Remember the two main Coffea Bushes i told you about. Well that's one of them. Looks pretty different to your cup of coffee doesn't it. :)
How bout I go through the process with you today. Just quick guide no major reading promise.
- Culitvation -
- The traditional method of planting of coffee is to put 20 seeds in a hole in the ground at the start of the rainy season. Though a more effective method is to grow the seeds in a nursery and to plant them outside after 6 to 12 months.
Originally, coffee farming was done in the shade of trees that provided a habitat for many animals and insects. this method is referred to as shade - grown.
Many farmers in the 1970's switched to sun cultivation. coffee is grown in rows under full sun with little or no forest canopy. This causes berries to ripen more rapidly and bushes to produce higher yields, but requires the clearing of trees and increased use of fertilizer and pesticides, which damage the environment and cause health problems. (don't want that!)
The superiority of the shade - grown beans tends to run in it's favour although they take longer to ripen and produce a lower yeild. - Roasting
Coffee berries and their seeds undergo several processes before they become the familiar roasted coffee.
.Picked - traditionally hand picked or more commonly all beans harvested at once
.Processed - Wet or Dry method
.Sorted - by ripeness and colour, the flesh of the berry is removed here and fermented
.Washed - removing fermentation residue
.Dried
.Sorted/Labeled - as green coffee
.Roasting of the green coffee - this is where caramelization happens changing the colour of the bean
.Grading - choosen by the colour of the bean
.Decaffination -If applicable. (no offence to you Decafs but Ewww!)
.Storage - To preserve the fresh taste of the bean
.Preparation - The process we see everyday after ordering our favourite Coffee :)
Now that looks Scrummy!
Mmm excuse I think I need to go make myself a drink :P
-xx Later Coffee lovers
