About Coffee

At 11 billion dollars per year, it is the second largest traded commodity in the world (after petroleum). 52% of all US adults drink coffee daily. We consume 300 million cups of coffee every day in the USA alone.

Coffee trees grow in tropical regions. The beans grow in pairs of seeds in cherries. The seeds are removed from the cherries and are dried and hulled to remove the protective skin called parchment. The coffee beans are greenish in color and are subsequently roasted to various shades of brown depending on the roast style. The roasted beans are ground and brewed with hot water to make the coffee drink.

Each coffee seed contains over 800 natural chemicals. Every step in the process from climate and growing conditions, genetics of the tree, to the final brewing methods affect these natural chemicals. Each of these factors affects the distinct taste of the final brew.

Some of the information is from "The Coffee Book" and "Home Coffee Roasting" see suggested reading for more information.

Anatomy of Cherry

Green Beans with Shell

Green Beans without Shell

Roasted Beans

About 70% of India's coffee is Robusta. Specialty coffee market is primarily concerned with Arabica coffees but there are some very high quality Robustas and more attention is being given to these coffees as of late.