A Coffee Cup's Journey

That coffee cup in your hand probably doesn't ignite much thought. But there's much more to the story of this beverage... much more than a short walk to the kitchen.

The life cycle of this drink starts in a farmland. Coffee usually grows in warm equatorial climates with many of the farmlands spread across Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia and Ethiopia. Here, trees are chopped down to make room for the coffee plants. Coffee is farmed from the small berries called 'coffee cherries' of a shrub. It takes about four years for a newly planted shrub to start bearing the coffee cherries. The berries of the coffee shrub can ripen at different times and so, those berries are picked by hand.

Workers often toil around farmlands picking coffee cherries for long shifts for low wages. The process by which the coffee is processed is different in different places, with different agents such as the sun (dry), water (washed) or a mixture of the two (honey) being used. Next, the beans are taken to a special mill, where the seeds are sorted by density, size and color using specialized machines. 

Now, professionals evaluate a coffee's taste, aroma and feel to decide its quality in a process called cupping. The experts grade the coffee, which are ready to ship. The coffee is carried by cargo ship to different parts of the world. After customs, the coffee is transported to warehouses and then, roasteries. Here, the seeds are roasted and heated, transforming the seeds into brewable beans, with a distinct hue and aroma. Next, the beans are carried to stores and cafes, to be brewed into coffee, and be taken into your hands.

This whole journey makes around 0.4 kg of carbon dioxide and around a hundred people. Let's thank everyone who helped in the lifecycle of a cup of coffee!