Coffee is a widely popular drink that’s enjoyed by various cultures around the world. In its simplest form, black coffee is made by brewing coffee beans, which are the seeds nestled within the fruits, or cherries, produced by some plants from the genus Coffea. Among the over 6,000 species of flowering trees and shrubs that belong to this genus, 25 to 100 of them are considered coffee plants. [1]
Almost all commercially grown coffee beans come from the “Coffee Belt” or the “Bean Belt,” which encompasses mountainous regions located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. [2] Characterized by its warm and humid climate, the Coffee Belt is divided into three main growing regions: Latin America, Africa and Asia. Although the Belt passes through over 70 countries, only 44 produce significant amounts of coffee beans. [3]
Different regions produce different types of coffee beans, each with their own unique flavor and aroma. Weather conditions, altitude and soil, among other factors, contribute to the varying flavor profiles of different coffee beans. But before they are exported, coffee beans undergo labor-extensive processing, beginning from the time they are harvested.
Newly planted coffee trees take about 3 to 4 years to bear fruit, after which coffee cherries are harvested once or twice annually once they ripen. In most coffee-growing countries, ripe coffee cherries are handpicked by workers and processed immediately to avoid spoilage. In countries where water is limited, coffee cherries are left to dry in the sun for several weeks. This age-old method of processing coffee reduces the moisture content of coffee cherries to about 11%. [4]
In places where water is abundant, workers use a pulping machine to separate the fruit pulp from the coffee beans. The beans are then sorted by weight by allowing them to pass through water channels; lighter beans float on the surface while heavier beans sink to the bottom. After the beans are further separated by size, they are placed in large tanks filled with water to be fermented. During this process, naturally occurring enzymes get rid of the mucilage still attached to the beans.
Depending on the type of coffee bean, fermentation lasts anywhere from 12 to 48 hours. The beans are rinsed afterwards and then left to dry naturally under the sun or are dried using large tumblers. Coffee beans that are processed this way are called parchment coffee because they are still enclosed inside the endocarp (the hull that envelops the bean), also known as parchment. Dried parchment coffee beans undergo hulling and sometimes polishing before they are graded and sorted for export.
Coffee beans that have been milled are known as green coffee. Before being roasted, green coffee is repeatedly evaluated for its taste and quality – a process known as cupping. During this process, an expert determines the characteristics of the coffee beans as well as their flaws and their suitability for blends. Once the beans have been thoroughly analyzed, they are transported to importing countries to be roasted and brewed. This is how coffee beans from the Bean Belt are transformed into the stimulating drink that fills many people’s cups every morning.
The origin of Coffee
Despite its popularity, the true origin of coffee is still unknown and is likely to remain a mystery. But research suggests that commercially grown coffee trees can trace their heritage back to the ancient coffee forests of Ethiopia. [5] Legend has it that a goat herder named Kaldi first discovered coffee by accident after noticing that his goats seemed to get a burst of energy after chewing on coffee cherries.
Kaldi shared his discovery with an abbot from a local monastery who decided to make a drink using the cherries. The abbot reported that the beverage kept him alert and awake in the evenings. Since then, word spread about the energizing drink until it reached the Arabian Peninsula, where it is believed cultivation and the coffee trade first began and flourished.
According to research, coffee cultivation has been widespread in Yemen since the 15th century. Yemen also has a similar legend about the discovery of coffee, but this time involving a mystic priest named Sheikh Omar. Recorded in period literature, Omar’s story suggests that he discovered coffee after being exiled by his tribe and living in the desert near the Ousab Mountain. [6]
The first time Omar saw red coffee cherries, he was starving and decided to eat them. The cherries didn’t have much flesh on them and their seeds tasted bitter. Omar decided to boil the beans and roast them, noticing that they emitted a pleasant aroma, but their taste remained the same. He decided to boil the roasted beans again, and the resulting brew had a more tolerable taste. It also had a surprising effect on his mind and focus, which Omar decided to share with his tribe, hence the birth of coffee as a naturally stimulating drink.
Regardless of which legend came first, historians believe that coffee beans made their way to the Arabian Peninsula through Ethiopian invaders. But it was the coffee beans produced in Yemen that were first traded by ancient merchants to faraway places and that eventually spread the culture of coffee drinking.
Yemeni coffee beans were once called mocha – named after the small city port along the Red Sea where all coffee beans were boarded on ships for trade. Under tight regulation by the Ottoman Empire, Yemeni coffee beans were required to be roasted before being transported to prevent germination. This was how the Ottomans kept their monopoly of the coffee trade for a long time.
