The journey of coffee from the farm to your cup is a fascinating process that begins long before the beans reach your local café. After coffee cherries are harvested, they undergo several important steps to ensure the highest quality beans are ready for roasting. This post explores how coffee is prepared after harvesting and how it makes its way to the mill for further processing. Each stage is crucial in determining the final flavor and quality of the coffee you enjoy.

1. Harvesting the Coffee Cherries

The journey begins at the farm, where coffee cherries are carefully harvested. There are two main harvesting methods:

• Selective Picking: This method involves handpicking only the ripe, red cherries, leaving the unripe ones to be picked later. It is labor-intensive but helps ensure a higher-quality product since only the best cherries are selected.
• Strip Harvesting: In this method, all cherries on the branch are picked at once, regardless of their ripeness. While faster, it results in a mix of ripe and unripe cherries, which requires further sorting to maintain quality.

Once harvested, the cherries must be processed quickly to prevent spoilage and ensure the beans' quality is preserved.

2. Sorting and Cleaning

After harvesting, the coffee cherries are sorted to remove debris such as leaves, twigs, and overripe or underripe cherries. The cherries are then thoroughly washed to remove dirt and impurities. Sorting can be done by hand or with mechanical equipment, and it ensures that only high-quality cherries proceed to the next stage.

3. Coffee Processing Methods

The goal of coffee processing is to extract the beans from the cherries and prepare them for drying. There are three primary processing methods:

• The Wet (Washed) Method:
• In this method, the cherries are pulped to remove the outer skin and some of the fruit’s flesh. The beans are then placed in fermentation tanks to break down the remaining mucilage surrounding them. After fermentation, the beans are washed to remove any remaining mucilage and then spread out to dry. This method produces clean and bright flavors, as it allows for greater control over the bean’s development.
• The Dry (Natural) Method:
• This traditional process involves spreading the whole cherries out to dry in the sun on drying beds or patios. The cherries are regularly turned to prevent mold and ensure even drying. The dried cherries are then hulled to remove the outer layers and extract the beans. This method often results in beans with a fruity or earthy flavor profile due to the prolonged contact with the fruit’s pulp.
• The Honey (Pulped Natural) Method:
• The honey method is a hybrid approach where the skin and some pulp are removed from the cherries, but a layer of mucilage is left on the beans as they dry. The beans are dried with the remaining mucilage, which can impart a sweet, syrupy flavor. The honey method is popular in countries like Costa Rica and produces complex, balanced flavors.

4. Drying the Coffee Beans

After processing, the beans must be dried to reduce their moisture content to about 10-12%. This can be done using different methods:

• Sun Drying: The beans are spread out on drying beds, patios, or concrete surfaces and regularly turned to ensure even drying. This process can take several days to weeks, depending on weather conditions.
• Mechanical Drying: In regions with inconsistent weather, mechanical dryers may be used to speed up the drying process. These dryers help reduce the drying time and provide a controlled environment to achieve the desired moisture content.

The drying process is crucial for preventing mold growth and maintaining the beans' quality. Once dried, the beans are referred to as "parchment coffee" because of the thin, papery layer still surrounding them.

5. Hulling the Coffee Beans

Hulling is the process of removing the parchment layer (in the case of washed coffee) or the dried fruit husk (for natural coffee) from the beans. This step occurs at a mill and reveals the green coffee beans, which will later be roasted. In some cases, an additional polishing process is used to remove any remaining silver skin from the beans, though this is not always necessary.

6. Grading and Sorting

After hulling, the green coffee beans are graded and sorted based on size, weight, shape, and color. This grading process ensures that only the best quality beans are selected for export or further processing. Sorting may be done mechanically, using screens to separate beans of different sizes, or by hand, where workers visually inspect the beans for defects. Grading helps categorize coffee into different quality levels, affecting its market value.

7. Transporting to the Mill

Once the beans are sorted and graded, they are packed in jute or burlap sacks for transport to the mill. The mill is where large-scale processing takes place, including further cleaning, grading, and preparation for export. The transportation process is carefully managed to avoid damage to the beans and ensure they arrive at the mill in the best possible condition.

8. Milling and Final Preparation

At the mill, coffee beans may undergo additional sorting and grading before being prepared for export. The final steps can include:

• Cleaning: Removing any remaining impurities or defects from the beans.
• Polishing: This optional step involves removing the last traces of silver skin from the beans, enhancing their appearance.
• Final Grading: The beans are sorted by size, weight, and color one more time to ensure consistency and quality.

The milled coffee, now referred to as "green coffee," is ready for export to roasters around the world.

9. Packaging and Shipping

The green coffee beans are packaged in large sacks and labeled with important information such as the origin, grade, and processing method. The beans are then shipped to various destinations where roasters will carefully transform them into the aromatic coffee that people enjoy worldwide. Throughout this process, the beans must be stored in a cool, dry place to preserve their quality.

Conclusion

The journey of coffee from harvest to mill involves several critical steps, each contributing to the quality of the final product. Proper harvesting, sorting, processing, drying, and grading are all essential for producing high-quality coffee. Bean Verified ensures that every step of this journey is carried out with care and precision, working closely with farmers and mills to maintain the highest standards.

By understanding the coffee preparation process, we can better appreciate the hard work and dedication that goes into every cup. At Bean Verified, we are committed to supporting sustainable practices and quality improvements throughout the coffee supply chain, ensuring that the coffee you enjoy is not only delicious but also ethically sourced.