Rainforest berries: Coffee

The first coffee was drunk over a thousand years ago by Arab traders. According to legend, it was discovered by an Ethiopian shepherd who saw his goats were unusually frisky after eating the caffeine-rich coffee berries.

Today, coffee is the second biggest commodity traded after petroleum. The beans are a major export for tropical countries in South American, Africa, and Southern Asia. Just in the UK, over 70 million cups are drunk everyday.

Growing under shade

Coffee plants grow naturally under the shade of tall trees, but the majority of commercial production grows in sunny conditions where the trees have been removed. This earns a higher yield of coffee berries, but lowers the forest biodiversity and uses more fertiliser compared with production under trees. ‘Sun’ production is also thought to reduce the quality of the final coffee bean.

Nine months brewing

Coffee berries take nine months to ripen. They are harvested by hand when they are 10mm (0.5’’) long and cherry-red. Ripe berries are produced all year round because of the even seasonal temperatures allow a succession of jasmine-scented flowers and immature green berries.

After harvesting, the berries are fermented in water to remove decomposing pulp and begin chemical reactions that help develop the flavour. After drying, these ‘green’ beans are roasted where the temperature and duration of heat determines the final coffee aroma and flavours, as required. Grounding and brewing follow.

Fun fact

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is grown in similar climates to coffee. The top 3-5cm (1-2’’) of fresh leaves are harvested from waist-high bushes every week to ten days.