Coffee has integrated into our daily lives. The rich, dark liquid seems to be the center of the universe, and many people would concur that their day doesn’t truly begin until they sip their first delectable cup.
The International Coffee Organization (ICO) estimates that we consume 1.25 billion cups annually.4 billion cups of coffee per day around the world. 400 million cups of coffee, or nearly 45% of that total, are consumed daily just in the US.
Where do coffee beans come from hasn’t been given much thought, though? You’ve come to the right place if you have questions about the beans in your coffee.
Continue reading to quench your thirst for coffee knowledge because we’ve put together this guide to teach you everything there is to know about coffee beans.
Where Does Coffee Come From?
The top 5 coffee producers today supply the majority of the world’s coffee: Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, and Ethiopia. About one-third of the coffee beans in the world are produced by Brazil alone.
All five of those nations are a part of the so-called “bean belt.”Between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, there is a region known as the Bean Belt that offers the best growing conditions for coffee.
What Is The Origin Of Coffee Beans?
The coffee plant, which resembles a bush and can grow to be quite tall (coffee farmers typically keep them pruned to about 5 feet to keep them manageable), is where coffee beans are produced. Two types of coffee beans, Arabica and Robusta, are found inside the cherry-filled bunches that grow on these coffee plants.
Coffee Beans: What Do They Grow On?
Did you know that the coffee bean—also referred to as a coffee cherry—is actually a seed? A newly planted coffee tree typically requires two to four years to produce beans that are ready for harvest.
Consequently, do coffee cherries grow on trees or on plants?
A mature, well-grown coffee plant can typically reach a height of 30 to 40 feet. A coffee plant obviously begins as a plant but later qualifies as a tree since a tree is defined as anything taller than 20 feet and having a trunk larger than 3 inches in diameter.
Once the berries, otherwise known as cascara or coffee cherries, turn a ripened red color, they are harvested.
How Much Time Does It Take A Coffee Plant To Grow?
If you’re wondering how long it takes to grow coffee, it typically takes a new plant one year to start flowering. Following that, the tree may not start to bear fruit for another two to three years. Watch it in action in the time-lapse below of a coffee plant sprouting!
Coffee plants can live for thirty or even forty years if they are grown properly in the shade. Some even estimate it to be much higher!
The most valuable period for farmers, though, is the first couple of decades (following the initial growth spurt when the plant is approaching the point at which it can produce beans commercially).
A significant shift in favor of coffee that is grown in the sun has, regrettably, seriously impeded the productivity of coffee plants over time. This monocrop strategy forced farmers to use hybrids that could adapt to the intense periods of intense heat in the typically equatorial regions where beans are grown. This moved coffee beans out of their naturally shady habitat.
The productivity of a coffee plant’s life cycle for producing beans was reduced by half as a result of all of these factors.
Various Plants Produce Various Types Of Coffee Beans?
The majority of the coffee we consume comes from just two varieties: Robusta (also known as Coffea Robusta or Coffea Canephora) or Arabica (Coffea Arabica) or a blend of the two. Yes, there are over 120 different varieties of coffee plants, and each produces a different type of coffee bean. The two varieties have different tastes, growing requirements, and prices.
Arabica Coffee Beans
One of the most popular varieties, Arabica coffee beans, is thought to be one of the earliest coffee species ever grown, with roots that go back to 1,000 BC. The beans typically have an oval shape, a distinct center crease, and are larger than Robusta beans.
Although their acidity is higher, these beans are renowned for their vibrant and complex flavors and are adored by coffee connoisseurs for their tendency to have a sweeter, softer taste with notes of fruits, florals, chocolate, and nuts.
In general, it costs more than Robusta. This is so that it can grow because it is much more delicate and requires more particular cultivation conditions, like climate and altitude. Arabica coffee beans are typically grown at elevations of 500 to 2500 meters and contain little caffeine. Currently, Brazil is the largest producer of Arabica coffee in Latin America.
Robusta Coffee Beans
Robusta coffee, which is frequently grown in Africa, Vietnam, and Indonesia, has lower levels of acidity than Arabica coffee, which means it typically tastes much less sweet. Robusta can produce tones of wood or burnt rubber due to its simpler acidity and deeper and stronger flavor compounds. Due to the thick layer of crema and rich flavor it produces, it’s a popular choice for espressos.
Up to 1000 meters of elevation are used to grow robusta coffee. Compared to Arabicas, which take several years to reach maturity, they produce fruit much more quickly and yield a larger crop per tree. They are primarily less expensive than Arabicas because they are less susceptible to pests and environmental factors. Robusta coffee beans have a higher caffeine content, which is another consideration.
The Robusta species produces coffee beans that are typically paler, more rounded, smaller, and less pronounced in the center than Arabica beans.
About Decaf Coffee Beans
Since coffee beans naturally contain caffeine, there is no such thing as decaf coffee. Prior to roasting, the decaffeination procedure is carried out, which entails swelling the beans with water or steam and then removing the caffeine with water, an organic solvent, or activated carbon. To restore their normal moisture level, the decaf coffee beans are finally dried.
Decaffeinated coffee beans still contain some caffeine even though the term “decaffeinated” implies that all of it has been taken out.
Extend Reading: Where Do Starbucks Coffee Beans Come From?
Do you believe that Starbucks makes their renowned coffees with robusta or arabica coffee?
You are right if you guessed arabica beans. Starbucks exclusively uses arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) due to its more upscale flavor.
Starbucks sources its arabica coffee from three key growing regions, Latin America, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. However, their signature coffee blends are mostly from the Asia-Pacific region.
Starbucks has a long history of obtaining coffee beans for its beverages from countries like Guatemala, Rwanda, and Timor, claims the company’s website.
Uganda, Kenya, Vietnam, Brazil, and Colombia are among the countries represented in the new hybrid Starbucks Reserve, a Starbucks coffee shop.
Around ten years ago, Starbucks made a commitment to improving industry practices as well as its image following a PR disaster. Through initiatives like Coffee and Farmer Equality (C.), they invested more than $100 million in helping coffee communities and working with farmers. A.F.E.).
More information about their dedication to fair trade and ethically sourced coffee can be found here.
Ladies and gentlemen, that, my friends, is how coffee gets from the coffee trees to your home cups. The next time you visit your neighborhood coffee shop and purchase your favorite brew, you’ll be able to appreciate the labor of love that went into each bean, bag, and cup.
Summary
I sincerely hope that this article has given you a thorough understanding of coffee. Thus, the answer can be divided into a few components the next time someone asks what coffee is made of.
- Coffee beans are used to make coffee.
- The coffee plant, which is a substantial shrub or bush, produces coffee beans.
- The fruit that grows on coffee plants, coffee cherries, contains beans in their centers.
- There are coffee plants all over the world, but they are most common in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.