The aroma of a full bodied cup of coffee fills the crisp morning air. Your senses awakened after you have that first sip and you’re ready to take on any daily task. How did coffee ever come to be? Have you ever wondered how coffee was first discovered? You may say, it was a happy accident. The berries of coffee were documented as being discovered as early as the 9th Century in Ethiopia among a goat herder who noticed that his flock was unusually energetic after eating the red berries produced from the coffee plant. The goat herder, Kaldi, tried the berries himself and experienced a pleasant burst of energy. His productivity influenced him so much that he felt that he needed to share this with others.
Monks were later introduced to the coffee berries that Kaldi brought to a local monastery. Initially this was not approved by the monks, but it was later discovered that it would help the Monks stay awake during long hours of prayer. Monks began to brew the berries into a drink, and this marked the beginning of early coffee consumption. Now, over a thousand years later, the art of brewing coffee has evolved and has spread across the globe. This is why we had to feature this in the plant spotlight for the month of June.
The coffee plant is majestic and it’s caffeinated goodness has boosted the work flow of millions and will continue to do so for years to come. According to research, approximately 66% of Americans drink coffee every day. It is estimated that 517 million cups of coffee are being served daily in North America. Statistics state that coffee is consumed even more than water. With the average American drinking about 3 cups of coffee a day, the coffee plant is the unsung hero of your daily morning brew.
Start your own coffee journey and experience the joy of growing your own coffee beans at home! Growing your own coffee plant can be an incredibly rewarding, educational and especially a fun experience. Patience is required, but know that good things come to those who wait. Not only will you have a beautiful lush addition to your indoor garden, but you'll also gain a deeper appreciation for your daily cup of caffeine and you will savor each sip that much more. Here’s everything you need to know about the coffee plant.
The leaves of this plant add a beautiful touch of tropical beauty to any ambiance as the coffee plant has glossy, dark green leaves. Decorate your home or office with stunning foliage that is striking and will certainly spark up interesting conversations among your visitors or guests! Like many houseplants, a coffee plant will help purify indoor air as it removes toxins and increases oxygen levels.
The journey of the coffee plant begins as a small coffee bean, which is actually a seed. When the seed is planted it grows into a coffee tree. Typically it takes 2 years for a newly planted coffee tree to reach maturity and bear the fruit, known as coffee cherries. The darker the berry, the sweeter the notes will be. The coffee cherries may be eaten and you will feel the boost of pep instantly. The plant thrives best in tropical climates that contain rich nutrients in the soil, ample rainfall and steady temperatures. Coffee grows plentifully in regions like Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia & Vietnam.
When the coffee tree flowers, it produces a beautiful fragrant white flower that resembles jasmine, & eventually will turn into dark red coffee cherry. When the fruit is ripe, it’s time to pick coffee beans. Typically the coffee beans are manually picked by local farmers. This is a very labor intensive job as each cherry needs to be picked hand one at a time. Each worker’s daily haul is carefully weighed and each picker will be paid on the merit of their work. A lot of risk is also involved as many coffee plantations are high up in the mountains and the ground can be very slippery during rainy season. Needless to say, a lot of love goes into harvesting these high demand coffee beans.
Only the best coffee beans will be selected for importing. Each coffee cherry is selectively picked. The coffee gatherers will rotate among the coffee trees every 8 to 10 days to select the cherries that are at the peak of their ripeness. A skilled coffee gatherer may collect approximately 100 pounds daily. After being processed, this may produce about 20 pounds of coffee beans. What a journey! Next time you have a moment to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee, remember all the effort, time and care that was put into your cup of brewed coffee. Bring the magic essence of the coffee plant to the heart of your home and office and enjoy the benefits this plant offers as it’s growing in your home and loving you back.