When we talk about coffee, we're usually referring to the roasted seeds of the coffee plant. But before it becomes that aromatic beverage we love, coffee starts as a fruit. The coffee "bean" is actually the seed of the coffee cherry, which is the fruit of the coffee plant.
Here's a breakdown:
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Coffee Fruit: The coffee cherry or fruit grows on the coffee plant. It typically starts green, then turns red as it ripens. Inside the fruit are two seeds, which we commonly refer to as coffee beans.
- The coffee cherry, or fruit, is typically small and red when ripe, though there are different varieties with varying colors.
- It contains pulp and mucilage surrounding the seeds, which are the coffee beans.
- The fruit has a sweet taste, often reminiscent of berries, though the flavor can vary depending on factors like the variety of the coffee plant and the region where it's grown.
- In some regions, particularly where there's a focus on sustainability and minimizing waste, the fruit pulp is used to create products like cascara tea or in skincare products.
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Coffee Bean: These "beans" are extracted from the fruit, processed, dried, and roasted. The roasting process transforms them into the familiar brown beans we grind to make coffee.After harvesting, the coffee beans are extracted from the fruit through processing methods.
There are two primary methods: the dry process (natural) and the wet process (washed).
- In the dry process, the whole cherries are dried with the beans inside, while in the wet process, the beans are separated from the fruit before drying.Once extracted, the beans are dried and then roasted.
- Roasting is a crucial step that greatly influences the flavor profile of the coffee.Roasting transforms the green, raw beans into the aromatic, brown beans we're familiar with. The beans undergo chemical changes during roasting, developing flavors and aromas characteristic of different coffee varieties.
- After roasting, the beans are ground and brewed to make coffee, which is enjoyed worldwide in various forms such as espresso, filter coffee, and more elaborate coffee-based beverages like lattes and cappuccinos.
So, in essence, the coffee bean is the seed of the coffee fruit. The fruit itself isn't usually consumed in the same way, though some processes use the fruit or its pulp to create specialty drinks or products.
