Coffee Beans

Let’s talk coffee beans and in particular the different varieties of coffee beans used in the production of coffee at a coffee shop or coffee stand.

We are Madres Espresso, serving the Greater Olympia area at two locations: West side on Cooper Point Road and East side on Pacific Avenue. Stop by and find out what great customer service really looks like.  We are a locally owned and operated coffee stand.

First of all, coffee beans are not really beans.

We hate to throw you a curve ball right out of the gate, but it’s true, coffee beans are really berries, so how do you like them apples, to mix metaphors.

Here are the main facts about the coffee beans your favorite barista prepares for you:

·         Coffee beans are not beans at all, but the seeds of the coffee plant.

·         There are two main types of coffee beans: arabica and robusta. Arabica beans are more aromatic and flavorful, while robusta beans are more bitter and contain more caffeine.

·         Coffee beans contain various compounds, such as caffeine, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, chlorogenic acids, and volatile compounds, that affect the taste, aroma, and health benefits of coffee.

Types of coffee beans.

As mentioned above, the two main types of coffee beans are Arabica and Robusta.  Coffee is produced in over fifty countries, but the best coffee beans can only be produced when the geography and climate are just right.

More coffee bean facts.

Location

Coffee is grown in the geographical zone around the Equator found between the tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Also called the bean belt, this area of the earth typically has the ideal temperature and rainfall for successful coffee “bean” production.

Brazil, as mentioned, leads the world in the production of coffee, but many other areas are close on their heels. Beans are exported from North, Central, and South America, along with the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.  As you might suspect, this billion dollar industry fosters quite a bit of competition, at the farming level as well as the production level.

For the most part, Central and South America are the leading producers. The top five countries are Brazil, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Columbia, and Indonesia. Arabica and Robusta beans also come from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvadore, Honduras, and Mexico.

Quite a bit of space is needed to grow coffee. Each coffee plant needs approximately fourteen square feet of land to grow properly.

Temperature

Being close to the equator provides a warmer, tropical climate that coffee needs to thrive. A temperate environment without frost is mandatory. The best temperature is between 64 and 73 degrees, though the sweet spot is usually 67 to 70 degrees.

Providing an even temperature day and night and throughout the year is important. While some variation is important for the different phases of the plant’s cultivation, too much of a dip or rise can be detrimental to coffee plants.  This fact, the need for a constant temperature range, without major fluctuations, severely limits the number of places on Earth, where coffee can be grown successfully.

A final word about Madres Espresso.

That is all well and good, and certainly interesting, but our main focus is on serving the coffee beans, to you our customers, in the form of delicious coffee drinks.  Visit us at our West side location on Cooper Point Road, or at our East side location on Pacific Avenue.  Two locations, one owner, and thirteen baristas to serve you, doing things the right way, the Madres Espresso way.