, are prone to mold and are difficult to preserve.

In summary, coffee beans need to be stored away from light to maintain their freshness and quality. Ultraviolet rays in the sun can have an adverse effect on coffee beans and cause them to deteriorate. In addition, they must be roasted before consumption to remove the peel and pulp and reduce the bitterness. Only properly processed coffee beans can produce fragrant and delicious coffee.