Coffee from bean to cup

15 steps to making the most delicious cup of coffee

Every morning, people consume millions of cups of coffee, each choosing their favorite type, and preparing it with care and attention. Coffee has even become a symbol of focus; when we encounter someone lacking concentration, we advise them to drink a cup of coffee to regain their energy and focus.

So much so that the world coined the term "barista," referring to the employee responsible for preparing and serving coffee, often with distinctive designs drawn on the surface of the cup. What are the steps involved in making coffee, from bean to cup?

1. Find suitable land

Coffee typically requires rich, fertile soil, a sunny, temperate climate, and rainfall. Elevation is also crucial for growing high-quality coffee beans; the higher the altitude, the better. Furthermore, variations in the natural and climatic conditions of the growing location can affect the coffee's flavor and caffeine content.

2. Plant the seeds

It's often said that "slow-growing trees produce better coffee beans," and it's generally accepted that the best coffee beans come from trees that are at least three to five years old. Some farmers even have trees that are over a hundred years old!

3. Enjoy watching the coffee ripen like fruit.

Coffee trees are covered in flowers that vary in shape depending on the coffee variety, but they all resemble fragrant jasmine. Coffee cherries start out green and turn deep crimson when ripe.

4. Pick only ripe coffee cherries

A skilled farmer harvests coffee cherries several times, or even months, from the same tree depending on its stage of growth. Only the ripest coffee cherries, which are crimson in color, are picked.

5. Choose the processing method carefully.

Removing coffee beans from coffee cherries is a lot of work, and farmers use several methods to extract them. Washed processing (also called wet processing) and natural processing (known as dry processing) are the most common methods for processing coffee.

Washed processing is best suited to climates with cool nights and sunny days. This process begins after the cherries are picked, when the outer husk is removed to extract the coffee beans. After separation, the beans are washed to remove the outer (gelatinous) film. The coffee is then tested by placing it in water; any beans that float are discarded as they are unsuitable.

Natural processing, suitable for a dry, sunny climate, was first used by Ethiopian farmers. After harvesting the coffee cherries, they are left to dry completely without removing any part of them, and they are turned continuously until they are fully dry. The drying process typically takes about three to four weeks, depending on the climate.

6. Grain fermentation

The beans are fermented, a process that can take anywhere from hours to days depending on the climate and the type of coffee. This occurs after the cherries have been completely emptied and the usable beans collected.

7. Washing and drying the grains

After the grains are extracted, their suitability is confirmed, and they are left to ferment for a period, they are collected and dried. Drying takes place in elevated, open-air locations, or in drying machines.

8. Dry grinding mill

This process takes place after several months of processing, fermentation, and drying, and only after ensuring that the moisture levels in the coffee beans are uniform. Any remaining coffee cherries are removed from the beans, down to the thinnest layers, before grinding.

9. Source

Many countries export coffee, most notably Brazil, Ethiopia, Yemen, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, and Uganda. Each coffee variety has its own unique characteristics and flavor, and the origin of the beans must be stated when selling or importing them.

10. Coffee Export

Most of the coffee we buy travels to our countries as green coffee, shipped across the seas in burlap sacks. Delicate coffee may be exported by air. Roasting and packaging are done in the country itself to ensure optimal quality and flavor.

11. Test the green coffee before buying.

Before making a purchase, test the green coffee by roasting and tasting it. Once you taste it, you can tell the quality of the coffee, whether it's premium or inferior.

12. Roasting test

This process involves testing the roasting time of coffee beans to determine the optimal roasting time. Each batch from the same importer is tested to ensure consistent roasting times.

13. Grinding as per request

Coffee evaporates quickly once ground, so we recommend grinding it only as needed. Many companies use a secure packaging process for specialty coffee bags to ensure the coffee's flavor and aroma remain fresh.

14. Prepare it carefully

No matter how busy you are, and no matter how you prepare your coffee, it won't take more than a few attentive minutes. The coffee beans have traveled to your hands; I think they truly deserve your attention!

15. Invite your friends

I had a friend who, whenever he tried a new type of coffee, would ask me to taste it with him. Coffee is made with love, and served with love to those we feel comfortable with.