about the Labrador named Coffee Beans attached to the Sheriff's Department
sniffing drugs and bombs. It's about "the" coffee beans we are familiar with.
It's about the fragrant aroma that stimulates our senses in the morning. The
tingling sensation we get when we take the first sip in the morning. How we
manage to get an extra boost of energy whenever we feel tired and sleepy. Let us
take some time to ponder the processes the coffee beans have to go through
before it can be marketed.Processing The Coffee BeansAfter the coffee berries
have been harvested, it needs to undergo a process where the flesh of the coffee
berries is removed. The coffee berries are placed in special machines separating
the flesh from the seed. This coffee seed is commonly called "coffee beans". The
coffee beans will now undergo a fermentation process for a period of time. This
process is done in order to remove the slimy mucilage coating the coffee
beans.After the coffee beans have undergone the mandatory fermentation, they are
thoroughly flushed with clean water. This process is to remove the foul smelling
residue due to the fermentation process and the waste water is a main cause of
pollutant.The coffee beans are then dried under the sun or by machines, until
the moisture level is about 10% before they can be packed for storage.Another
method of getting to the coffee beans without undergoing the fermentation
process is to dry the whole berry in the sun. It normally takes about 10 to 14
days to complete the process with constant raking of the coffee beans to prevent
mildew from forming. This method is popular and widely used by coffee producers
where water is scarce. The dried flesh is then physically removed leaving only
the coffee beans.The dried coffee beans is then sorted and graded before they
can be stored or shipped to buyers. At this stage, the coffee bean is called
green coffee beans.Sometimes the coffee beans will undergo an additional aging
process. The reason for this is because when coffee was first introduced into
Europe, the coffee beans have undergone a journey of about six months. Europeans
have already developed a preference for this taste and therefore to simulate the
taste, the coffee beans are further aged.Roasting The Coffee BeansRoasting is
the final process the coffee beans have to undergo before they are commercially
marketed. It is also possible to purchase un-roasted coffee beans that you can
personally roast them yourself.When the coffee beans are subjected to heat,
there's a chemical reaction happening within the coffee beans where the sugar
and acid will begin to react releasing its aroma. The coffee beans will turn
darker due to caramelized sucrose. When this happens, the coffee beans are
quickly cooled to prevent damage to the coffee beans.When roasting the green
coffee beans, a lot of carbon dioxide is released as a by-product. The carbon
dioxide helps to "seal" the coffee beans from loosing its flavour and aroma.
Depending on how the coffee beans are stored, it may take some time before the
optimum peak flavour. After reaching its peak, it will start loosing its flavour
again.If you are trying to roast your own coffee beans at home, be aware that
you may not be successful during the first few times. You might over-burn your
coffee beans during your first few tries. Never be discouraged, but try until
you get the taste and flavour that appeals to you. Remember to process in small
amounts to maintain freshness of your coffee.Grinding The Coffee BeansBefore the
roasted coffee beans can be used, you need to grind the coffee beans first. The
coarseness of your coffee depends on your preference and the type of
coffee-brewing method. It can range from coarse to very fine as in the Turkish
grind. For example, if you're using a percolator, a course coffee powder is
suitable but if you are using an Espresso machines, an extra fine coffee powder
is required.ConclusionThe coffee beans have to undergo a string of processes
before it can be consumed. The final flavour of the coffee depends on the journey
the coffee beans take in order to reach its final form. Different methods and
different techniques will give rise to a varied coffee flavour. This is the
reason why there are so many flavours to the simple coffee bean.