May 17 2010
Bean Coffee
The coffee plant produces the bean that makes coffee and is one of the most well known and popular drinks in the world. The bean of the coffee plant is actually the seed but is called a bean because of how closely it looks like other beans, such as the pinto bean. Caffeine, the trait that makes coffee the main reason for its popularity, is contained in the endosperm of the bean which can have be up to two and a half percent caffeine.
This is why coffee is one of the most drank beverages in the world, in fact, once people become accustomed to the caffeine in coffee they don’t want to drink any other hot beverage and balk at the thoughts of drinking decaffeinated. The power of the bean of the coffee plant is so strong that many people feel they can’t function without their first cup of coffee in the morning.
Coffee Berries on the Tree
The same people who love coffee also have their favorites and although they might not realize where their coffee comes from, the coffee bean is what makes the coffee either loved or hated. The art of creating the perfect cup of coffee starts with using the best coffee beans. The history of the coffee bean goes back hundreds of years to Ethiopia and spread throughout the world.
As the popularity of the coffee bean spread so did the growing of the coffee plant. Some countries were able to perfect the art of growing the coffee plant and in harvesting the beans that are used to make coffee while other countries were not and their coffee is not considered to be as tasty.
The top countries for producing coffee are Columbia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Africa and Ecuador. These countries export more coffee than other countries and have some of the most sought after varietals. The top two types of coffee beans are the Arabica and the Robusta. The Arabica is well known for its flavor and the high quality coffees it is able to produce. The Robusta is well known for being a vigorous plant that can grow in less than perfect conditions and still produce a quality coffee.
In addition the growing of the coffee plant, processing the coffee bean is the second most important step in producing a high quality coffee. There are two methods, the wet method and the dry method, each with their own special characteristics.
The wet method of processing the coffee bean is typically used in Africa and Central America. This process involves soaking the beans for several days to remove any pulp and then air-drying them before sending them to the roasting process.
The dry method is a less expensive processing method and is used in some parts of Africa and in Brazil. In this process the beans are allowed to dry for several weeks in the sun. During this time they are turned often for even drying. At the end of this time, the dried pulp is removed and any twigs or other objects. The beans are then ready for roasting.
The coffee plant is an important commodity for many countries, simply due to the intense popularity of the beverage. Coffee beans are available in the local market or in gourmet shops and are the beginning of a beautiful morning for millions of people.
-Sharon Chapman
Also, visit Coffee-Beans-101.com for more on different varieties of coffee beans.