Fruit or Bean? The Surprising Botany Behind Coffee
The Coffee Plant: Coffee comes from the Coffea plant, which belongs to the Rubiaceae family. It thrives in tropical climates with stable temperatures and rainfall.
The Fruit: The coffee fruit, called a "cherry," is small, round, and typically red or purple when ripe. Inside the cherry are seeds, which are the coffee beans we know.
The Seed: The coffee beans are the seeds found inside the coffee cherry. The cherry itself has a thick, fleshy outer layer, and the seed is surrounded by a parchment-like skin.
Two Seeds Per Cherry: Most coffee cherries contain two seeds, which are what we refer to as coffee beans. Occasionally, a cherry will have only one seed, known as a "peaberry."
The Growing Process: After being harvested, the seeds are processed to remove their outer layers. The beans are then dried, roasted, and ground to make coffee.
The Coffee Bean: When we brew coffee, we're actually extracting the flavor from the roasted seed of the coffee fruit.
Cultural Importance: Coffee cherries have been cultivated for centuries, playing a significant role in various cultures, especially in Africa and South America.
In conclusion, the coffee "bean" is actually a seed from a fruit, revealing a surprising twist in its botanical origins.