At the time you are enjoying a cup of coffee or a sip of our delicious BE ICED cold brew coffee, around 125 million people worldwide are working coffee for their livelihood.
Coffee Cherries
Cherries contain the coffee seeds or, more commonly, coffee beans. Each cherry usually contains two beans. Occasionally, in about 5% of coffee cherries, there is only one seed, known as a pea-berry.
Once the coffee cherries begin to turn red, they are ready for harvest. There is usually a large harvesting period between October and December. However, in countries such as Colombia, there is also a secondary harvest, which usually takes place between April and June.
Most coffee beans are harvested by hand, in strips or selectively.
Processes to obtain coffee flavor and aroma
Wet milling
Once harvested, the fruit must be processed quickly to avoid oxidation, as this can damage its flavor. Coffee that uses the wet processing method is known as washed coffee.
Dry Method
An alternative method is the dry method, also known as unwashed or natural coffee. It is an ancient method and is often used in countries where rainfall may be scarce. It is a much cheaper alternative to the wet process; however, the final aroma can be affected, creating a milder coffee.
Milling and dehulling
Dehulling is part of the milling process and is used to remove the parchment skin (parchment) and residues from the fruit. It can be done wet or dry and is done by machine.
Polishing / Aging / Decaffeination
Polishing, along with aging and decaffeination, are other optional stages used in coffee processing. Polishing is used to remove any remaining silver skin. Beans can also be aged, from six months to three years.
Cleaning and selection
Cleaning and selection can also be an additional step, especially for finer coffees.
Classification and cupping
Grading coffee is a process used to determine higher quality coffee and higher prices. Beans are judged from their visual appearance to their flavor on a scale of one to five.
Roasting of the beans
The beans are roasted, which causes chemical reactions within the beans. The starches are converted to sugar, the acidity is weakened and the beans become oily, which develops the aromatic flavor.
Milling and processing
The final stages are milling and brewing. The grains are milled to different levels of fineness. The finer the beans, the smoother the coffee. Coffee brewing consists of pouring hot water over the ground beans and allowing them to infuse.
