From seed to cup the evolution of a cup of specialty coffee ~ Plant the coffee seed in the nursery and tend carefully for six months ~ Transplant the seedling into rows ~ Cultivate and prune the seedling for the next three to five years until the first crop develops ~ After flowering and fruit formation, hand pick only the ripe cherries ~ Transport the ripe coffee cherries to the mill for removal of the pulp layer ~ Soak the beans in water to begin the fermentation process ~ Thoroughly wash the parchment-covered beans ~ Dry the beans in their parchment layer ~ Hull the beans to remove the parchment layer ~ Polish the beans ~ Grade according to factors such as size, defects, density and altitude of growth ~ Transport the bagged, graded beans to the seaport for shipment ~ Market to brokers and wholesale roasters ~ Ship the beans via boat to arrive at the broker or roaster weeks to months later ~ After arrival, separate and warehouse the bags of beans ~ Weigh and roast the green beans ~ Cool the roasted beans and put through a de-stoning process to remove foreign materials such as rocks and sticks ~ Weigh and blend or (optional) flavor the beans ~ Package for resale ~ Ship to retail stores and sell to consumers ~ Grind the roasted beans ~ Make a great cup of specialty coffee and enjoy! |