Know Your Beans: An Introduction To The World Of Coffee

Step 1: Origins

Coffee grows between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. There are 60-70 different types but the 2 most common are Arabica and Robusta.

Step 2: Harvesting

Coffee grows on trees as 'cherries', where the flesh is removed to get to the bean within.

Step 3: Arabica

Arabica beans grow at high altitude and are higher quality as they are hand-picked, so only the ripest cherries are harvested

Step 4: Robusta

Robusta beans grow at a lower altitude and are harvested by machines. This is a faster method but results in a lower quality bean as the machines harvest all the beans at the same time, regardless of whether they are ripe or not.

Step 5: Wet Processing

Arabica beans are processed by being soaked in water so the flesh can be easily removed. This is a gentle method of processing which preserves the quality of the bean.

Step 6: Dry Processing

The cherries of Robusta beans are dried out, which is a cheaper but harsher process.

Step 7: Blend

Coffee is usually available as a combination of Arabica and Robusta as well as a combination of coffee from different regions around the world.

Step 8: Strength

The strength of coffee beans is affected by the amount of time and the temperature at which they are roasted. Coffee is available as light, medium or dark roasted. The darker the roast, the stronger your coffee will be.

Step 9: Caffeine

Coffee contains caffeine which is a stimulant and should be drunk in moderation. Coffee can be de-caffeinated without losing any flavour.