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Planting the seed

 
 
 
 
 
 
Coffee seeds are generally planted in large beds in shaded nurseries
 
Three months
Nine months
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Growing conditions

 
 
IDEAL ALTITUDE
in feet
Tropical climate
Subtropical climate
Robusta beans
Arabica beans

Coffee beans only grow in the Bean Belt

Best growing regions
Largest producers

Harvesting

The coffee tree's fruit is called a cherry

 
When the cherries turn deep red they are ready to be harvested
The cherries can be picked by hand
or
Strip picked with machines

Processing the cherries

 
Coffee cherries are processed in one of two ways:
 
Dry
Process
 
Dried in the sun
This process continues until...
Raked to prevent spoilage
 
Wet
Process
 
 
 
 
Beans are separated from pulp
Sorted by ripeness and size
Ripe beans sink
Moved into fermentation tanks to remove the mucilage
Rinsed and dried until...
Cherries' moisture reaches 11%

Milling

 
 
 

Hulling

Machines remove the parchment layer or husk

Milling

 
 
 
 

Polishing

Any remaining silver skin is removed

Milling

 
 
 

Grading & Sorting

Defective beans are removed

Exporting

 
 
 
 
 
 
The green coffee is loaded into bags which are loaded into containers which are loaded into ships

Coffee beans are shipped all over the world

Best growing regions
Largest importers

Inspecting

A coffee 'Cupper' evaluates the beans by...

 
 
 
 
Sight
Smell
Taste

Roasting

 
 
 
 
Roasting transforms green coffee into the aromatic brown beans we know and love
Beans move throughout the entire process
Beans are removed when the internal temperature reaches 400 degrees at which point oil locked inside the bean emerges
 
 

Grinding

 
 
 
Coarse or fine grinds should depend on the brew method

Brewing

 
 
 
 
 
 

Enjoy!

 
 
 
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