 Coffee Bean  Coffee Shrub 
Coffee Cherry
Rare Book Drawing | Drawing Coffee Bean
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| Top Left: | Coffee cherry |
| Top Right: | Cut open fruit |
| 1 - fruit husk |
| 2 - two flattened coffee beans |
| Bottom Left: | Coffee bean |
| 1 - "furrow" |
| Bottom Right: | Cross-section through a coffee cherry |
| 1 - flesh (pulp) |
| 2 - parchment |
| 3 - silver skin |
| 4 - coffee bean |
Drawing Coffee Shrub
| 1 - flower bud |
| 2 - flowers |
| 3 - green coffee cherries |
4 - ripe, purple coffee cherries
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Global Impact:
Coffee has a significant impact on the economies of over forty producing countries. In value it is second only to oil in terms of international trade and surpasses sugar, rice and wheat as the major agricultural commodity. Over twenty million people are employed in growing, distributing and retailing coffee world-wide.
There are two main types of coffee:
 | Robusta: is grown at altitudes usually up to 800 meters. Indonesia, West Africa, Brazil and Vietnam are the most dominant growing areas. Robusta currently represents around 30% of world production. |
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| | Arabica: is grown at altitudes between 600 and 2000 meters. Latin America and East Africa are the most dominant growing areas. Arabica currently represents around 70% of world production. |
Process Summary
The coffee bean is the seed of a coffee cherry. The bean is covered by several layers including the silver skin, parchment (pergamino), mucilage, pulp, and skin. Commonly in winter or in the dry season, the ripe, red cherries are harvested using three processes; wet-process, dry-process, and the semi-washed method.
This information is brought to you as a public service! |