Is Coffee A Tree?
When you drink a delicious latte or make coffee by hand, it is hard to imagine that it is the product of a plant. Countless coffee trees in the world produce fruits that supply our source of vitality.
But what does a coffee plant really look like? What kind do you have? And how does the difference between the flowers and fruits of the coffee tree affect the cup of coffee we drink every day?
The History Of Coffee
Which country comes to mind first when you think of coffee? Brazil? Colombia? Or Indonesia? At the time, coffee originally originated in Ethiopia.
Over the centuries, coffee has spread from Africa and the Middle East to all parts of the world. There are many versions of the story, but the most well-known is that Europeans brought coffee from Yemen to colonists. It seems undeniable that the popularity of coffee all over the world has nothing to do with it.
Turning time to modern times, coffee has become an indispensable economic crop in many countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. Even countries that do not grow coffee themselves still use coffee roasting and consumption to drive the national economy.
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How Does The Coffee Tree Look?
Although coffee beans are called beans, they are the seeds of coffee fruits. Usually, one fruit has two seeds.
Coffee can be classified as a tree because it can grow to a height of up to nine meters, but if it is used on farms, coffee trees must be shorter, and it will be easier to harvest at a height accessible to human hands. Therefore, coffee gardens often look like forests composed of shrubs.
Branches And Leaves
From the main branches of the coffee tree, you can see the primary, secondary, and tertiary horizontal branches, and then there will be dark green and waxy leaves growing in pairs.
Leaves are the basis of plants because that is where photosynthesis takes place. In other words, no leaves mean no energy. Without energy, plants will never grow into delicious fruits containing coffee beans.
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Coffee Flower
When the coffee tree grows for about three to four years, it will bloom for the first time. Small and delicate white flowers will grow at the junction of leaves and branches, releasing a sweet aroma.
Flowers are where the reproductive system of plants is located. In other words, leaves and flowers contribute to the reproduction and maintenance of coffee plants.
Fruit
Six to eight weeks after pollination, cherry like fruits will appear where the flowers are. Immature cherries are green; As time goes on, the fruit will turn red, yellow, orange, or even pink, depending on the variety. As the fruits ripen, they become sweeter and sweeter.
And the caffeine content in the fruit actually acts as a deterrent to most natural enemies. (unfortunately, it also attracts one of the worst pests in coffee: coffee beetles, which can survive in caffeine.)
There are many layers of material in the fruit. The exocarp and pulp are the outermost layers of the fruit, and then we have a mesocarp, which is where the mucus is called the pectin layer. In the pectin layer, it is the seed coffee beans of the fruit!
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Seeds
In each fruit, you will find two seeds. Unless it is a round bean or has other defects, it will not be two. Round beans have only one larger and rounder seed when the seed is mature, rather than two. This happens on about 5% of the seeds.
These seeds are coffee beans. After a large number of processing procedures to remove peel and mucus, then dry, bake, grind, and finally become our favorite drink.
Different Kinds Of Coffee Plants
There are more than 100 different kinds of coffee, and each kind can be further divided into many varieties. These will affect the taste, caffeine content, and growth mode of coffee.
Two Main Species: Arabica Robusta
Arabica is the most widely consumed species, accounting for about 70% of the world. Its flavor quality and aroma are good. Valentina pedrotti, a biologist and coffee value chain analyst at icfc in Panama, said: that in the market of fine coffee, only Arabica will be seen.
The differences between alabica and robusta are as follows:
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The taste is sweet, the flavor complexity is high, and the aroma is more
Robusta or medium fruit coffee is a kind of coffee with stronger adaptability, accounting for about 30% of coffee production.
The differences between robusta and Arabica are as follows:
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There Are Hundreds Of Coffee Varieties
Unlike the "varieties" mentioned above, we often consume several "varieties" of coffee. If you buy fine coffee, you may be able to see what kind of coffee you drink in the bag.
The most common varieties include tebuka, bourbon, kadula, etc. There is also the most famous variety of Guixia (geisha). This kind of coffee is famous for the flavor and aroma of flowers. At the same time, it has a tea like the taste. Raw beans can be sold for $803 per pound.
Sometimes, the coffee industry will mix some varieties, which are mated due to industrial or market needs, including disease resistance, higher yield, better flavor, and other factors.
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The Life Cycle Of The Coffee Tree
Coffee trees can survive for up to 80 years. But on commercial farms, it may take 20 to 30 years, depending on how they take care of these coffee trees.
Coffee trees will not bear fruit in the first few years of their growth, and then the coffee will not bear fruit until three or four years later, and then there will be more fruits.
The life cycle of coffee trees is similar. As it grows, you will see its unique branches and bright green leaves. Most producers keep young coffee trees in greenhouses until seedlings are ready to be planted on farms.
Once the coffee tree is mature, it will bloom, which usually happens in a short time after a lot of rain falls. And it will bear fruit soon after flowering. In some countries, such as Colombia, coffee trees bloom twice a year, which means there will be two harvests a year.
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Arabica Takes About Nine Months From Flowering To Harvest
Robusta can harvest two to three times a year, depending on the climate and soil of the planting area
The coffee tree is a beautiful plant with red fruits and white flowers in appearance. It may be a strong low altitude variety, or a delicate but delicious high altitude variety, seedlings or ancient trees, coffee trees full of mature fruits, or only dark green leaves. No matter what form it is, it comes from this tree. We can enjoy our favorite coffee every day, and countless people in the world depend on it for a living.
You can find some great 3D coffee models on Thingiverse.