Green Coffee Beans

Two Meanings of Green Coffee Beans

When one thinks of the term green coffee beans there are two thoughts that come to mind depending upon coffee bean education. For most people the thought of green coffee beans refers to coffee beans that are produced in an eco-friendly method; however, for coffee connoisseurs green coffee beans is a term which refers to the color of the beans when they are picked from the tree. In this article we will discuss both types of green coffee bean and exactly what is so special about each of these two types of bean.

The Origin of Coffee Beans

Before discussing various types of coffee beans and their growing processes it is first important to understand the origin of coffee beans. Coffee beans have been grown ever since 850 CE and perhaps even longer than that! The cultivation of coffee beans is thought to have begun in Yemen and from there spread throughout Arabia where the secret of coffee making was kept as a closely held secret. As time progressed; however, the secret of coffee production began to spread as coffee plants found their way in to the Netherlands when the Dutch smuggled coffee plants out of Arabia. It would not be until 1723 that coffee would find its way in to America; however, which is fairly amazing considering that over half of the entire world’s coffee production is based in South America! Cultivation of coffee in South America came just seven years following the arrival of the coffee plant in North America. Despite the fact that coffee had made its way in to the United States it was not until 1865 that the first roasted beans were sold on the retail market in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – quite a time to wait for the progression of this widely purchased beverage!

Where Does Coffee Actually Come From?

The origin of the coffee plant is interesting; however, it does not actually tell us too much about the actual coffee plant aside from its original origin. So where do coffee beans come from? The coffee bean is actually a seed of the coffee plant or tree. The coffee tree can grow anywhere from 15 to 30 feet tall and while it begins by branching quite a lot, it eventually branches less and grows more leaves and fruit instead. It can take as long as 3 to 5 years for the coffee tree to begin producing beans; however, once it has begun to produce the fruit it can continue to do so for as many as 10 to 30 years! There are many factors that influence the ability of the coffee tree to produce fruit though, these factors include the type of coffee plant, the area in which the plant is grown, the climate of the individual years in which the coffee plant grows and other factors such as fungus or insect pests which can interrupt the growth pattern of the coffee trees.

Coffee trees begin as plants and are generally grown on coffee plantations which specialize in the production of coffee. The coffee plants are planted in various locations depending upon the farmers doing the planting – some farmers believe that specific locations are more conducive to healthier plants. Regardless of the location of the beliefs of the farmer; however, coffee plants must be planted in a warm climate where they will receive at least 70 inches of rain throughout each year of growth. Ideally rainfall is greater during the first half of the growth season when fruit is beginning to grow and less during the second half of the season once the fruit has begun to bloom. Once the coffee beans have grown on the plant and reached maturity they are harvested which is a time consuming process which can last a significant period of time.

What Affects the Resulting Coffee Beans?

There are so many individual factors that play a role in developing coffee beans that each coffee plant is somewhat unique. The type of plant that is grown plays a large part in the uniqueness of each coffee bean, but so too is the area in which the coffee bean is grown. There are two main types of coffee tree: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica coffee trees generally produce specialty coffees where the Robusta trees which are easier to grow, generally produce other types of coffees. Much like cocoa, the largest areas for coffee bean growth are South America and Africa. Additionally growing methods and weather in the growing region play a large part in the overall taste of coffee beans as well. In addition to these factors the processing and roasting tend to have a large effect on the resulting coffee beans as well.

What makes Coffee Beans Green?

When coffee beans grow on the coffee plant they are green in color and mature to a red color. Green coffee beans are fresh but premature coffee beans; however, throughout the roasting process the color of all coffee beans changes to a shade of brown comparative to the length of time spent roasting the beans. The longer a bean is roasted the darker the color will be and the stronger the taste of the coffee will be. So in essence Mother Nature makes coffee beans green since coffee beans are naturally green when picked prematurely from the coffee tree a little prematurely! Green coffee beans are not fully mature and so they carry less aroma and higher acidity; however, depending upon the coffee maker this can be a positive thing. Some coffee bean farmers tend to avoid picking green coffee beans while others mix them with red beans to cut down costs and others specifically pick green beans.

