Coffee Processing - Coffee Bean Planting & Growth

At Paradox Coffee Roasters, we’re passionate about sharing the coffee journey with you. Through this series, we’ll bring our expertise and experience directly to you, covering everything from the art of coffee roasting to perfecting your brew. As dedicated custodians of the coffee process, we’re excited to share our knowledge and passion for coffee while continuing to put people first.

Coffee Bean Planting & Growth

The coffee you enjoy each day has taken a long journey to arrive in your cup. Between the time they’re planted, picked, and purchased, coffee beans go through several essential steps to bring out their best. Coffee seeds are actually the beans themselves, and if not processed, they can grow into a coffee tree. From there, the journey of growth begins.

Scroll across images to learn more about planting & growth.

Next up is harvesting. 

Coffee Processing

Coffee processing turns freshly picked coffee cherries into the beans we brew.

After hand-picking, the cherries are processed the same day to preserve their quality. This involves separating the seed from the fruit using methods like washed, natural, or semi-washed, each affecting the coffee's flavour and aroma.

The journey from coffee cherry to cup is a fascinating process, with each step playing a crucial role in shaping the final flavour, aroma, and characteristics of the beans.

The First Step of the process is: Coffee Bean Planting and Growth.

 

Seed Planting

Coffee begins its journey as a seed, often planted in large beds in shaded nurseries where it grows under careful cultivation until it reaches a suitable height to be transferred to a coffee field. Once planted, coffee trees take up to five years to produce coffee cherries.

 

Growth

Coffee cherries and blossoms grow on small evergreen trees, or shrubs. An untamed coffee tree can grow up to 16 feet tall. However, most farmers prune them annually to between 5-7 feet, which is a more comfortable height for picking, and also helps increase the tree's yields.

Coffee trees require consistent care, including proper irrigation and protection from pests and diseases. The trees take time to mature, with the first harvest typically occurring 3-4 years after planting. Once mature, the trees produce coffee cherries, which turn a vibrant red when ripe and ready for harvest.

 

Location & Climate

Coffee trees are typically grown in the 'coffee belt,' an area between 23.5 degrees north and south of the equator.

This region offers the ideal conditions for coffee cultivation, including stable equatorial temperatures, abundant rainfall, and fertile soil.

 

Altitude

Coffee trees thrive at altitudes between 900 and 1800 meters above sea level, where the climate is cooler and more consistent, contributing to the slow maturation of the cherries and enhancing the flavor of the coffee.