1.2.1 Different Techniques
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the final product. First of all, the coffee’s chemical composition can be changed to achieve different flavors by the farmers who create new species of coffee plants, then, the actual roasting process also influences this change as the beans can be heated for different lengths of time and at different temperature. There are many factors the farmers need to take into account before even planting the crops, like wind exposure, temperature variability, water availability, topography, elevation, soil and risks of pests or diseases. The most common varieties of coffee are known as Robusta and Arabica, the Robusta kind can tolerate drought and weather changes better than the other. In average, a coffee plantation requires 250 to 300 work days of labor per 2.5 acres (1 hectare), and about 60% of the work occurs during harvest season (Descroix and Wintgens 2009). One cherry produces 2 coffee beans, these cherries ripen at different pastes which means they need to be individually handpicked in order to keep the product to its highest quality. The mechanical harvest takes all the cherries at once which ends in a mixture of ripe, unripe and rotten cherries resulting in a lower quality coffee which is usually used for instant coffee or in cheap blends. The Arabica plants produce the world’s best coffee as they can’t withstand machine-picking and must be harvested by hand. The USA National Coffee Association gives us insight on the process it takes to get from the seed and into our cups3. A coffee farmer when selecting the land to grow the crops takes into account the space needed to implement their seedbeds, nurseries and plantation areas. The seeds are first planted in shaded areas called nurseries where the beans sprout up from the ground. The seedlings are then replanted in individual pots within the carefully selected soil. Watered frequently and shaded from sunlight, they grow until they are sturdy enough to be replanted again. This last step usually takes place during the wet season to keep the soil moist and allow the roots to grow. The variety of the plant influences the length it will take for the plant to 3.National Coffee Association of U.S.A., Inc