04 Aug From tree to cup: The journey of a coffee bean

Ever stop to think about where your coffee comes from? Before it fills your favourite mug, coffee goes through quite the journey – starting as a bright red cherry on a coffee tree and ending as a deliciously aromatic roasted bean. Here are some of the stops on its way:

1. Picking the Cherries

Coffee grows in tropical regions around the world, and the harvesting season usually happens once a year, depending on the climate. The coffee cherries are picked when they’re perfectly ripe, typically a deep red colour. In many places like Ethiopia or Colombia, this is still done by hand, one cherry at a time. It’s slow and skilful work, but it ensures only the ripest fruit is collected, which leads to better flavour in your cup.

2. Processing the Cherries

Once picked, the beans need to be removed from the fruit. This is where processing comes in, and there are a couple of methods:

Washed (or wet) process: The fruit is removed with water and machinery, leaving just the beans to ferment and wash clean.

Natural (or dry) process: The cherries are laid out in the sun to dry whole, and the fruit is removed later. This method can add fruity and sweet flavours to the coffee.

3. Drying the Beans

After the beans are separated from the fruit, they need to be dried to the right moisture level – about 10–12%. This can take several days and is usually done on large patios, raised beds, or mechanical dryers. Drying is a delicate step; too fast or too slow, and the flavour can be affected.

4. Milling and Sorting

Once dried, the beans go through milling, where the parchment layer (a thin shell) is removed. The beans are then sorted by size, weight, and quality. Imperfections, like under-ripe or damaged beans, are carefully removed, often by hand and sometimes by machine. The clean, sorted beans are now called green coffee, ready to be shipped to roasters.

5. Shipping and Roasting

Green coffee is packed in sacks and shipped. It’s only once roasted, that the beans take on the familiar aroma and colour we all know and love. From there, they’re ground, brewed, and finally end up in your cup!

So next time you take a sip of coffee, think about the many hands and steps involved in getting it just right. Behind every great cup is a whole journey of care, craft, and a little sunshine. 🌱☕