Journey to the Center of the Coffee Cherry

So now we know a little bit about the botany behind the coffee tree, now lets delve a little bit deeper into growing regions and then learn a little more about the cherry and growing process. The coffee tree itself is native to Ethiopia and the Arabian Peninsula; however we couldn’t just leave it at that could we? In our usual curious nature, through trial and error (and most likely a lot of error) we found that these trees will also grow across regions in the Asia pacific, parts of Latin America and Africa. The region known as the “coffee belt” is an equatorial region that spans between the tropics of cancer and capricorn. So I’m repeating myself, whats my point? Oh, just a refresher; remember how I said growing region is one of the aspects that influences flavor? Yeah, that’s where this train is heading, folks. Maybe I should say plane… can’t say I’ve ever seen a train cross oceans…

Let’s begin with Latin America. Much like the Latin American culture, the coffees hailing from this region are bright and lively. Guatemalan coffees, for instance tend to have a lovely balanced taste, a light body that doesn’t linger, it delivers a nice clean finish. When most people think of what coffee tastes like, it’s most likely a Latin American coffee. These coffees tend to roast well to a light or medium roast. These coffees also serve well as a base for blends. 

Let’s stop there… What exactly is a blend? Well first we need to understand what a single-origin is. A single origin coffee, for example, Starbucks Guatemala Antigua, Sumatra, or Kenya, is a coffee that comes from a single area, or even a single farm. A blend is a combination of single origin coffees, either from the same region or different regions. Blends can even have different roasts. 

That being said, Latin American coffees serve as a good “base” for any good complex blend, just as Columbian coffee does for the Starbucks Tribute® blend.

Next we travel over to Africa. The flavors of coffee here can be just as rich and lively as the culture from which it is harvested. Africa can boast as the birth place of coffee, and most coffees from here are sold and enjoyed as single origin, or single region blends. Flavors most commonly found in these exotic coffees range from floral, to citrus, to even a slight spice. 

Now saving the best (in my opinion) for last. Since I was about 15 or 16, I’ve always been a fan of Asian Pacific coffees, particularly those from the island of Sumatra. This massive coffee growing region has a vast array of altitudes, climates, and topographies. These coffees usually have a lovely full complex body that lingers in your mouth. Spicy earthy notes fill your palate, and the rich culture in which this coffee was produced comes alive. 

The coffee tree blooms once a year, beautiful jasmine scented flowers blossom and then fall off, then the magic happens, the cherries start to grow. These trees are kept around 4-6 feet tall but they’ve been known to reach above 30 feet. It is very important to note that one coffee tree roughly will only produce what amounts to one pound of roasted coffee. 

Now the beautiful red coffee cherry is very much like a pitted grape. It has sweet fruit around it, and inside two coffee beans facing each other await their journey to your home.

Now, how those little guys break free of the cherry is the subject of the next blog entry, and that covers processing.

Until then, thank you so much for reading, and leave any comments thoughts or questions below! Also a quick note of thanks to the editors of Patch for spotlighting my blog with my first entry! I hope I can continue to educate each of you and hopefully in an entertaining manner!

Stay caffeinated!

--Cole

The opinions and views expressed in this publication are mine and mine alone. I do not receive any compensation for mentioning or preferring any product over another. The data presented is meant to be used as unbiased consumer education and any product mentioned is purely intended to be used as an example. I am employed by Starbucks Coffee Company, however I am not publishing this blog under their direction, compensation, or approval. Again, this blog is merely showcasing my passion for coffee and educating the general masses about this wondrous plant.