Coffee is become a necessary part of our daily existence. Many would concur that their day doesn’t begin until they sip on that first mouthwatering cup, and the world appears to revolve around the rich, black beverage. But the great majority hasn’t stopped to think about the origins of coffee beans.
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You’re at the proper place if you’ve been wondering about the beans in your brew. To satisfy your need for coffee knowledge, continue reading as we’ve put up this guide to teach you all there is to know about coffee beans.
Where do beans for coffee originate?
Coffee growers often keep their plants cut to around five feet in order to make them manageable. Coffee beans are produced from the coffee plant, which resembles a shrub and may grow extremely tall. Arabica and Robusta coffee beans are found among the clusters of cherries that develop on these coffee bushes.
How far along is the coffee plant?
The coffee plant typically takes a year to start producing fragrant, white blossoms, and it may take an additional four years for the plant to start bearing fruit. The coffee plants will take around ten years to start commercially producing the beans that have the most value to the producers. Coffee plants typically have a 30- to 40-year lifespan, but with the right care, they may survive much longer!
Berries will turn red when they’re ripe and ready to be picked, but determining when they’re ready requires experience because plucking them too early or too late can significantly affect the flavor.
Where is the coffee planted?
The “bean belt,” or region surrounding the equator between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, is where the majority of coffee plants are cultivated. Because these places have the ideal climates for coffee plants to flourish, they are home to the world’s coffee capitals, including Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, and Ethiopia.
It’s interesting to note that the location of coffee bean cultivation might change the flavor. The flavor of the coffee that the beans generate can be affected by factors including soil type, elevation, and climate.
Do distinct plants yield distinct coffee beans?
Indeed, there are more than 120 distinct types of coffee plants, and each one yields a unique kind of coffee bean; yet most of the coffee we drink comes from only two varieties: Arabica (also called Coffea Arabica) or Robusta (also called Coffea Robusta or Coffea Canephora), or a combination of the two. The two types are not the same in terms of cost, flavor, or growth environment.
Coffee beans from Arabia
One of the most widely planted varieties of coffee beans is arabica, whose origins are thought to date back to 1,000 BC, making it one of the first coffee species ever farmed. The beans are bigger than Robusta beans, usually oval in form, and have a noticeable center crease.
Although their acidity is greater, these beans are adored by coffee lovers for their vivid and complex flavors. They also tend to have a softer, sweeter taste with notes of fruits, flowers, chocolate, and nuts.
In general, the cost is higher than that of Robusta. This is due to the fact that it is far more fragile and requires more precise growing conditions, such height and weather. Arabica coffee beans are typically cultivated at elevations of 500–2500 meters and contain little caffeine. Arabica coffee is presently produced in greater quantities throughout Latin America, particularly in Brazil.
Robusta beans for coffee
Robusta coffee, which is mostly cultivated in Africa, Vietnam, and Indonesia, tastes significantly less sweet than Arabica coffee because it has lower acidity levels. Robusta has a richer and bolder flavor profile with undertones of burned rubber and wood because of its simpler acidity. Its rich flavor and coating of crema make it a popular option for espressos.
Coffee Robusta is cultivated up to a height of 1000 meters. Compared to Arabicas, which take many years to reach maturity, they bear fruit considerably faster and provide a larger production per tree. Their biggest advantage over Arabicas is that they are often less expensive. They are also more resistant to weather and pests. The fact that Robusta coffee beans have more caffeine is another thing to keep in mind.
Robusta coffee beans are typically rounder, smaller, and have a less noticeable center crease than Arabica coffee beans. They are also often paler.
How about coffee beans that are decaf?
Since coffee beans inherently contain caffeine, there is no such thing as decaf coffee beans. Before roasting, they are decaffeinated by swelled with steam or water, and the caffeine is then extracted using water, an organic solvent, or activated carbon. Ultimately, the decaf coffee beans undergo drying to restore their typical moisture content.
Even though they are called “decaffeinated,” decaf coffee beans never completely eliminate caffeine since it is impossible to do so.