Coffee Cherries and Coffee Beans

During the harvest season, coffee trees become full with bright red coffee cherries. Ripe cherries are slightly larger than a blueberry. The unroasted green coffee bean is actually the pit, or seed, of the coffee cherry.

The skin of the coffee cherry is thick with a slightly bitter flavor. The fruit beneath the skin, however, is sweet. The texture of this layer of fruit is similar to that of a grape. Beneath the fruit is the parchment, covered with a thin, slippery, honey-like layer called mucilage. The parchment of a coffee cherry serves as a protective layer for the coffee bean. Removing the parchment will reveal two bluish green coffee beans that are coated with a very thin layer called the sliverskin. While the most coffee cherries contain two beans, 5-10% of the cherries contain only one bean. This is called a peaberry.

The burden of hypertension part 2

High blood pressure is one of the main reasons why heart failures occur. Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, happens when the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s need because one or both ventricles are not functioning properly. Some are the scenarios:
The heart can’t pump with enough force (systolic heart failure)
Inability to draw enough blood into the major chambers of the heart (diastolic heart failure)
The weakened heart competes with constricted arteries and veins hence must exert more effort to push blood throughout the system.

In the past, there were only two main classes of drugs for the treatment of heart failure:
Diuretics (water pills) which gets rid excess body fluid by increasing urine flow and
Digitalis (Digoxin; from the fox glove plant) which tends to widen blood vessels and increases the force of heart beat.

Today with the advent of more drugs, the future of treatment looks better for patients. One of the winning drugs in the market is known as angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. It has been the single reason why heart failure has become a treatable condition rather than a death sentence to patients.

ACE inhibitors acts to block the synthesis of angiotensin, a substance that constricts blood vessels, raises blood pressure, and puts a strain on the heart. As a result they slow down the deterioration of the straining heart muscles.

Studies show that a heart failure especially in the beginning of the treatment can often be controlled with an ACE inhibitor and a beta blocker in combination of exercise, diet and other lifestyle changes.

These combinations of treatment do wonders, both relieving the symptoms of the patients and the helping them live longer productive lives.

Which bean is better? Arabica vs. Robusta Coffee Beans

In the Philippines, there are 4 famous coffees: Arabica, Robusta, Excelsa & Liberica.

But worldwide, there are two commercially significant coffee species: Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (robusta). Arabica coffee accounts for about 70% of the world’s coffee production and grows best at altitudes above 450 meters (1,500 feet). Arabica coffees, referred to as “milds” in the coffee industry, have more refined flavor and contain about 1% caffeine by weight.
As the name indicates, robusta coffee is a robust species, resistant to disease, with a high yield per plant. It flourishes at lower elevations and produces coffee with harsher flavor characteristics. Robusta coffees contain about 2% caffeine by weight, twice the content of Arabica.

The taster would have to be the one to decide which coffee bean reigns supreme, so it is but necessary to be able to conduct proper tasting techniques to evaluate the drink.

Coffee Trees

As mentioned, coffee trees grow in the equatorial band between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. The fruit of the tree is referred to as a coffee cherry. Remember, geographic conditions such as soil, climate and altitude all play a major role in developing coffee’s flavor.

Here are some interesting facts:
• The coffee tree is a relative of the gardenia, an evergreen shrub commonly found in gardens.
• Coffee trees generally blossom or flower once a year. Once these jasmine-scented flowers fall off the coffee tree, small cherry cluster forms, which leads to a fully mature, ripe, red coffee cherry. It takes nine months for the process from flowering to harvesting to take place.
• Most coffee trees have the potential to grow between 9-12 meters (30-40 feet) tall, but are often kept shorter to encourage higher yields and for ease of harvest. Pruning coffee trees encourages them to concentrate their food supply to fruit production rather than leave production.
• The average coffee tree produces enough cherries each season to produce 450-680g (1-1.5 pounds) of roasted coffee.
• Roughly 2.27kg (5 pounds) of coffee cherries are required to produce 0.45kg (1 pound) of green coffee.


My grandfather once had a small coffee farm in Los Banos, Laguna which I recall to produce 20-50 sacks of coffee beans a year. However, after he died, the coffee trees were left unattended and thus produce little harvest.

Each time I go to his farm, I remember his passion in coffee production.

Looking at myself today, I see myself to continue that passion but in a different direction.

