Where does coffee come from?

Though many people drink coffee, most don’t know where it actually comes from. A coffee plant requires rich soil and mild temperatures with ample rain and shade. Thus, coffee grows best in a section in the middle of the world, bounded by the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer known as the Coffee Belt. Soil, climate and altitude actually affect the flavor of the beans. There are two types of coffee beans; Arabica (grown in high altitude) and Robusta (grown in low altitude).  Because Arabica beans are high grown, they yield better flavor and have less caffeine.  Robusta is typically used as a filler or in blended coffees.

from the beginning

Interestingly, coffee begins its life inside of a cherry as two halves.  It isn't until the cherries are harvested and then processed, that the bean is exposed.  A typical cherry contains two halves, much like a peanut, to form the bean.  However, in some cases, there is a single bean that looks much like a pea and is known as a peaberry.

Harvested beans, once processed and then graded (sorted by size), are bagged for purchase and known as green coffee.  Typically, green coffee is requested by roasters for samples to roast and qualify for purchase.  This is done through a process called cupping, similar to wine tasting.  Some criteria used to grade coffee include aroma, flavor, and body.

Storage and Grinding Guidelines

Coffee flavor in your cup is a direct result of how coffee is stored, ground and brewed.  It is just as important to grind to the correct size according to your preferred brew method and store properly as it is for the roaster to use roasting techniques conducive to the green coffee bean type.  There is no absence of thought or consideration when it comes to the perfect cup of coffee.  

STORE coffee in an airtight container away from sunlight.  Coffee absorbs odors and flavors when stored in the freezer or refrigerator.

GRIND coffee according to your preferred brew method:  

Fine – Pressure Method (Espresso)

Medium – Gravity (Drip, Pour Over)

Coarse – Steep (Cold Brew, French Press)

Consume your fresh roasted Flamjeaux within 30 days for best results!

DID YOU KNOW?

• About 65-70 countries grow coffee.

• Coffee grows best between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

• Coffee beans are really berries.

• Espresso is not a roast or a bean, it's a brew method.

• There are 4 components to great coffee:

  • roast

  • grind

  • brewing method

  • water

• The expression "cup of Joe" was first coined during WWII, when American servicemen (G.I. Joes) were identified as big coffee drinkers.

• Coffee cherries usually contain two "beans" called "pips", except for the single bean peaberry anomaly. Cherries with three beans are deemed to be a sign of good luck.

• Ground coffee loses its freshness the fastest because far more of the bean is exposed to air and light, which take away the flavor. Grinding coffee just before brewing guarantees the freshest cup of coffee. Note* A burr grinder is the preferred grinder type.

• The lighter the bean, the more caffeine. Why? Because as the beans are roasted caffeine is removed as the bean undergoes chemical changes.