Coffee is an evergreen tree (shrub) native to northern Africa. Coffee trees are self-pollinating and produce fruit called “cherries” that ripen from highly fragrant flowers to green to yellow and then to glossy red when mature.
All about the Bean
Plant
Characteristics
In addition to caffeine, which also influences the coffee’s flavor, coffee beans contain a few other things: Carbohydrates, acids, oils, water, minerals, trace elements and about 800 flavoring substances (approx. 0.1%).
Climate
Coffee does not grow everywhere in the world, as it requires special climatic conditions that are only found in tropical and equatorial countries.
Regions
Central and South America produce far more coffee than any other growing region. Coffees from Latin America are celebrated for their great balance, medium body and clean finish.