What Is A Coffee Bean
What we call a coffee bean is actually a seed found inside the fruit of a coffee tree. The fruit, known as a coffee cherry, contains two seeds, each encased in a thin skin, surrounded by a parchment-like covering.
Coffee grows best in a region called the coffee belt. The coffee belt is a ring that circles the globe between 25 and 30 degree latitudes north and south of the equator. Once planted it takes three to four years for the tree to bear fruit.
There are two botanical varieties of the bean that account for the coffee we drink: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica is the bean of ancient Ethopia, prized for its rich flavor and enticing aroma. It grows best at high altitudes where the temperature fluctuations are thought to improve the flavor and aroma of the bean. Robusta beans are hardier, tolerant of lower altitudes and resistant to leaf rust. Robusta beans are higher in caffeine than Arabica but comparatively harsh and bitter in flavor.