But by the mid-16th century, smugglers began to distribute coffee seeds to different parts of the world. This led to coffee plants being grown in other countries such as France and India, and in other regions such as Central and South America. Dutch merchants were also said to have smuggled coffee seeds, introducing the plant and jumpstarting coffee cultivation in Indonesia, which is now one of the leading producers and exporters of coffee beans.
Despite its links to Turkey, coffee did not become popular in Europe until the 17th century. Venetian merchants were responsible for introducing coffee to this part of the world, with the first European coffee houses opening in Italy after Pope Clement VIII gave the drink his blessing. Soon, similar establishments began sprouting in major cities in Austria, England, Germany and Holland (now modern-day the Netherlands), replacing common breakfast beverages like wine and beer and cementing coffee’s popularity among European consumers. [7]
Although coffee reached America in 1607 through Captain John Smith, an explorer from the colony of Jamestown who visited Turkey, it did not replace tea as the preferred drink of early Americans until after the infamous Boston Tea Party in 1773. Coffee culture grew at a slow pace in America and only flourished after the Civil War when Americans began to appreciate the drink’s affordability and many pleasant effects. [8]
Coffee as a superfood and versatile survival food item
Aside from its rich aroma and flavor and the many ways it can be prepared, coffee is enjoyed by many for its natural stimulant effect. This can be attributed to the presence of caffeine, a naturally occurring compound in coffee beans that induces wakefulness and naturally boosts energy. [9] Caffeine also has potent antioxidant properties. As reported by a study published in the journal Radiation Physics and Chemistry, caffeine is an excellent free radical scavenger and offers reliable protection against oxidative damage. [10]
But caffeine is not the only powerful antioxidant in coffee. Research shows that coffee beans are an actual antioxidant powerhouse – one of the major reasons why coffee deserves the title of “superfood.” In fact, coffee contains more antioxidants than green and black teas and even red wine. Some of the potent antioxidants found in coffee beans are cafestol, trigonelline, chlorogenic acid, hydroxycinnamic acids (3-, 4- and 5-caffeoylquinic acid), melanoidins and quinine. [11]
Coffee also contains essential vitamins and minerals. You can get trace amounts of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, manganese, some amino acids, and vitamins B2, B3, B5, B9 and choline from a one-cup serving (8 fl oz) of freshly brewed coffee. [12]
But coffee beans are not just meant for making coffee. When SHTF, you’ll find many practical uses for coffee beans, making them a valuable item to have in your emergency stockpile. Here are 10 survival uses for coffee beans that you may not be aware of:
A great pick-me-up
One of the reasons why coffee became a breakfast drink is its ability to make you feel more awake. Thanks to caffeine and its natural effects on the brain, drinking coffee also offers the benefits of increased concentration, energy and alertness. [13]
In a survival situation where you need to travel a long distance or stay awake to stand watch, being able to drink this pick-me-up will help you a lot. The natural stimulant properties of caffeine in coffee will not only help keep you awake and energized, but it will also increase your mental alertness – a definite advantage in any type of scenario. [14]
Natural insect and pest repellent
Many people throw away their used coffee grounds without knowing they can be used for other purposes. If you have a home garden, you can use old coffee grounds as a natural pest repellent. Garden pests like slugs and snails are naturally repelled by the strong aroma of coffee, so instead of tossing your used coffee grounds, add some to your garden soil or sprinkle some around your plants to save them from being gnawed by these pesky bugs. [15]
Ants and mosquitoes also have an aversion to coffee. If you have an ant or mosquito problem at home, you can use old coffee grounds to create a barrier that would keep these insects away from you and from areas where you don’t want them to be.
Compost ingredient
Composting is a great way to make good use of organic waste like food scraps and old coffee grounds. You normally want your compost to have an equal amount of green and brown matter, and old coffee grounds count as green matter!
Another benefit of adding coffee grounds to your compost mix is that they are rich in nitrogen, an essential nutrient for plant growth. Used coffee grounds can also add acidity to your compost pile which can help attract worms while repelling pests.
Garden fertilizer
Coffee beans are a good source of two key nutrients for plant growth: nitrogen and potassium. This means that used coffee grounds are an excellent fertilizer for your garden plants. Coffee grounds also contain magnesium, an important component of chlorophyll which plays a huge role in photosynthesis. [16]
Because of their acidity, coffee grounds are better used for fertilizing plants that prefer slightly acidic soil. Examples of plants and crops that thrive in this type of soil include hydrangeas, azaleas, gardenias, potatoes, tomatoes, blueberries, cabbages, carrots and radishes. [17]
Natural deodorizer
Another great property of coffee grounds is that they can help eliminate bad odors. If you wish to get rid of unpleasant smells in your refrigerator or anywhere else in your home, simply place a small container or sachet of dried coffee grounds. Like baking soda, dried coffee grounds can naturally absorb and neutralize foul smells, making them a useful and eco-friendly tool for keeping your house smelling fresh and clean.
