Explore Real Coffee

Farmers select a suitable location for sowing the seeds, preferably a nursery or directly in well-prepared soil with good drainage. Farmers choose healthy, viable coffee seeds for sowing. These seeds should be fully matured and without any signs of damage or disease. They dig small holes in the soil, about 1-2 inches deep, and place the coffee seeds inside. Space the seeds appropriately to allow for proper growth.

Conventional coffee farming often relies on synthetic fertilizers to provide nutrients to the plants. These fertilizers are readily soluble and provide quick nutrient uptake by the plants. Organic fertilization relies on natural materials and processes to provide nutrients to plants.

Organic coffee cherries are primarily harvested by hand to ensure that only ripe cherries are picked. This selective picking method involves trained workers carefully inspecting the coffee bushes and harvesting only the cherries that have reached optimal ripeness, which is crucial for producing high-quality coffee beans. Harvest timing is critical in coffee farming to ensure that cherries are picked when they are fully ripe. This requires close monitoring of the coffee bushes to determine the appropriate harvest time, which can vary depending on factors such as altitude, climate, and coffee variety.

Coffee bean processing is a crucial step in the production of coffee, influencing its flavor profile and quality. There are several methods of coffee bean processing, including wet (washed), dry (natural), and semi-dry (pulped natural or honey) processing. Wet methods involve pulping the coffees after sorting the unripe beans, and soaking them in water to remove mucilage and are then dried. The dry method is where the cherries are left to dry for several weeks, during which time they naturally ferment and dry out.

Coffee is typically shipped around the world using various transportation methods to ensure its timely delivery and preservation of quality. After processing, green coffee beans are usually packed into large sacks or bags made of materials such as jute or sisal. These bags are sturdy and allow airflow to prevent mold or moisture buildup. Alternatively, beans may be stored in bulk containers lined with grain-protection liners. Coffee beans are transported from the processing facilities to ports or shipping terminals, usually by truck or rail. In some cases, coffee may also be transported via inland waterways. The coffee-laden ships embark on their journey across the oceans to reach their destination ports. Shipping routes vary depending on factors such as origin, destination, and shipping company pre

Upon arrival at the destination port, the coffee shipments are unloaded from the ships and undergo customs clearance procedures. This process involves verifying the contents of the shipment, paying any applicable duties or taxes, and obtaining necessary permits or certificates.

Coffee roasters carefully consider several factors when selecting green coffee beans to ensure they produce high-quality roasted coffee. Some key aspects they look for include: the tastes they want to be offering, country of origin, bean size and origin, moisture content, colour and appearance, ethical pathways and fairness to the supply chain. 

Speciality coffee roasters in the U.K. ship their freshly-roasted coffees out to consumers in all shapes and forms. These include recurring coffee subscriptions, limited edition coffees based on whats in harvest where, supplying cafes, and online coffee marketplaces like All Things Coffee!

All of the supply chain’s hard work comes out in stunning flavours of nuts, chocolate, berries, floral sweetness, exotic spices and more. There are so many parts of the process that can be tweaked, along with the huge differences in soils between coffee-growing continents, that can adjust the flavour of your coffee in a huge way.