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Exploring the Coffee Fruit: Why Are They Called Coffee Cherries?
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, but the story behind it is rarely known. Coffee beans are not beans, but are derived from the fruits of the coffee tree (Coffea), so these fruits are called coffee cherries. These seemingly familiar names hide rich and diverse history and culture, which are worthy of discussion by the media and humans.
Coffee cherries are usually red or purple in color, and inside the fruit are the seeds of coffee beans. These structures resemble real beans but are not technically legumes, so named because of their appearance and size. Each coffee cherry usually contains two flat-faced seeds facing each other. Occasionally, it contains only one seed, which is called a "peaberry". This small fruit bean only accounts for about 10% to 15% of the vast amount of coffee beans, but it is generally considered to have a better flavor.
The production of coffee beans is closely related to the global economy. According to statistics, the total market value of the coffee industry has reached 495.5 billion US dollars.
According to historical records, the discovery of coffee has a long history. According to legend, coffee trees were first discovered around 850 by a goat herder named Kaldi. He found that his goats became more active after eating coffee cherries. Coffee trees were first distributed in the mountains of Egypt, and then gradually spread to all parts of the world through the port of Mokha in Yemen in 1500.
To date, Brazil is the largest coffee producer and exporter, accounting for approximately 45% of the world's total coffee production. The United States is the largest importer of coffee, consuming approximately 400 million cups every day, making it the world's major coffee consumer market.
The origin of the term coffee
According to the Oxford Dictionary, the name coffee may originate from the Turkish "kahveh" and entered other languages through the Italian "caffè". According to another theory, the name may come from the Kaffa province of Ethiopia, as this area may be the origin of coffee.
Growing environment of coffee plants
The ideal growing environment for coffee is found in tropical areas known as the coffee belt. These plants grow well in temperatures between 15 and 24°C and require rainfall of 500 to 3000 mm per year. This makes coffee cultivation not just a process but an agricultural activity that requires careful management.
With the growth of global coffee demand, the harvesting of coffee cherries has become more complicated, and most of the fruits are picked by hand.
Coffee processing flow
When coffee cherries mature, they are usually picked by hand. There are two main methods: "selective picking" (only ripe fruits are picked) and "whole branch picking" (whole fruits are picked at one time). Selected fruits often produce higher quality coffee.
For the processing of coffee cherries, two main methods are widely used. The first is "wet processing", which is mainly used in Central America and Africa. In this method, the pulp of the cherry is separated from the seeds, which are then fermented and then rinsed with water to remove the adherents. The second is "dry processing". This method is often used for lower-quality beans. It has been used historically in Brazil and vast areas of Africa. However, now high-quality coffee beans can also be produced using sophisticated dry processing. .
Chemical composition of coffee
The main components of coffee beans include caffeine, amino acids, carbohydrates and lipids. Caffeine is the most well-known of these ingredients and is found in varying amounts in different varieties of coffee beans. For example, Arabica coffee beans have a caffeine content between 0.8%-1.4%, while Robusta coffee beans have a caffeine content of between 0.8% and 1.4%. The content of (Robusta) coffee beans is between 1.7% and 4%.
Not only that, non-volatile nitrogen compounds and volatile compounds in coffee are also important sources of coffee aroma.
Finally, the aroma of coffee is formed by the reaction of caffeine structure and various compounds, which enhances its market appeal. After a careful roasting process, the aroma of the beans is released, which is one of the important reasons why coffee lovers gather together.
As for the mystery of coffee cherries, people should probably think about how many coffee stories we haven’t heard yet waiting for us to explore?
