Coffee beans are harvested from coffee plants and play an essential role in the production of coffee. Harvesting is an essential process that must be done correctly in order for the coffee to taste good and have a high quality. In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the different methods of harvesting coffee beans and why each is important.
One of the most common methods for harvesting coffee beans is strip harvesting. Strip harvesting is when you strip the entire tree or shrub of its coffee cherries. This method doesn’t waste any potential fruit and can have a higher yield but it’s more labor intensive. The stripped cherries must then be separated from the stems and other parts of the fruit and sorted according to ripeness.
The other common method of harvesting is selective harvesting. Selective harvesting is more labor-intensive but is often more effective. Selective harvesting involves selecting only the ripest cherries from the tree. Since the ripest cherries have the sweetest flavor and the highest caffeine content, this method produces some of the best tasting and most valuable coffee beans.
The final method of harvesting coffee beans is called mechanized harvesting. Mechanized harvesting is done by machines that pick the cherries from the tree. This method of harvesting is much quicker and can be done with fewer workers. However, it often results in damage to the leaves, branches, and the cherries themselves, which can affect the quality of the coffee.
Harvesting coffee beans is an essential step in the production of coffee. Different methods can produce different results and it’s important to choose the right method for your particular type of coffee. Strip harvesting is the most commonly used as it has a higher yield with less effort, while selective harvesting is more labor-intensive but can produce higher-quality beans. Finally, mechanized harvesting is quick and requires less manpower but may result in some damage to the trees.
How coffee is harvested also depends on the area it is growing in.
In certain regions, coffee beans are typically harvested by hand. The process involves picking the ripe cherries from the coffee tree and then separating the flesh from the beans which are then dried either in the sun or by mechanical dryers. After the beans are dried, it is ready to be processed.
Coffee beans are grown in many countries around the world, including in Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand), Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda), Central and South America (Colombia, Guatemala, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru), the Middle East (Yemen) and the Pacific Islands (Papua New Guinea).
So far, my favorite single origin coffees are Costa Rica and Honduras. Have you tried them yet? Let me know in the comments below.
