Coffee bean cultivation: From seed to cup, the whole process is revealed!

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and coffee beans are the key to making a delicious cup of coffee. From seeds to a cup of coffee, there is a delicate and complex process behind it.

First, growers select high-quality coffee tree seeds for sowing. These seeds usually come from mature, healthy and high-yielding coffee trees. After sowing, it takes a few weeks to a few months for seedlings to appear.

When the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted to the field or greenhouse for further growth. At this stage, farmers need to provide the right amount of light, water and nutrients to ensure the plants grow healthily.

When the trees reach a suitable height (usually 3-4 years), they begin to flower and produce fruit, called coffee cherries, which are red or yellow in color.

Farmers regularly check the fruit for ripeness and pick them when appropriate. Hand picking is the most common and recommended method as it ensures that only ripe fruits are selected. This requires patience and skill as each cherry must be picked individually.

After being picked, coffee cherries need to be processed to remove the pulp. There are two main processing methods: dry and wet.

In the dry process, farmers dry the coffee cherries in the sun or on specially made racks. When the pulp is completely dry, it becomes brittle and falls off easily. The remaining beans at this point are called "unprocessed" coffee beans.

Wet processing involves soaking the coffee cherries in water and removing the pulp through a machine. The remaining beans will then go through steps such as fermentation, washing and drying to reach the final product.

Regardless of the processing method, the coffee beans need to be screened, graded and packaged after completion to ensure consistent quality.

Finally, these carefully cultivated coffee beans are shipped to suppliers around the world or directly sent to on-site roasters for processing. After the appropriate degree of roasting, the flavor and aroma of the coffee beans can be fully developed.

When we brew a cup of coffee from ground coffee beans, we can't help but sigh that there is countless hard work and careful care behind it. From seed to a cup of coffee, every step is crucial.