Coffee harvesting is a multi-step process that involves various techniques and methods to ensure the highest quality beans. Here's an overview of what it entails several things.
HARVEST
- Selective Picking: Only the ripe cherries are picked by hand. This method is labor-intensive but results in higher quality beans.
- Strip Picking: All cherries are stripped off the branch at once, regardless of ripeness. This can be done by hand or using mechanical harvesters and is more efficient but may result in a mix of ripe and unripe cherries.
- Sorting: Cherries are sorted to remove any unripe or overripe ones. This can be done manually or with machines.
- Pulping: The outer skin and pulp are removed from the cherries, exposing the beans. This can be done using wet or dry methods.
DRYING
- Beans are dried to reduce moisture content to around 10-12%. This can be done naturally by spreading beans out in the sun or using mechanical dryers.
- Proper drying is crucial to prevent mold and preserve the quality of the beans.
GRADING AND SORTING
- Beans are sized & sorted to separate heavy from light beans. Defective beans are removed ensuring that only the finest quality coffee beans are exported.
EXPORT
-
The beans, now referred to as green coffee, are loaded onto ships in either jute or sisal bags loaded in shipping containers, or bulk-shipped inside plastic-lined containers.
ROASTING
- The beans, now referred to as green coffee, are Roast to develop flavor, then grind to the desired consistency for brewing.
BREWING - Finally, it's time to brew the coffee & enjoy.
