#coffee farming

‘Coffee crisis in Central America fuels record exodus north’, Reuters

Andrew 📷

The journey of coffee from bean to cup is a complex and fascinating process that involves multiple stages, each crucial to developing the flavors we enjoy. It all starts on coffee farms, primarily located in the “Coffee Belt,” which spans Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Coffee plants thrive in these regions' specific climates and altitudes, producing cherries that contain the precious coffee beans. Once the cherries are harvested, usually by hand, they undergo processing to extract the beans. This can be done using either the wet (washed) or dry (natural) method. The wet method involves removing the pulp before drying the beans, resulting in a cleaner, brighter flavor. The dry method involves drying the cherries with the pulp still attached, which imparts a sweeter, fruitier flavor to the beans. After processing, the beans are dried, sorted, and bagged for shipment to roasters worldwide. Roasting is a critical stage where green coffee beans are transformed into the aromatic, flavorful beans we recognize. The roasting process involves heating the beans to high temperatures, which causes chemical reactions that develop complex flavors and aromas. Roasters carefully control the temperature and duration to achieve the desired roast level, from light to dark. The final stage is brewing, where ground coffee beans are combined with water to extract their flavors. There are numerous brewing methods, including drip coffee, French Press, and espresso, each producing a distinct taste profile. The grind size, water temperature, and brewing time all play vital roles in the final cup’s quality.

📷 L Gourmande