Coffee Beans Aren’t Really Beans – Here’s What They Actually Are
Not Actually Beans: Despite the name "coffee beans," they are not true beans. Beans are seeds from plants in the legume family, but coffee beans come from a completely different plant species.
Coffee Cherries: Coffee beans are actually the seeds of the fruit known as coffee cherries. These cherries grow on coffee plants, and each fruit contains two seeds.
Botanical Classification: Coffee comes from the Coffea plant genus, which belongs to the Rubiaceae family, not the legume family that true beans come from.
Seed Inside the Fruit: The coffee "bean" is the pit inside the coffee cherry. It is typically surrounded by a fleshy fruit that is removed during processing.
Caffeine Source: While not beans in the botanical sense, these seeds still carry the caffeine that gives coffee its signature kick, making them vital to coffee lovers worldwide.
Processing: After the cherries are harvested, the seeds are extracted, dried, and roasted to create the coffee beans we recognize.
Two Main Types: The two most popular coffee seed types are Arabica and Robusta, each offering distinct flavors and characteristics.
History of the Name: The term "coffee bean" likely arose because the shape and size of the seed resemble that of true beans, but it's a misnomer.