Monthly Archives: November 2020
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Posted: November 25, 2020Categories: The Bean
Read more »The common conception of coffee is that of a dark, bitter, and caffeinated beverage that is derived from brown beans. Here’s the truth - technically, coffee beans aren’t beans. They are seeds from a fruit. So, grab a cup of your favourite brew as we pick out some rich and tasty facts about the coffee cherry.
1. Did you know that coffee is a fruit?
Surprise, surprise! You may or may not have known that coffee grows on a tree, and the beans are in fact, the pit of a fruit. That fruit largely resembles a cherry, which gives it its name - coffee cherry.2. The anatomy of a coffee cherry
[caption id="attachment_10360" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
A typical coffee cherry contains two seeds that become coffee beans once roasted. Photo from Blue Coffee Box.[/caption] The cherry’s exterior is hard and waxy, with a juicy flesh lining the interior. Underneath that lining lies the pulp, which resembles the pulps of an orange. It has a slimy texture but contains complex sugars that provide sustenance for the cherry. Once you open up the pulp, you will find two seeds that are protected by a paper-like layer, which will come off during processing. Once the seeds are roasted, they will transform into the brown coffee beans that we are all familiar with. 3. How is a coffee tree planted?
As long as the bean is not processed, it can be planted to grow into a coffee tree. There are four main coffee bean-growing regions around the world: Central America, South America, Africa and Indonesia. Known as the Coffee Belt, these regions share a tropical climate and have rich environments that support the growth of co -
Posted: November 18, 2020Categories: Coffee 101
Read more »Have you ever sipped on a cup of coffee made from 100% Arabica and wished that it had just a little more flavour and richness to it? Do you love the full-bodied aftertaste of Liberica coffee but miss the citrus acidity of a Kenyan coffee?
You are not the first to feel that way. That is why coffee roasters and commercial enterprises have come up with the perfect solution – and that solution is no other than coffee blends.
What is a coffee blend?
Just as its name suggests, coffee blends are made from combining two or more single origin coffee beans to create a unique blend.
This is different from single origin coffee, where the beans are sourced from a single location, usually a country, region, or farm.
How are they made?
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Posted: November 04, 2020Categories: Coffee 101
Read more »Just like any other crops, bad weather, diseases, and pests can dramatically impact a coffee farmer’s harvest from year to year. Market prices can be volatile and are highly competitive, which makes it tricky for coffee farmers to predict their income or plan their financial future.
But as coffee drinkers, we can play a part in securing a better livelihood for coffee farmers around the world. Here’s how.
Buy Fairtrade Coffee
“We donate 10% of our profits to the coffee farmers we work with.” Sounds familiar? Many coffee companies and cafes advertise that they have a direct relationship with the coffee plantations that supply their beans.
But it’s hard to tell as these claims are difficult to track. If you’d prefer not to take their word for it, look out for Fairtrade labels on the coffee beans that you purchase.
Fairtrade is a global certification scheme that assures farmers are paid at least the Fairtrade Minimum Price, which acts as a safety net even when market prices drop.
Buy from Roasters that Source from Small Farms
