Blend: A mix of beans from two or more different places.
Cherry: The ripe fruit of a coffee tree that turns a dark red when ready for harvesting.
Direct Trade: Coffee that is purchased directly by roasters from growers. Roasters may travel to the coffee’s country of origin and personally evaluate the beans for quality and taste.
Fair Trade: Used to indicate that farmers have received a fair price for their coffee crop. TransFair USA offers a certification program.
Green Beans: Coffee seeds that are free from all coverings and ready to be roasted.
Organic: Coffee that is raised without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. To be labeled organic in the United States, coffee must be produced in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture standards and certified by an accredited agency.
Pulping: Removing by machinery the outer skin of coffee cherries. The machines rub away the pulp by friction without crushing the beans.
Roast: Before coffee is ready to be ground and brew, heat is applied to green coffee beans to develop desired flavor characteristics.
Single Origin: Coffee that is grown within one region. Coffees from multiple farms in one region may be combined to create one coffee. Certain regions are known to produce distinct flavor profiles.
Shade Grown: Coffee that is grown under a canopy of trees. The trees provide habitats for wildlife, control erosion, and help maintain soil quality. Organizations such as the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and the Rainforest Alliance have developed certification programs that include shade grown requirements.
Learn more about Coffee:
International Coffee Organization or Coffeeresearch.org |
