Small Business Operations

Understanding The Product

Where is Coffee Grown?

Coffee trees produce their best beans when grown at high altitudes in a tropical climate where there is rich soil.  Such conditions are found around the world in locations along the Equatorial zone.

Coffee Exports in

Tons

 Brazil 2,249,010

 Vietnam 961,200

 Colombia 697,377

 Indonesia 676,475

 Ethiopia 325,800

 India 288,000

 Mexico 268,565

 Guatemala 252,000

 Peru 225,992

 Honduras 217,951

 Côte d'Ivoire 170,849

 Uganda 168,000

 Costa Rica 124,055

 Philippines 97,877

 El Salvador 95,456

 Nicaragua 90,909

 Papua New Guinea

75,400

 Venezuela 70,311

 Madagascar 62,000

 Thailand 55,660

 World 7,742,675

The Discovery of Coffee According to legend, coffee was discovered around 850 AD by an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi. He noticed that his goats acted in an unusually spirited manner after eating the red cherries of a nearby shrub. Kaldi also ate the cherries and enjoyed the extra energy that they gave him.

These shrubs grew in an area of Ethiopia called "Kaffa" and the shrubs were called "Kafa," which is one possible root word for the modern word coffee.

The History of Coffee Local people gathered the coffee beans from the

trees that grew in the region, ground them up and mixed them with animal fat, forming small balls that they carried as rations on trips.

Other tribes of Ethiopia ate the beans as a porridge or drank a wine created from the fermented crushed coffee beans.

The local monks soon started eating the berries as a means to help them to stay awake during long periods of prayer.

The monks went on to find that, if they were crushed and infused with water, the berries could produce a (probably cold) drink that gave a similar stimulating effect.

From Ethiopia, coffee plants spread to the Arab world where they were heavily cultivated.

Coffee History ContinuedAround 1550 the first coffee houses opened in

Istanbul, TurkeyFrom the Arab world, the coffee drink spread

to Europe where it replaced beer as the most popular breakfast beverage. (People could not drink water because of bacteria in the water.)

In 1652 the first coffee house opened in London, soon over 2,000 coffee houses existed in the city. These became gathering houses for intellectual and political discussion.

The actual word "coffee" appears to have entered the English language some 400 years ago from the Italian ‘caffe’.

Coffee FactsThe coffee bean is actually the

dried seed of the coffee tree cherry.

Coffee FactsThere are two main species of the coffee plant:

Arabica and Robusta.◦ Arabica coffee is the superior plant. Arabica beans

are the bean of choice in "gourmet" or "specialty coffees".

◦ Arabica coffee beans produce the rich flavor and body found in a good cup of coffee.

◦ Robusta coffee plants lacks this flavor and body.◦ The Robusta species is a hardy, high yielding plant

resistant to the numerous pests, which afflict coffee. ◦ Robusta coffees have higher caffeine content than

Arabica; up to twice as much caffeine.◦ Robusta is not usually consumed by itself, due to its

bitter and acidic flavor. ◦ Sometimes a small amount of Arabica will be blended

with a larger portion Robusta.

Coffee TriviaThe largest

retailer of coffee in America is Dunkin Donuts, which sells about a billion cups a year, or 30 cups every second.

Coffee TriviaThe only American state to grow

coffee is ?

All coffee beans imported to the US are “green” and have a shelf life of up to one year.

Green coffee beans

Roasted coffee beans will darken, plump, and lose

weight as they are roasted. Darker roasted coffee, which indicates a

longer roasting time, reduces the amount of caffeine in the coffee.

Coffee Trivia One of the most expensive coffees in the world is Kopi Luwak from

Indonesia. It’s made from coffee beans digested and excreted by the palm civet, a catlike animal, and sells for around $300 per pound.

Coffee TriviaToday, more money is spent on the

international trade of coffee than on any other commodity except oil.

What is “Organic” Coffee?

Organic coffee is coffee that has been grown according to organic farming techniques, without the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides.

What is “Fair Trade” Coffee?

