How Coffee is Grown: A Behind-the-Scenes Look from Ginger Monkey Coffee Shop in Chester
At Ginger Monkey Coffee Shop in Chester, we take our coffee seriously—from the moment a coffee bean is harvested to the perfect brew in your cup. Understanding the journey of coffee, from the farm to your favourite coffee shop in Chester, adds a deeper appreciation for every sip.
Coffee is one of the most beloved beverages in the world, and its journey from seed to cup is an incredible story. Today, we’re going to take you behind the scenes of how coffee is grown, processed, and eventually roasted, so you can better understand what goes into making that perfect cup of coffee.
The Coffee Journey Begins: From Seed to Seedling
It all starts with a tiny seed.
Coffee comes from the coffee plant, which grows in tropical climates at high altitudes. These plants can take years to mature and produce fruit—often called cherries—which are the source of the coffee beans we drink. The most common species of coffee grown are Arabica and Robusta, with Arabica being the most popular for high-quality coffee.
Growing Coffee Plants
- Climate & Elevation: Coffee plants thrive in temperatures between 60°F and 70°F (15°C to 24°C) and need plenty of sunshine but also protection from wind and frost. They grow best in high-altitude regions, which is why coffee is commonly cultivated in countries like Colombia, Ethiopia, Brazil, and parts of Southeast Asia. The elevation helps slow the maturation process, leading to more complex flavors in the beans.
- From Seed to Sapling: Coffee seeds are typically planted in nurseries and carefully nurtured until they are strong enough to be transplanted into the soil. Coffee plants take 3-4 years to begin producing cherries, though they continue to bear fruit for many years after that.
At Ginger Monkey Coffee Shop in Chester, we’re passionate about using the highest quality beans, and this begins with knowing the farms and regions where our coffee is grown. Many of the beans we source are from speciality coffee farms where sustainable and ethical farming practices are a priority.
The Coffee Cherry Harvest
After several years of growth, the coffee plant begins to produce cherries—the fruit that contains the coffee beans. Coffee cherries typically take 9 months to ripen, and this process is influenced by the climate and elevation of the farm.
- Picking: Harvesting coffee is an intensive process. In many regions, coffee cherries ripen at different times, so farmers often pick them by hand. The goal is to pick only the ripe cherries, which are bright red and contain the highest quality beans inside. Some farms use a method called strip picking, where all the cherries are harvested at once, while others use selective picking to ensure only ripe cherries are harvested at each time.
- Timing: The harvest season varies by region. For example, in Colombia, it typically occurs from October to March, while in Ethiopia, it can be from September to December.
At our coffee roastery in Chester, we focus on sourcing single-origin beans from farms that use selective picking methods to ensure the highest-quality coffee cherries make it to the roastery.
Processing the Coffee Cherries
Once the coffee cherries are harvested, they need to be processed to extract the beans. There are two main methods of processing: wet processing and dry processing. Both methods affect the flavor of the coffee, so understanding how the beans are processed is important for achieving the perfect cup.
1. Wet Processing (Washed Coffee)
- How it Works: In wet processing, the cherries are pulped (the outer skin is removed) and the beans are soaked in water to remove the mucilage (a sticky layer around the beans). Afterward, the beans are fermented, washed, and dried in the sun.
- Flavor Profile: Wet-processed beans tend to have a cleaner, brighter flavor with more pronounced acidity. This method is commonly used for Arabica beans.
2. Dry Processing (Natural Coffee)
- How it Works: Dry processing is the oldest method of processing coffee. In this method, the whole cherry is dried in the sun, often on large drying beds, before being hulled to remove the outer layers. This is a more labor-intensive process and takes longer, but it requires less water and is considered more sustainable.
- Flavor Profile: Dry-processed beans tend to have a fuller, fruitier flavor with lower acidity. This method is commonly used for Robusta beans and some specialty Arabica varieties.
Both of these methods contribute to the unique characteristics of the coffee beans, which is why we at Ginger Monkey Coffee Shop in Chester are particular about the beans we source and their processing methods. Whether you’re sipping on a fruity Ethiopian pour-over or a rich Brazilian espresso, the processing method plays a huge role in the flavor profile.
The Roasting Process: From Green Beans to Your Favourite Brew
Once the beans are processed, dried, and shipped to roasteries, they’re ready for roasting. This is where the magic happens. Roasting is the process that transforms green coffee beans into the aromatic, flavorful beans that you know and love.
- Roasting Stages: Coffee is roasted in stages—starting with a light roast and gradually moving to darker roasts. The roasting process affects the flavor of the coffee, from the bright, fruity notes of a light roast to the bold, smoky flavors of a dark roast.
- The Art of Roasting: At Ginger Monkey Coffee Roastery in Chester, we take great care in our roasting process to ensure the perfect balance of flavour. Our expert roasters carefully monitor the temperature and time to bring out the best qualities in each batch of beans. Whether it’s a single-origin coffee or a custom blend, our roasting techniques are designed to highlight the unique flavors of the beans.
When you visit our Chester coffee shop, whether you’re enjoying a drip brew, espresso, or latte, rest assured that the beans we use have been carefully sourced, processed, and roasted to perfection.
Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing
At Ginger Monkey Coffee Shop in Chester, we’re not just passionate about great coffee—we also care about the environment and the farmers who grow the coffee. We partner with coffee farms that prioritize sustainable farming practices, fair trade certifications, and ethical sourcing. This ensures that the coffee you enjoy at our coffee shop is not only delicious but also helps support farmers and communities around the world. We also support farmers who provide fair wages and invest in local communities, ensuring that the people behind the coffee receive the recognition and compensation they deserve.
The Journey from Plant to Cup: A Final Word
From the seedling in the soil to the carefully roasted beans in your cup, the journey of coffee is a labor of love. At Ginger Monkey Coffee Shop in Chester, we’re proud to serve coffee that has been sourced from some of the world’s finest farms and roasted with the utmost care.
Next time you visit us, take a moment to savor the flavors and appreciate the incredible journey each bean has undergone to reach your cup. Whether you’re sipping on a rich espresso or a refreshing cold brew, you’re enjoying the hard work of farmers, roasters, and coffee enthusiasts all over the world.
Ginger Monkey Coffee Shop Chester – Crafting coffee with care, from the farm to your cup.
