The Bean Basics

Anticipation for that full-bodied perfect cup of coffee: that is the state most of us are in when we wake up in the morning. But, without a basic understanding of what a coffee bean is, and how and where the variety of bean is produced, you could be reaching for meritocracy... or nirvana. So, let’s take a look at some of the basics.

What the Coffee Bean is and is Not

A coffee bean is actually the seed of the coffee (Coffea) plant not a “bean”. It is located inside the red or purple fruit that the plant produces. (Yes, fruit!)

The fruits are called coffee cherries or coffee berries and usually contain two pits with their flat sides together. This is the actual “coffee bean”.

Coffee beans contain approximately 0.8 - 2.5 % caffeine, the main reasons the plants are cultivated.