Coffee farmers are guaranteed fair prices. There is a minimum price of $1.26 for one pound of coffee,

Both workers and farmers have the right to fair labor conditions. This includes the freedom of association, safe conditions, and livable wages.

Fair trade requires direct trade between the coffee producer and the coffee importer. No middle man is allowed to step in to take a portion of the profit.

Fair trade farms are run democratically - all employees are involved in the process. The farmers choose how to re-invest their trade revenues.

Fair trade certification expects community involvement by the farms. A portion of trade revenues are invested into social projects, in education, or for organic certification.

What is “Shade Grown” Coffee?

“Shade Grown” coffee is sometimes referred to as Bird Friendly coffee.

Recently larger farms have clear cut forests to grow coffee in full sun conditions. This has had negative effects on the environment and the birds.

The quality of the coffee has also been negatively effected.

In the past, coffee has naturally been grown in shady conditions.

What is Espresso? Espresso is a

concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee.

What is Crema?

Crema is the golden red froth on top of a well prepared espresso.

The Espresso Machine

The first espresso machines were patented in 1901 in Italy.

Espresso has a thicker consistency than regular coffee.

As a result of the pressurized brewing, all of the coffee flavor is very concentrated.

For this reason, espresso is the base for other drinks, such as lattes, cappuccino, macchiato and mochas.

Modern Espresso Machine

A 1 fluid ounce shot of espresso has about half the caffeine of a standard cup of drip brewed coffee.

Espresso Terms• Barista – The coffeehouse equivalent to a bartender.• “Pulling a Shot” – Preparing espresso, so named because

early espresso machines required the barista to pull down on a lever.

• Portafilter – The handled device on an espresso machine that holds the metal basket and coffee grounds.

• Group or Grouphead – The area that a portafilter locks into on an espresso machine.

• Tamper – A heavy tool used to pack espresso grounds.• Knockbox – A small portable pan with a bar across the top.

The barista taps the portafilter against the bar to remove the espresso puck.

• Steam Wand – Device on the espresso machine used to heat milk.

• Steam Pitcher – A stainless steel pitcher that holds milk for steaming.

Cup Warmer

Grouphead

Portafilter

Steam wand

What is the Correct Temperature for Brewing Coffee?The correct temperature for brewing

coffee is 195 to 205 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Most drip coffee makers brew coffee at lower temperatures.

Keeping a pot of coffee on a warming plate damages the flavor of the coffee after 30 minutes.

It is best to keep brewed coffee in a pre-heated thermal carafe.

How should ground coffee or coffee beans be stored?

The best way to store coffee is an air-tight container in a cupboard.  Both light and air speed the oxidation and drying of your beans, which result in flavor loss and also loss of ability to make good crema. 

How is coffee decaffeinated?

The process is usually performed on unroasted (green) beans, and starts with steaming of the beans. The beans are then rinsed with a solvent that removes the caffeine without removing the coffee flavor.

Basic Coffee Drinks

Café Au Lait – Made from equal portions of steamed milk and strong brewed coffee.

Macchiato is a shot of espresso with a small amount of hot, foamed milk on top.

Cappuccino – Made with espresso and steamed milk and topped with milk froth.◦ Flavored syrup is often added to a cappuccino.

Latte – An espresso drink combined with steamed milk.◦ Flavored syrup (vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, etc.) can

be added or◦ Chocolate syrup/sauce can be added resulting in a

drink commonly called a Mocha. Ristretto – A short or restricted shot of espresso,

usually ¼ to 1 ounce. Lungo – A long shot of espresso between 1 ½ and 2

ounces. Hot Chocolate – Chocolate syrup/sauce and steamed

milk.

Turkish Coffee

Turkish coffee is coffee prepared by boiling finely powdered roast coffee beans in a pot, possibly with sugar, and serving it into a cup, where the dregs settle. The name describes the method of preparation, not the raw material; there is no special Turkish variety of the coffee bean.

Video: Modern Marvels

The History of Coffee

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