From Bean to Brew
Between the time they’re planted, picked and purchased, coffee beans go through a typical series of steps to bring out their best. Click the brown beans for more information on the process.
1. Planting
4. Exporting
5. Roasting
8. Enjoy!
7. Brewing
6. Grinding
3. Processing
2. Harvesting
Coffee seeds are generally planted in large beds in shaded nurseries. The seedlings will be watered frequently and shaded from bright sunlight until they are hearty enough to be permanently planted. Planting often takes place during the wet season, so that the soil remains moist while the roots become firmly established.
The milled 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 transforms green coffee into the brown beans that we purchase in stores or cafés. When they reach an internal temperature of about 400 degrees Fahrenheit, they begin to turn brown and the caffeol (a fragrant oil locked inside the beans) begins to emerge. This process called pyrolysis produces the flavor and aroma of the coffee we drink.
Coffee is personal - the right way to make it is how you like it best. Personalize your brew with your choice of equipment, beans, freshness, grind, and water.
The objective of a proper grind is to get the most flavor in a cup of coffee. The length of time the grounds will be in contact with water determines the ideal grade of grind. Generally, the finer the grind, the more quickly the coffee should be prepared.
Once the coffee has been picked, processing must begin as quickly as possible to prevent fruit spoilage. Depending on location and local resources, coffee is processed in one of two ways.
Five years after planting, and after the berry ripen from green to red, the bush is harvested. In most countries, the crop is picked by hand in a labor-intensive and difficult process, though in places like Brazil where the landscape is relatively flat and the coffee fields immense, the process has been mechanized.
