World Flavor Cafe

Why the Gourmet Coffee Bean

This is the story of how the humble coffee becomes a world celebrity. It's not about the Labrador named Coffee Beans attached to the Sheriff's Department sniffing drugs and bombs. It's about "the" coffee beans we are familiar with. It's about the fragrant aroma that stimulates our senses in the morning. The tingling sensation we get when we take the first sip in the morning. How we manage to get an extra boost of energy whenever we feel tired and sleepy. Let us take some time to ponder the processes the coffee beans have to go through before it can be marketed.

Processing The Coffee Beans

After the coffee berries have been harvested, it needs to undergo a process where the flesh of the coffee berries is removed. The coffee berries are placed in special machines separating the flesh from the seed. This coffee seed is commonly called "coffee beans". The coffee beans will now undergo a fermentation process for a period of time. This process is done in order to remove the slimy mucilage coating the coffee beans.

After the coffee beans have undergone the mandatory fermentation, they are thoroughly flushed with clean water. This process is to remove the foul smelling residue due to the fermentation process and the waste water is a main cause of pollutant.

The coffee beans are then dried under the sun or by machines, until the moisture level is about 10% before they can be packed for storage.

Another method of getting to the coffee beans without undergoing the fermentation process is to dry the whole berry in the sun. It normally takes about 10 to 14 days to complete the process with constant raking of the coffee beans to prevent mildew from forming. This method is popular and widely used by coffee producers where water is scarce. The dried flesh is then physically removed leaving only the coffee beans.

The dried coffee beans is then sorted and graded before they can be stored or shipped to buyers. At this stage, the coffee bean is called Green Coffee beans.

Sometimes the coffee beans will undergo an additional aging process. The reason for this is because when coffee was first introduced into Europe, the coffee beans have undergone a journey of about six months. Europeans have already developed a preference for this taste and therefore to simulate the taste, the coffee beans are further aged.

Roasting The Coffee Beans

Roasting is the final process the coffee beans have to undergo before they are commercially marketed. It is also possible to purchase un-Roasted Coffee beans that you can personally roast them yourself.

When the coffee beans are subjected to heat, there's a chemical reaction happening within the coffee beans where the sugar and acid will begin to react releasing its aroma. The coffee beans will turn darker due to caramelized sucrose. When this happens, the coffee beans are quickly cooled to prevent damage to the coffee beans.

When roasting the green coffee beans, a lot of carbon dioxide is released as a by-product. The carbon dioxide helps to "seal" the coffee beans from loosing its flavor and aroma. Depending on how the coffee beans are stored, it may take some time before the optimum peak flavor. After reaching its peak, it will start loosing its flavor again.

If you are trying to roast your own coffee beans at home, be aware that you may not be successful during the first few times. You might over-burn your coffee beans during your first few tries. Never be discouraged, but try until you get the taste and flavor that appeals to you. Remember to process in small amounts to maintain freshness of your coffee.

Grinding The Coffee Beans

Before the roasted coffee beans can be used, you need to grind the coffee beans first. The coarseness of your coffee depends on your preference and the type of coffee-brewing method. It can range from coarse to very fine as in the Turkish grind. For example, if you're using a percolator, a course Coffee Powder is suitable but if you are using an Espresso machines, an extra fine coffee powder is required.

Conclusion

The coffee beans have to undergo a string of processes before it can be consumed. The final flavor of the coffee depends on the journey the coffee beans take in order to reach its final form. Different methods and different techniques will give rise to a varied coffee flavor. This is the reason why there are so many flavors to the simple coffee bean.

About the Author

Boake" Moore is an IT Sales engineer by trade and founded a non profit coffee company called Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee -http://www.missiongrounds.com/ourphilosophy.php It donates all its profits and proceeds to helping orphans and impoverished children. We currently are building schools in rural China, orphanages in South America; supporting orphans in Russia and Africa. And helping homeless children in the United States.
Lets make the world better -

George "Boake" Moore

Mission Grounds

http://www.missiongrounds.com

EXCLUSIVE:Miley Cyrus Hits Coffee Bean & Dance Rehearsal

Krups 203 Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder with Stainless-Steel Blades ...

Victorinox 40520 Fibrox 8-Inch Chef's Knife $24.72 Nothing is worse than going to cut with your cutlery, and having the handle slip around in your hand. To combat this potential for injury, Victorinox has created this Fibrox chef's knife. The Fibrox® handle is textured and provides a firm grip, even when wet, and does not slip or slide around. It is comfortable and fits naturally to the shape of your hand, and provides an attractive and modern st...

Bodum Brazil 8 cup French Press Coffee Maker, 34 oz, Black The Brazil French Press coffee maker, designed in the early 80's, was our first coffee maker and quickly became a symbol of what Bodum stands for. Attractive and functional design at an affordable price The Brazil has an ultra-light, heat-resistant borosilicate glass beaker and a polypropylene handle and base, which make the Brazil easy to use and easy to clean. The 3-part stainless steel plunger ...

Whatever: The 90s Pop & Culture Box $49.95 You'd be right to be excited about Rhino Records' voluminous compilation, Whatever: The '90s Pop and Culture Box. After all, they did such a great job with their 1980s comps, not to mention all their various approaches to prior decades, from the original Nice Day series to the expanded and brilliant Nuggets collections. Whatever is a seven-disc set that comes with a bag of stale coffee inside it....

Moondog 1 & 2 $10.24 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed....

Moondog $9.98 ...

Coffee Bean Roaster $125.99 COFFEE BEAN ROASTER

Cafe Manera Coffee Bean $339.99 Cafe Manera Coffee Bean - Framed Giclee Print

Life of the Coffee Bean, Part 2 $14.99 Life of the Coffee Bean, Part 2 - Premium Poster

Life of the Coffee Bean, Part I $14.99 Life of the Coffee Bean, Part I - Premium Poster

Gourmet Coffee - Whole Bean $12.99 MAKERS MARK GOURMET COFFEE Whole Bean 10 oz. bag, blend of Arabica coffee beans and Makers Mark bourbon.

Richell Coffee Bean Auto-Deluxe Pet Gate $94.99 Richell Coffee Bean Auto-Deluxe Pet Gate

Richell Coffee Bean TakT Freestanding Pet Gate $176.69 Richell Coffee Bean TakT Freestanding Pet Gate

igourmet Ethiopian Yrgacheffe Ambassa Whole Bean Coffee $14.99 Ethiopian Yrgacheffe Ambassa Whole Bean Coffee