Coffee Education

TYPES OF COFFEE

ARABICA

The coffee plant is an evergreen shrub, classified under the genus Coffea, and part of the botanical family Rubiaceae. There are several species of Coffea, the finest quality being Arabica, which today represents 59% of the world's coffee production.

Arabica originated in the highlands of Ethiopia

ROBUSTA

Robusta coffee is coffee made from the Coffea canephora plant, a sturdy species of coffee bean with low acidity and high bitterness. C. canephora beans, widely known by the synonym Coffea robusta, are used primarily in instant coffee, espresso, and as a filler in ground coffee blends

LIBERICA

Coffea liberica (or Liberian coffee) is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family from which coffee is produced. It is native to western and central Africa from Liberia to Uganda and Angola, and has become naturalized in the Philippines, Seychelles, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, French Polynesia, Central America, the West Indies, Venezuela, Colombia, Malaysia and Brazil.

COFFEE BEANS ARE THE SEEDS OF CHERRIES, GROWN ON THE TREES WHICH CAN GROW UP TO 8 FT.

Coffee Bean Anatomy

COFFEE CULTIVATION IN ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia exclusively cultivates Arabica coffee and the coffee industry is absolutely vital to its economy. The coffee industry employs roughly 15 million people in Ethiopia and agriculture accounts for 45% of its total GDP. 85% of employment in Ethiopia is in the agriculture sector and coffee is its main product, so you can see how important it is to the nation.

About 1.2 million farmers grow coffee as a cash crop on an average land of 0.5 hectares. They generally grow the coffee together with their other food items.

High elevations, volcanic soil and natural forest shade is what makes Ethiopia a unique location to grow exceptional coffee varieties.

COFFEE PROCESSING METHODS

There are generally 2 types of coffee processing methods used in Ethiopia Natural and Washed.

By understanding the ecosystem of coffee and the way it's processed you will gain an appreciation for the finished product even more.

NATURAL SUNDRIED PROCESS 

Ethiopia uses natural processing so the coffee cherries are passively dried to separate seed from the pulp. This process generally is done by sun drying the coffee cherries on a raised African bed (wooden elevated structure).

WASHED PROCESS 

A method of using water to “wash” the fruit off the seed. Many believe, this method yields a cleaner and more balanced cup, with fewer defects. However, the water consumption and water runoff have negative environmental implication unless sustainable and ecological practices are not observed.