How is Coffee Harvested? From Bean to Cup

Discover the unique process of coffee harvesting. Learn about how coffee is grown, harvested and more.

I’m sure there are plenty of coffee lovers out there, who cannot start their day without a lot cup of coffee in the morning!

Have you ever wondered how this coffee is made? Yes, I’m sure you guys know coffee is got from the coffee bean, but what next?

To get the perfect cup of coffee, there is a long process that goes behind it.

Right from the harvesting of the coffee bean, until it reaches the ground coffee stage to make yourself a brew, the process is one to know!

So, here’s everything you need to know about the unique processing of coffee from bean to cup, one of the world’s most consumed beverages!

Coffee Harvesting: The 8-Step Process from Bean to Cup

Step 1: Growing coffee plants

Coffee plants are grown in regions with high altitudes and in tropical climates. They take 3 to 4 years to start bearing fruit and once the coffee plant matures, they begin producing coffee cherries.

Step 2: Maturing of the coffee cherries

The maturation of the coffee cherries take anywhere between 7 to 9 months. This means the coffee cherry from a small green fruit, will turn into a bright reddish or yellowish colored fruit (the color will depend on its variety).

Step 3: Coffee harvesting

Coffee harvesting is the process when the ripened coffee cherries are then hand-picked by labourers. Any unripe cherries are left on the plant until they’re ripened.

After the coffee cherries have been picked, the labourers do one final sorting to remove any unripe, defective or spoilt cherries.

Step 4: Drying the cherries

Once the coffee cherries are harvested, they need to be dried in order to obtain the bean.

The coffee cherries are laid out to dry in the sun and are sun dried for about a month. Once the coffee cherries are dried, the outer layers (the pulp and the mucilage) are then removed using machines.

Step 5: Hulling of the coffee beans

Hulling is a process where the parchment layer of the coffee bean is removed, to get the final coffee bean, also called as green bean.

Step 6: Grading the beans

The coffee beans once hulled are sorted and graded as per their size and quality as well. Any defective beans are removed (either by hand of machine).

Step 7: Packing and storage of the coffee beans

The beans once graded, called green beans, are then packed and stored in a cool and dry place. This helps preserve the quality of the beans until they are sold to wholesalers and retailers.

Step 8: Roasting and grinding for use

The green coffee beans are finally roasted at high temperatures to bring out their color, flavour and aroma. The temperatures vary depending on the type of roast – dark, medium and light. The roasted coffee beans are ground and then used to make the final brew.

The Takeaway

If you’re interested to get to know more about the coffee harvesting process, then make sure to book your stay at Shanthi Kunnj Riverside Exotica, our luxury boutique resort.

While we will ensure you have an enjoyable stay, we will also take you on a unique plantation tour for an experience of a lifetime!