WHAT IS
COFFEE?
What is Coffee?
Coffee is a plant that is grown all over the world and flourishes in the countries that lie between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, in countries as diverse as Brazil, Columbia, Jamaica and Indonesia.
Coffee Species
There are two main species of coffee: Arabica and Robusta. Arabicas are characterised by mildness, acidity and good flavour; whereas robusta coffees are in general more earthy and possess body or weight. Both have their place in coffee blending but generally, arabica is interpreted by consumers to be of better quality.
Coffee Beans
Coffee beans grow inside the cherries of a coffee tree. Nine months after a coffee tree flowers, the cherries are ripe and ready to be harvested. Once harvested some batches of cherries are pulped, either by hand or machinery, to remove the fruit – known as washed coffee. Other batches keep the fruit on to preserve the fruity flavour of the cherry, this is natural processed coffee.
Coffee Preparation
The beans, or cherries, depending on the processing method, are then dried-often in the sun on raised beds. following this, the beans re sorted to remove defects before being weighed and packed into large jute sacks ready for export.
Coffee Journey
After travelling across the world(UK), green coffee is delivered to a coffee roasters where it is sampled and tasted to ensure it is of sufficient quality. Once approved, the sacks of coffee are unloaded, sorted and separated by origin.
Coffee Roasting
As the green coffee heats in the roaster, sugars in the coffee caramelise – and cell structures of the bean start to breakdown. Throughout the roasting, chemical reactions occur which create flavours and turn the green beans brown.
The Final Step: Coffee Grinding & Brewing
After roasting, beans are cooled, left to rest to allow gases to release and then are ready to be ground and brewed.
