The beans used to brew coffee are actually the processed and roasted seeds from the fruit of the coffea plant. The fruit is referred to as a coffee cherry. So, yes, coffee is a fruit!
Consumption of coffee is believed to have begun around 700 AD in what is now Ethiopia, but the first documented evidence of coffee consumption is from Yemen in the 15th century. From there, coffee began to spread throughout the world as trade routes developed. Today, coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world (exceeded only by oil), and it is estimated that 400 billion cups are consumed each year. Of the 37,000 coffee shops in the U.S., Starbucks and Dunkin’ represent 25,000 of them. We hope you will consider supporting your local independent café!
A coffee bean is actually a seed. When dried, roasted and ground, it’s used to brew coffee. If the seed isn’t processed, it can be planted and will grow into a coffee tree.
Depending on the variety, it takes approximately 3 to 4 years for a newly planted coffee tree to bear fruit. The fruit (aka the coffee cherry), turns a bright, deep red when ripe and ready to be harvested. There is typically one major harvest a year, but in some cases there are two. In most countries, the crop is picked by hand in a labor-intensive and difficult process, though in places like Brazil where the landscape is relatively flat and the coffee fields immense, the process has been mechanized.
Processing refers to the steps taken to remove the fruit and skin of the coffee cherry and to dry the seed (bean) inside to prepare it for roasting. Once the coffee has been picked, processing must begin as quickly as possible to prevent fruit spoilage.
Either way, the coffee is now referred to as “green coffee” and is ready for export and distribution to a roaster.
Roasting transforms green coffee into the aromatic brown beans that we’re familiar with. Most roasting machines maintain a temperature of about 550 degrees Fahrenheit. The beans are kept moving throughout the entire process to keep them from burning.
When coffee beans reach an internal temperature of about 400 degrees Fahrenheit, they begin to turn brown and the caffeol, a fragrant oil locked inside the beans, begins to emerge. This process, called pyrolysis, is at the heart of roasting. It produces the flavor and aroma of the coffee we drink.
If the coffee is to be decaffeinated, the beans are warmed and soaked in water (or a mixture of water and solvents) before roasting to dissolve and remove the caffeine.
After roasting, the beans are immediately cooled either by air or water. Roasting is generally performed as close to the final destination of the beans as possible because freshly roasted beans don’t stay fresh for long!
Coffee comes in four main roast levels: light, medium, dark, and darker than dark. Within these four levels, you’ll find varying degrees as well. Minimal standardization of roast levels across the coffee industry also leads many roasters to create their own names and definitions for their different roast levels.
You will frequently come across common descriptions of coffee roasts. The different roasts are determined by the amount of time the coffee is roasted. The longer a coffee is roasted, the darker and less acidic it becomes.
Most of the organic compounds of a coffee bean are insoluble, meaning that they don’t dissolve in water. Grinding coffee beans into smaller particles solves this problem by making it easier to extract the soluble contents of the bean. The objective of a proper grind is to get the most flavor in a cup of coffee. The optimal level of coarseness or fineness is determined by the brewing method, specifically by the length of time the grounds will be in contact with water. Generally, the finer the grind, the more quickly the coffee should be prepared. That’s why coffee ground for an espresso machine is much finer than coffee brewed in a drip system.
Did you know? Espresso machines use 132 pounds per square inch of pressure to extract coffee!
New cookie flavors this weekend from @banabanscookies - Chewy Gingerbread and Hot Cocoa!...#thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #cafenearme #bestcoffeeintown #WhitePlainsCafe #HolidaySeason #gingerbreadcookies #chewygingerbread #hotchocolateweather #hotcocoa #banabanscookies #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity
Dark Chocolate Eggnog truffles, now in our chocolate case. A perfect holiday combination!...#thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #coffeenearme #cafenearme #WhitePlainsCafe #bestcoffeeintown #bestcoffeeinwhiteplains #cafevibes #chocolatetruffles #EggnogSeason #chocolateeggnog #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity
Have you seen our new art display, featuring work by our baristas?… #thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #bestcoffeeintown #WhitePlainsCafe #cafenearme #cafevibes #cafelife #localart #baristaartists #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity
Show your support for The Pamplemousse Project by nominating us for Best of Westchester 2025 in the categories of Food:Restaurants/Coffee Shop and Food:Restaurants/Candy/Chocolate Shop. Ballot is at bestof.westchestermagazine.com. Thank you!...#thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #cafenearme #WhitePlainsCafe #bestcoffeeintown #cafevibes #bestofwestchester #westchesterfoodies #candyshop #whiteplainsmomsanddads #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity
Happy Thanksgiving! Please note that we will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday November 28th. We will be open on Friday November 29th from 10 am - 6 pm....#thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #cafevibes #cafenearme #coffeenearme #WhitePlainsCafe #westchesterfoodies #whiteplainsmomsanddads #thanksgiving2024 #thanksgivinghours #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity
Limited time specialty roast now brewing! Single-origin medium roast from a woman-owned farm in Honduras with a warm sweetness and rich notes of roasted walnut and vanilla. Stop by and try it today! .#thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #womanownedcoffee #singleorigincoffee #hondurascoffee #WhitePlainsCafe #cafenearme #coffeenearme #bestcoffeeintown #bestcoffeeinwhiteplains #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity
A huge thank you to the White Plains High School National Honor Society for volunteering at the café last week! They created 150 handmade cards to support @unitedforthetroops in their goal of sending 10,000 cards to military troops deployed overseas. The cards will remind the troops of how much they’re appreciated back home!...#thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #UnitedForTheTroops #volunteernewyork #cafenearme #coffeenearme #wptigerpride #WPProud #nationalhonorsociety #communitysupport #SupportOurTroops #VeteransDay #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity
🌶️ Late-season pepper harvest = more Pamplemousse Peppers hot sauce on the way! Come in and enjoy a spicy kick on your burrito or omelet bites before it`s gone! ...#thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #WhitePlainsCafe #bestcoffeeinwhiteplains #CafeNearMe #westchesterfoodies #cafenearme #whiteplainsmomsanddads #whiteplainscafe #HotSauceOnEverything #hotsaucelover #SpiceItUp #limitedtime #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity