Small Business Operations
Understanding The Product
Where is Coffee Grown?
Coffee trees produce their best beans when grown at
high altitudes in a tropical climate where there is rich
soil. Such conditions are found around the world in
locations along the Equatorial zone.
Coffee
Exports in
Tons
Brazil
2,249,010
Vietnam
961,200
Colombia
697,377
Indonesia
676,475
Ethiopia
325,800
India
288,000
Mexico
268,565
Guatemala
252,000
Peru
225,992
Honduras
217,951
Côte d'Ivoire
170,849
Uganda
168,000
Costa Rica
124,055
Philippines
97,877
El Salvador
95,456
Nicaragua
90,909
Papua New Guinea
75,400
Venezuela
70,311
Madagascar
62,000
Thailand
55,660
World
7,742,675
The Discovery of Coffee
According to
legend, coffee was
discovered around
850 AD by an
Ethiopian goat herder
named Kaldi.
He noticed that his
goats acted in an
unusually spirited
manner after eating
the red cherries of a
nearby shrub.
Kaldi also ate the
cherries and enjoyed
the extra energy that
These shrubs grew in an area of Ethiopia called "Kaffa"
they gave him.
and the shrubs were called "Kafa," which is one possible
root word for the modern word coffee.
The History of Coffee
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Local people gathered the coffee beans from the trees that
grew in the region, ground them up and mixed them with
animal fat, forming small balls that they carried as rations on
trips.
Other tribes of Ethiopia ate the beans as a porridge or
drank a wine created from the fermented crushed coffee
beans.
The local monks soon started eating the berries as a means
to help them to stay awake during long periods of prayer.
The monks went on to find that, if they were crushed and
infused with water, the berries could produce a (probably
cold) drink that gave a similar stimulating effect.
From Ethiopia, coffee plants spread to the Arab world where
they were heavily cultivated.
Coffee History Continued
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Around 1550 the first coffee houses opened
in Istanbul, Turkey
From the Arab world, the coffee drink spread
to Europe where it replaced beer as the most
popular breakfast beverage. (People could not
drink water because of bacteria in the water.)
In 1652 the first coffee house opened in
London, soon over 2,000 coffee houses
existed in the city. These became gathering
houses for intellectual and political discussion.
The actual word "coffee" appears to have
entered the English language some 400 years
ago from the Italian ‘caffe’.
Coffee Facts

The coffee bean is actually the dried seed
of the coffee tree cherry.
Coffee Facts

There are two main species of the coffee plant:
Arabica and Robusta.
◦ Arabica coffee is the superior plant. Arabica beans are
the bean of choice in "gourmet" or "specialty coffees".
◦ Arabica coffee beans produce the rich flavor and body
found in a good cup of coffee.
◦ Robusta coffee plants lacks this flavor and body.
◦ The Robusta species is a hardy, high yielding plant
resistant to the numerous pests, which afflict coffee.
◦ Robusta coffees have higher caffeine content than
Arabica; up to twice as much caffeine.
◦ Robusta is not usually consumed by itself, due to its
bitter and acidic flavor.
◦ Sometimes a small amount of Arabica will be blended
with a larger portion Robusta.
Coffee Trivia

The largest
retailer of
coffee in
America is
Dunkin Donuts,
which sells
about a billion
cups a year, or
30 cups every
second.
Coffee Trivia

The only American state to grow coffee
is ?
All coffee beans imported to the US are “green”
and have a shelf life of up to one year.
Green coffee beans
Roasted coffee beans will
darken, plump, and lose weight
as they are roasted. Darker
roasted coffee, which indicates a
longer roasting time, reduces
the amount of caffeine in the
coffee.
Coffee Trivia

One of the most expensive coffees in the world is Kopi Luwak from
Indonesia. It’s made from coffee beans digested and excreted by the
palm civet, a catlike animal, and sells for around $300 per pound.
Coffee Trivia

Today, more money is spent on the international
trade of coffee than on any other commodity
except oil.
What is “Organic” Coffee?