The Coffee Belt

Most people laugh but yes, there’s such a term as a “coffee belt” and it’s very similar to the “pacific ring of fire” and “earthquake belt” rather than what most people think that it’s something worn by Batman.

The coffee belt exists between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, from 23.5 degrees above the equator to 23.5 degrees below it. Native to Ethiopia and the Arabian Peninsula, coffee is now grown at these latitudes in 50 different countries, from Indonesia to Guatemala to Kenya, on family farms and large estates.
It is in this region that the most flavorful types of coffees are grown, produced and harvested. The coffee belt region is known for its fertile soil and tropical climate which both adds to the unique character and quality of each coffee grown bean.

The yellow bell

I went on leave today due to a fever. Out, it was a dark gloomy day as dark cumulus clouds enveloped the sky. I spent sometime drinking a warm cup of coffee in my hand while I observed how this day will probably progress. Staring out from our house, hours pass by.

Of course short chills are but normal as the breeze blew lightly, but viewing our garden from where I sit makes you may wonder -- was it the coffee or are those yellow flowers really glowing?

It seems but a year ago, those yellow bells(Ranunculus glaberimus) were planted by my wife. It was not planted on a good soil so I thought then that it would soon wilt away. But somehow it grew, climbed over the fence and shoots off those remarkably bright yellow petals, though it seems to exhibit some sort of an afterglow. It was amazing to behold as its yellow aura color contrasts with its dark green leaves.

Yes it was a sight to behold, allowing no weather to cover its glow, wonderfully, on a gloomy dark day.

Makes me think - don’t you wish we can all be like the yellow bell?

Coffee now!

After having another mad drinking session with my friends yesterday that ended at wee hours in the evening(or was it morning?), I’m carrying over today here in the office a bad load of hangover. Good thing I’m working for a coffee company, having multiple cups of coffee for free is indeed a benefit in this situation. Caffeine overdose jolts my senses in this dreary day. Current caffeine intake just sufficient bringing a smile on my face and convincing me to take again that “just-do” attitude.

Sigh….Coffee….the drink that makes the world go round these days.

Considering where it came from, Ethiopia, makes you wonder how a goat herder’s beverage (well, according to the legend that is) could be one of the chosen drinks of businessmen & celebrities.

Imagine according to one statistic report, world coffee production in 2005-2006 was at 113 million bags!

And it all started from one cup of coffee.

Bañamos!

Today marks the 392nd foundation day of Los Baños and at the same time, the town’s celebration for Bañamos.

Being 392 years old, Los Baños still preserves and carries most of the Philippines’ diverse flora and faunas. The place also boasts to carry reputable educational and research institutions that are known for advances and contribution in scientific studies in the world.

What’s with the name? It all has to do with the location, location and location. Situated in between Laguna lake and Mt. Makiling, hot springs are very predominant, add to that the tropical climate and you’ve got a place where you’d always like to take a bath.
In spanish “baño” literally means a place to take a bath, hence Spaniards named the place Los Baños or “the bathe”.

Going back to the celebration, the town's mayor Cesar Perez invited ABS- CBN (a local TV network) this morning to cover today’s kick off to a week’s long of celebration. The schedule seems hectic, covering a civic parade, symposia, a beauty contest, buco pie eating contest, exhibits and lastly, a dance party of revelry.

He invited this morning Senator Loren Legarda to a tree planting project in the town proper. Dressed in blue jean and a pink long sleeved shirt, the senator gladly shook everyone’s hands during the civic parade.

There will be other activities within the week to commemorate this event but the tree planting activity will be the most symbolic as it represents growth and maturity in balancing both nature and man in one community.

The black apron & pin

Coffee masters are Starbuck’s resident experts who have pursued additional coffee training and education in all areas of the coffee field, from the farm to the espresso machine and everything in between.

Very much like in the martial arts world, where the master wears a black belt, coffee masters are distinguished by the company by wearing black aprons! Hence, they are more knowledgeable and erudite on the craft than the usual regular green wearing apron baristas.

A barista, to be able to be given the title of coffee master, must be able to excel in a series of tests and rigid interviews to demonstrate their knowledge about coffee - taste identification and differentiation, relation to origin, and the creation of a perfect cup to customers and afficianados.

Let me impart with you pictures of my black apron and coffee master pin which I received a year ago.


Then allow me to share to you a story for each coffee, as we say in Starbucks, one cup at a time.