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!
You`re invited! 🎉 Join us Tuesday, July 15th at 9 AM at the café as we celebrate our latest grant recipients! Come hear about the incredible work these organizations are doing in our community — and grab a coffee while you`re at it ☕#CancerSupportTeam #SHPbeds #mkifp ...#thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #cafenearme #coffeenearme #WhitePlainsCafe #coffeeforacause #bestcoffeeinwhiteplains #CommunityImpact #GrantCelebration #SupportLocalChange #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity
A big thanks to the White Plains Police Department for joining us this morning for Coffee with a Cop! ☕ It was a great opportunity for the community to connect with the officers who help keep our neighborhoods safe. ...#thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #bestcoffeeinwhiteplains #WhitePlainsCafe #coffeenearme #cafenearme #CommunityImpact #CoffeeWithACop #whiteplainscafe #CoffeeForACause #CommunityStrong #WhitePlainsPD #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity
Join us at the café on Thursday July 10th from 8-10 am for Coffee with a Cop. Enjoy a cup of coffee and meet some of the officers who keep our neighborhood safe....#thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #WhitePlainsCafe #coffeenearme #cafenearme #whiteplainsny #CoffeeWithACop #coffeeforthecommunity #coffeeforacause #allprofitstocharity
Join us for Coffee with a Cop at the café on Thursday, July 10th from 8–10 AM! Meet and chat with members of the White Plains Police Department and connect with the officers who help keep our community safe....#thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #cafenearme #whiteplainscafe #bestcoffeeinwhiteplains #bestcoffeeintown #coffeeforacause #CoffeeWithACop #WhitePlainsPD #CommunityConnection #MeetTheOfficers #whiteplainsnewyork #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity
We will be open from 8 am - 6 pm on Friday July 4th!...#thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #WhitePlainsCafe #cafenearme #coffeenearme #bestcoffeeinwhiteplains #summer2025vibes #july4th #summer2025 #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity
It’s bittersweet news — our amazing General Manager, Cassima, will be leaving us at the end of this week. We’re so grateful for everything she’s brought to the café and we will miss her. At the same time, we’re excited to welcome Brianna as our new manager. Be sure to stop by and say hello!...#thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #WhitePlainsCafe #whiteplainscafe #cafenearme #CoffeeForACause #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity
Our customers have selected Cancer Support Team, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and The Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry as the next grant recipients. Each organization will receive $3,500. Thank you to all of our customers for making these grants possible! We will be celebrating the winners at the cafe on Tuesday July 15th at 9 am. All are invited to join us!@cancersupportteam @shpbeds @mkifp .#pamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #coffeenearme #cafenearme #WhitePlainsCafe #CoffeeForACause #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity
Come see our new artwork display, featuring works by White Plains High School Art Honor Society students!.#thepamplemousseproject #pamplemousse #cafenearme #coffeenearme #whiteplainscafe #cafevibes #studentartists #nationalarthonorsociety #wpproud #coffeeforthecommunity #allprofitstocharity