Organic coffee
is coffee that has
been grown
according to
organic farming
techniques,
without the use
of artificial
fertilizers,
pesticides or
herbicides.
What is “Fair Trade”
Coffee?
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Coffee farmers are guaranteed fair prices. There is a
minimum price of $1.26 for one pound of coffee,
Both workers and farmers have the right to fair labor
conditions. This includes the freedom of association, safe
conditions, and livable wages.
Fair trade requires direct trade between the coffee
producer and the coffee importer. No middle man is
allowed to step in to take a portion of the profit.
Fair trade farms are run democratically - all employees are
involved in the process. The farmers choose how to reinvest their trade revenues.
Fair trade certification expects community involvement by
the farms. A portion of trade revenues are invested into
social projects, in education, or for organic certification.
What is “Shade Grown” Coffee?
“Shade Grown” coffee
is sometimes referred
to as Bird Friendly
coffee.
Recently larger farms
have clear cut forests
to grow coffee in full
sun conditions.
This has had
negative effects on the
environment and the
birds.
In the past, coffee has naturally been grown in
shady conditions.
The quality of the
coffee has also been
negatively effected.
What is Espresso?
Espresso is a
concentrated
coffee
beverage
brewed by
forcing hot
water under
pressure
through finely
ground coffee.
What is Crema?
Crema is
the golden
red froth
on top of a
well
prepared
espresso.
The Espresso
Machine
The first espresso machines
were patented in 1901 in
Italy.
 Espresso has a thicker
consistency than regular
coffee.
 As a result of the
pressurized brewing, all of
the coffee flavor is very
concentrated.
 For this reason, espresso is
the base for other drinks,
such as lattes, cappuccino,
macchiato and mochas.

Modern Espresso Machine
A 1 fluid ounce shot of espresso has about half the
caffeine of a standard cup of drip brewed coffee.
Espresso Terms
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•
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•
•
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Barista – The coffeehouse equivalent to a bartender.
“Pulling a Shot” – Preparing espresso, so named because early
espresso machines required the barista to pull down on a lever.
Portafilter – The handled device on an espresso machine that
holds the metal basket and coffee grounds.
Group or Grouphead – The area that a portafilter locks into on
an espresso machine.
Tamper – A heavy tool used to pack espresso grounds.
Knockbox – A small portable pan with a bar across the top. The
barista taps the portafilter against the bar to remove the
espresso puck.
Steam Wand – Device on the espresso machine used to heat
milk.
Steam Pitcher – A stainless steel pitcher that holds milk for
steaming.
Cup
Warmer
Steam
wand
Grouphead
Portafilter
What is the Correct Temperature
for Brewing Coffee?
The correct temperature for brewing
coffee is 195 to 205 Degrees Fahrenheit.
 Most drip coffee makers brew coffee at
lower temperatures.
 Keeping a pot of coffee on a warming plate
damages the flavor of the coffee after 30
minutes.
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It is best to keep brewed
coffee in a pre-heated
thermal carafe.
How should ground coffee or coffee
beans be stored?

The best way to store coffee is an airtight container in a cupboard. Both light
and air speed the oxidation and drying of
your beans, which result in flavor loss and
also loss of ability to make good crema.
How is coffee decaffeinated?

The process is usually performed on
unroasted (green) beans, and starts with
steaming of the beans. The beans are then
rinsed with a solvent that removes the
caffeine without removing the coffee flavor.
Basic Coffee Drinks
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Café Au Lait – Made from equal portions of steamed milk and
strong brewed coffee.
Macchiato is a shot of espresso with a small amount of hot, foamed
milk on top.
Cappuccino – Made with espresso and steamed milk and topped
with milk froth.
◦ Flavored syrup is often added to a cappuccino.
Latte – An espresso drink combined with steamed milk.
◦ Flavored syrup (vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, etc.) can be added or
◦ Chocolate syrup/sauce can be added resulting in a drink
commonly called a Mocha.
Ristretto – A short or restricted shot of espresso, usually ¼ to 1
ounce.
Lungo – A long shot of espresso between 1 ½ and 2 ounces.
Hot Chocolate – Chocolate syrup/sauce and steamed milk.
Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee is coffee prepared by boiling finely powdered roast coffee beans
in a pot, possibly with sugar, and serving it into a cup, where the dregs settle. The
name describes the method of preparation, not the raw material; there is no
special Turkish variety of the coffee bean.
Video: Modern Marvels
The History of Coffee
End: Product Knowledge Unit
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