I am writing this post to you all while enjoying my morning cup of cafe (coffee) - but have you ever thought about all the work that goes into making a cup of coffee? I live and work on the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains in northern Peru, a beautiful mix of mountain and jungle ecosystems. As a coffee lover myself, I am especially lucky that I get to enjoy fresh, high quality coffee every day! But how exactly does "café" el arbol (the coffee plant) turn into "café" la bebida (coffee the drink)? And what else could I learn about coffee plants? Read on to find out!
I was hiking up a steep mountain path to get to a neighbor's home around four in the afternoon. It was very hot, and almost at the top, tired and nearly out of breath, I walked right into a branch that knocked my glasses askew. Annoyed, I readjusted my lentes and realized I had walked straight into a coffee tree. The tree was about 8-10 feet tall and part of a small grove of coffee plants. This tree had dark green leaves with small, bright red fruits called cherries. Inside each of these cherries is a white bean, which is harvested, dried, roasted, and ground to prepare your morning cup of joe. Did you know you can also eat coffee cherries? They taste sweet and a little bit bitter at the same time.