The Processing of Green Coffee Beans

Processing coffee beans is a multi-step process that involves removing the beans from the hulls in which they are grown, cleaning those beans and drying them. The coffee beans can be dried much like cacao beans in the chocolate making process in which they are spread on the ground under the sun so that they can dry naturally. This is referred to as natural or dry processing. Alternatively, coffee beans can be wet processed which creates a better looking coffee bean because much of the pulp that sticks to the bean is removed when the beans are washed and brushed and then allowed to set before drying in the sun or with artificial heat sources. Lastly coffee beans can also be dried through the use of a hybrid drying method where coffee beans are removed from their hull and allowed to sit for a while with the natural pulp surrounding them. After this sitting period the remaining pulp is rinsed from the bean and it is then allowed to dry in the sun.

These processes of drying beans are essential to all varieties of coffee beans regardless of whether they are to be roasted or whether they are to remain as green coffee beans. Depending upon both the cleaning and roasting processes the flavors of individual coffees will be affected.

After coffee beans have been cleaned they are then sorted depending upon size and color and aged. Not all coffee beans are aged; however, it is the general consensus that green coffee beans taste better as they age. Some green coffee beans can be aged for as long as one year before being utilized for coffee; however, experts state that aging green coffee for longer than a year will result in a loss of flavor and a dry coffee bean. As mentioned above green coffee beans are not roasted and are simply shipped for use as green beans. Once packaged the green beans can hold their flavor for a long period of time when they are stored in the correct environment.

Roasting Green Coffee Beans

Most people who purchase green coffee beans do so so that they can roast their own beans to their liking in their home. While coffee can be made from unroasted green coffee beans, the trouble with this is that the resulting drink would be extremely acidic and have astringent properties making it a rather unpleasant drink. Many people choose to roast their own coffee beans not only because it allows for them to build their own flavor within the beans but also because it cuts down on the amount of pollution produced from large factories that are utilized when commercially roasting. Self roasting of green coffee beans is green in more than one way! So what does roasting do to a coffee bean? Roasting is a process that forces all of the water out of the coffee beans and results in a dry, expanded bean. The green coffee bean goes through a transformation process as it is roasted and the sugars within the bean are either caramelized or they are transformed in to CO2 which is released after the roasting process and helps to seal in the flavor of the roasted coffee. Roasting a green coffee bean will not only darken it in color but it will also cause the bean to be a lighter weight and a much larger bean in general. The important thing to remember when roasting green coffee beans is that even after the roasting process has been completed the bean will continue to release CO2 gasses and eventually the bean will begin to lose both flavor and scent. The loss of flavor that occurs after a coffee bean has been roasted is one of the reasons that many people choose to roast their own coffee beans.

So what are “Green” Coffee Beans?

Utilizing the Sun Drying Process

Things can begin to get a little confusing when utilizing the term “green” to refer to coffee beans because it does not only refer to the color of the beans but it can also refer to the method in which the coffee beans were produced. For some people utilizing the term “green” to refer to coffee beans is another way of referring to “Earth friendly” coffee beans. There are a number of factors that can make a coffee bean “Earth friendly” including the important aspect of maintaining as much of the natural bean as possible. Companies that believe in this type of green coffee production tend to rely upon sun drying their coffee beans so as to maintain as much of the natural flavor of the beans as possible. Utilizing natural sun drying is also a great way to reduce the use of natural resources that are utilized when using water to process and clean the coffee beans. Many countries that process coffee are regularly faced with water shortages but even those areas with an abundance of water are thinking twice about using one of Earth’s most demanded resources when there are other options available!

