Coffee beans

Coffee is a native of Ethiopia from where it spread initially to the other countries bordering the red sea, then to India and Sri Lanka. During the period of colonial expansion, it was successively introduced into Indonesia, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, the Philippines and Mexico where the altitude and climate are most suitable for its growth. 

Presently, about 45% of the world’s crop is produced in Brazil, 25% in Colombia: 6% Mexico; and the remainder in numerous other countries of Central America, the Northern part of South America and Africa. 

The tree bears clusters of small, red, cherry like fruit which contain two seed. The fleshy berries are harvested almost continuously. Depending on the growing region, the whole fruits are either sundried or they are allowed a short period of fermentation after which the pulp is removed from the greenish-yellow seed. These are cleaned and sundried to become the green coffee beans of commerce.

Coffee beans in general