You can also use coffee grounds to remove unpleasant odors from your hands, such as the pungent smell of garlic or onions. Simply wet some coffee grounds and rub them between your hands until the unwanted smell is gone.
Natural cleaning agent
If you’re tired of using commercial cleaning agents that contain harmful ingredients, dried coffee grounds are a wonderful non-toxic alternative. Because of their coarse texture, you can use them to rid your pots, pans and dishes of stubborn stains and grease. Coffee grounds are also great for scrubbing surfaces clean as they won’t cause any damage despite being abrasive.
Excellent barter item
Coffee is a drink beloved by many, so when SHTF, coffee beans are guaranteed to be a highly desirable and valuable barter item. With their many uses and beneficial properties, no prepper should be caught without coffee beans in their stockpile when emergency strikes.
Whole coffee beans are relatively shelf-stable compared to ground coffee. When stored properly in a cool, dark and dry place, an unopened bag of whole coffee beans can last up to 12 months. Ground coffee in a similar state will last only 3 to 5 months. [18]
For coffee that could last up to 20 years when stored properly, consider stocking up on freeze-dried organic coffee. [19]
Major morale booster
In addition to being an energizing drink, research has found that coffee can help put people in a good mood. In fact, according to clinical studies, even small doses of caffeine (200 to 250 mg, equivalent to two 8-oz cups) can naturally uplift one’s mood – a beneficial effect that can last for up to 3 hours. [22]
When the going gets tough, you might get a much-needed morale boost from drinking a cup of hot coffee. Some studies even suggest that just inhaling the aroma compounds in coffee is enough to reduce stressful or anxious feelings. [23][24]
Meat tenderizer
Meat is composed of muscle fibers and protein that make it naturally difficult to cut, chew and digest. To make meat easier to process, you need to tenderize it first. Salt, acids and enzymes are the three most common tenderizers used to break down the fibers in meat, and coffee grounds happen to contain plenty of natural acids and enzymes, making it great for softening up meat. [25]
To use, simply add used coffee grounds to your dry rub recipe and apply it to the meat at least two hours before cooking. You can also marinate the meat with coffee and refrigerate it for 24 hours before cooking.
Where to get 100% Organic Hand-Roasted Whole Bean Coffee
Coffee is an exceptional drink that is rich in both flavor and health benefits. An antioxidant powerhouse and an excellent survival item, high-quality organic coffee beans are a must-have in every prepper’s survival stockpile. To help you get only the finest organic coffee beans for your pantry and survival needs, the Health Ranger Store proudly brings you Health Ranger Coffees.
Health Ranger Coffees are freshly roasted and comprise an exceptional range of blends, all of which are imported directly from small farmer cooperatives around the globe. They are all non-GMO, gluten-free and lab tested for glyphosate and heavy metals. Choose from our wide selection of 100% organic hand-roasted whole bean coffees, which include Sumatra, Ethiopia, Honey Processed Honduras, Decaf Honduras, our El Guapo Blend and our Low Acid Blend for cold and hot brew.
We also offer Health Ranger Select Fair Trade Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee, which is made of tiny granules of brewed coffee extract that have been carefully chilled until frozen at specific temperatures, broken down into small fragments and dried under vacuum conditions. With a much longer shelf life than regular coffee, our premium Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee delivers a bold and exquisite flavor of medium roast coffee that you can enjoy immediately. All you need to do is add hot water and stir, and your instant coffee is ready to drink.
Health Ranger Coffees are all certified organic and Fair Trade. Now, you can enjoy world-class coffee and the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a positive contribution to hard-working local economies. Our roasters are masters of the craft and know the science of making coffee to ensure that each roast brings out the full flavor of our carefully chosen coffee beans. The results of their expertise are evident in every delicious cup you drink!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose any diseases.
References
[7] https://coffeeexpressco.com
[8] https://paxandbeneficia.com
[9] https://www.psychologytoday.com
[10] https://www.sciencedirect.com
[11] https://www.coffeescience.org
[12] https://tools.myfooddata.com
[13] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com
[14] https://www.survivopedia.com
[15] https://homesteadhow-to.com
[17] https://lawnlove.com
[18] https://www.willandco.com.au
[19] https://www.helenacoffee.vn
[20] https://www.happypreppers.com
[21] https://health.clevelandclinic.org
[22] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[24] https://www.sciencedirect.com
[25] https://www.healthline.com