Utilizing Organic Fertilization Processes

Farming coffee beans through a “green” farming technique can also refer to farmers who utilize natural fertilization to help the growth of their coffee plants. Like most plants, coffee plants require nutrition and some farmer provide this type of nutrition by adding fertilizers that contain a vast array of chemicals that can prove damaging to the Earth. Additionally some farmers utilize other chemicals to protect their coffee plants from insect infestation; however farmers who are committed to “green” farming utilize only natural means of fertilization and protection from insect infestation. Not only are natural means of protection and nourishment healthier for the planet Earth but they are also healthier for the human race as we fight against the ingestion of thousands of manmade chemicals and pesticides on a daily basis.

Fair Labor Practices

One aspect of importance to many who live the green lifestyle is the maintenance of fair labor practices, this means that coffee farmers must run legitimate businesses and provide laborers with fair working conditions and ample wages. While this aspect of farming may seem like less of a “green” issue and more of a labor issue, it is something that eco-friendly crowds pay particular attention to. When farmers do not practice fair labor practices human beings are supporting the poor treatment of other human beings and while it may not necessarily affect the planet Earth, it affects our fellow man. Fair labor practices are particularly difficult to monitor with so many coffee producing plantations being located in such remote areas; however, those plantations that are certified to have fair labor conditions tend to enjoy more business from those living green lifestyles.

Fair Trade Practices

Fair trade practices are another concern for those living green and eco-friendly lifestyles. Fair trade practices tie in to fair labor practices to a degree but generally they are concerned with the trading of coffee from one area to another rather than with the working conditions of laborers at the coffee plantation. Fair trade certified coffee plantations are plantations which are certified to provide farmers with a fair portion of proceeds gained from the sale of their product. Many times in modern society the “little guy” gets cut out in the commercialization process and while purchasing companies and marketing companies make big bucks from the sale of coffee products, the originating farmer makes barely enough to plant a new crop. Recent concerns with the treatment of coffee farmers have resulted in much more diligence by coffee purchasers who live eco-friendly lifestyles. Coffee companies who are certified as having fair trade practices or fair trade coffee blends are much more likely to be frequented by “green” living individuals.

Green isn’t for everyone and yet it is

Depending upon the meaning of the term “green” when it refers to coffee “green” may or may not apply to everyone. When it comes to green coffee beans they are most certainly an acquired taste, the flavor of the bean is an entirely new experience in comparison to the deep roasted beans that result from roasted red seeds of the coffee plant. For those who enjoy the flavor of roasting their own green coffee beans; however, there really is nothing better than the experience of roasting your own coffee to perfection. The freshness of odor and flavor that comes with self roasting is something that many green coffee lovers would not give up for anything.

As far as “green” coffee, while green colored coffee beans may not be for everyone, the concept of eco-friendly coffee should be. As the climate of our planet continues to change it is important that the entire population try to pitch in to do their part in terms of providing for our planet. Not only is eco-friendly coffee farming helpful to maintaining the natural health of our planet but it is also crucial in reducing the incidence of illness in the human population. How can eco-friendly coffee result in less illness? As mentioned above, fertilizers and pesticides that are used by many farmers during the coffee production process contain a wide array of manmade chemicals, many of which have been proven to have devastating health effects including cancer. So not only does eco-friendly coffee farming result in a healthier planet but it also results in a healthier human race.

Is Green for You?

When referring to green colored coffee beans if you are a fan of a slightly more bitter coffee with less of an aroma then green coffee beans may be for you. Keep in mind; however, that green beans must be roasted in order to produce a palatable drink and as such green coffee beans can require much more effort than purchasing ready roasted dark beans from a store. Purchasing ready roasted beans can, however, result in a significant loss of flavor or aroma depending upon the roasting date of the coffee at hand. When referring to eco-friendly “green” coffee beans though, there should be no question as to whether green is for you. Purchasing “green” beans shows that you not only care about your planet but it also shows that you care about mankind. Eco-friendly doesn’t always have to mean expensive, a number of large coffee manufacturers produce fair trade blends at extremely affordable prices, so there really is little reason not to contribute to the future of the planet Earth.