When it is almost ripe, the fruit is yellow and tastes like vinegar. When the coffee fruit is a vibrant red, it should taste somewhat sweet and is, at this stage, ready to pick.
I felt hesitant to touch the coffee seeds because I thought they were still not ripe. But our tour guide challenged us to try and search for a red "cherry" even though the majority of seeds were still green. I tried to be careful when I picked the red cherry so as not to disturb the plant. I also admired the dark and shiny surface of the leaves. That means that these plants were well fed and watered because they looked healthy. I really enjoy picking fruits, whether they are berries at the farms on Long Island New York, or coffee cherries in Guatemala! Have you ever picked fruit before?
Coffee plants and their fruits grow in warm environments and at high elevations. Guatemala's mountainous highlands are perfect for coffee cultivation. One of the main coffee-growing departments in Guatemala is is Alta Verapaz. This is where out young friend Isela is from. The coffee plant is typically grown in large plantations where the finca owners can hire many workers and systematically harvest their coffee. It is a long process that takes six years before the plant produces the fruit that will become coffee. The process of growing, picking and processing coffee is also time-sensitive. After being picked, the coffee fruits have to be processed within 24 hours: otherwise the crop will ferment and spoil. Coffee is also grown in many parts of Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia!
