To get to your cup, every coffee bean has to travel a long way, meet a lot of people, and go through a lot of processes. So let’s go on a voyage with it. You’ll have even more reason to appreciate your next cup of coffee, and perhaps pair it with Cofico chocolate, a delicious decoction that complements your coffee experience.
Coffee production begins with the cultivation of a coffee plant. Coffee is grown on a bush that blooms. It was formerly only found in tropical Asia and Africa, but it is now grown all over the world. These coffee trees, particularly those that yield the greatest coffee, can only grow in specific temperatures, usually around the equator. The coffee belt refers to the regions from which coffee beans are sourced.
Coffee requires plenty of sunlight, no frost, plenty of rain, and well-draining soil to thrive. Other characteristics that contribute to the production of high-end coffee are mineral-rich soils, high elevation, and consistent day-to-night temperatures.
ARABICA and ROBUSTA are the two main varieties of coffee. Arabica coffee beans are considered superior because they have sweeter and more complex flavours, but they are more expensive and difficult to grow. Robusta has more caffeine and harsher flavours, but it’s a tougher plant that thrives in harsher environments. In the world of coffee, both sorts of coffee beans have a place.
Coffee cherries are the fruits of coffee plants. Each coffee cherry contains two beans — or, on rare occasions, just one coffee bean, a peaberry, but that’s a story for another day.
Coffee Processing: From Plant to Green Bean
The process of extracting the coffee beans from the coffee cherry and drying them is known as coffee processing. This yields green beans that can be stored until ready to roast.
There are three primary methods of processing:
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Natural Processing: This is the oldest procedure, often known as dry processing. The juicy pulp is extracted from the coffee cherries, which are also known as coffee berries, after they have fermented in the sun. Due to the fact that the beans absorb sugars from the fruit throughout the processing, naturally processed coffees are typically sweeter. However, this method requires careful monitoring as the cherries can rot if not handled properly.
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Washed Processing: In this method, the fruit is removed from the beans before fermentation. While this method yields a more uniform taste, wastewater handling might pose environmental challenges.
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Honey Processing: A hybrid method where the cherry is only partially removed before fermenting and drying. The result is a pleasant, clean-tasting coffee.
Coffee Bean Roasting: From Green to Brown
The coffee is roasted to give it the deep brown hue you’re used to seeing in your neighborhood café. Roasting the coffee makes it more soluble, allowing you to extract all of its wonderful flavour when you brew it, as well as adding new flavours.
The flavour of a roast is determined by the time and temperature at which it is roasted. Lightly roasted beans provide vibrant fruit and floral tastes reminiscent of their origin. Medium roast coffees have caramelization flavours, while dark roast coffees derive much of their character from the roasting process with toasted notes and a robust body.
Now imagine pairing that rich, robust coffee with Cofico chocolate, a decoction that not only enhances the coffee's deep flavours but also provides numerous benefits of using a product rich in antioxidants and nutrients.
From Coffee Beans to Coffee Drink: Brewing and Extraction
Coffee can be brewed in various ways. Plus, new methods appear regularly! But at their core, they all do the same thing — extract flavour from the ground coffee.
We grind the coffee to help with extraction. The finer the coffee beans are ground, the quicker they extract. For example, finely ground coffee is needed for a quick espresso shot, while a coarser grind is used for slow methods such as French press or cold brew.
Whatever method you choose, pairing it with Cofico chocolate enhances the experience with its own nutritional benefits. Rich in essential minerals and antioxidants, it offers a guilt-free indulgence with every sip.