Coffee Beans: Not Really Beans At All
When you think of coffee beans, is the first thing that comes to mind a prepackaged bag of ready to grind beans? Most people have little or no idea of the process that actually brings those bags of beans to their kitchens, and are completely unaware of where the makings for America's favorite beverage actually comes from. This article is geared to give you a better understanding of just what it takes for you to have those wonderfully rich beans in your kitchen cupboard, day after day.
Types
There are basically four different varieties of coffee beans sold today. Coffea Arabica is by far the most popular, and accounts for roughly 75% of the coffee currently sold. Also available are Coffea Robusta, Coffea Liberica, and Coffea Excelsa, which are grown mostly in areas where Coffea Arabica cannot be cultivated.
Where Do They Come From?
Did you know that coffee beans aren't really beans at all? They're actually the seed from the fruit produced by the Coffea bush. The Coffea bush is a small, evergreen bush much like the juniper (which is used to produce gin); which produces a small fruit known as the coffee berry or cherry.
The fruit itself is actually inedible, and is often used as fertilizer in the growing of new bushes. But the seed inside (well, two actually) is what we refer to as coffee beans. The seeds are green when raw, and actually remain that way until they are roasted to produce the flavor we associate with coffee.
The seeds are dried and processed, then roasted to varying degrees to achieve the desired flavor and strength. While coffee beans are typically sold already roasted for maximum flavor, consumers can still buy green coffee beans and roast them at home. The amount of roasting that coffee beans will undergo depends on the strength of the brew desired.
Mild roasting produces a very light "coffee" flavor, and actually allows the flavor of the coffee beans to come through; whereas roasting for longer periods of time produces richer and more bitter brews, and the coffee beans actually lose their original flavor. The processed beans are then packaged in airtight bags and containers, and are shipped to stores around the world.
As you can see, the coffee beans you so love must go through a long process before they reach your kitchen cupboard. If you are among the millions who love this amazingly rich beverage, now that you know where coffee beans actually come from you can have a whole new appreciation for your favorite drink.
