Coffee
cof·fee /ˈkôfē,ˈkäfē/ noun The berries harvested from species of Coffea plants.
Coffee is a drink prepared from roasted coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content. It is the most popular hot drink in the world.
WHAT IS COFFEE?
Botanical classification
Coffee traces its origin to a genus of plants known as Coffea. Within the genus, there are over 500 genera and 6,000 species of tropical trees and shrubs. There are anywhere from 25 to 100 species of coffee plants.
Coffea Arabica — C. Arabica
These trees produce a fine, mild, aromatic coffee and represent approximately 70% of the world's coffee production. The beans are flatter and more elongated than Robusta and lower in caffeine.
Coffea canephora
Most of the world's Robusta is grown in Central and Western Africa, parts of Southeast Asia, and Brazil. Production of Robusta is increasing, though it accounts for only about 30% of the world market.
Key variables
The ideal conditions for coffee trees to thrive are found around the world in along the Equatorial zone called “The Bean Belt,” located between latitudes 25 degrees North and 30 degrees South.
Coffee - the favorite drink of the civilized world." - Thomas Jefferson
Keeping it Fresh:
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Always purchase freshly-roasted beans.
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Be ready with proper storage containers for your coffee.
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Keep your stored coffee away from oxygen, heat, and moisture.
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Grind only the amount you need for your brew.
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Brew only what you can consume for the next hour.