Traded and consumed worldwide, coffee is one of the most popular commercial agricultural commodities. It comes as no surprise then that we are witnessing an increasing number of farmers, businessmen, and corporates becoming a part of the coffee industry. But quality coffee doesn’t magically get transported from your farms to the customers’ cups. It has to undergo various stages from pre-harvest and harvest to processing and finally storage, before it can be made accessible to all.
What Are The Factors That Affect Coffee Quality?
Coffee lovers can be pretty discerning about the quality of coffee they prefer. This is why it is important to understand the factors that can potentially affect the flavour and aroma of coffee.
Factors affecting the physical characteristics and the chemical composition of coffee:
- Genetic traits of the coffee beans
- Environmental factors such as heat, moisture, light, and air
- Nutritional value of the coffee beans
- Pre-harvest crop management
- Harvesting and preparation
- Post-harvest processing and drying
- Storage of coffee beans
- Roasting of the beans, preparation of the beverage and the time interval after which it is consumed
Businesses and farmers can control most of these factors by adopting good agricultural practices to maximize and preserve the quality of coffee.
Main Challenges of attaining Quality Coffee
These include factors that could lead to spoilage of coffee, such as:
Microorganisms
Certain environmental conditions can encourage the growth of microorganisms, leading to undesirable fermentation of the coffee beans during the pre-harvest period.
If stored incorrectly, coffee can be harmed by microorganisms during the post-harvest storage period too.
Microorganisms lead to damage by degradation of compounds present in the beans, or by excretion of metabolites. Microbial growth not only compromises the quality, but can also destroy the quantity of produce, leading to agricultural losses.
Adverse Weather Conditions
Coffee is very susceptible to changes in weather conditions, especially during the processing stage.
There are mainly two methods of processing – dry and wet. In dry processing, the beans are dried immediately after harvesting to reduce the moisture content to the desired level. While in wet processing, the fruit that covers the seeds is first removed before drying. In both cases, drying is critical and can be affected by weather. For example, in the rainy season, there is a risk of re-wetting the seeds; in cold season, drying can take very long.
Improper drying can not only spoil the flavour and aroma of coffee, but also increase the chances of fungal contamination.
Using advanced drying practices instead of the manual sun drying can help protect coffee beans from unpredictable weather conditions.
Similarly, to preserve the depth of its flavour, it’s important to protect coffee from exposure to moisture, heat, light and air during storage, too, .
Problems During Transport
A commonly traded commodity, coffee may require transport over long distances. This can present challenges in the form of re-absorption of moisture and condensation during the transport stage.
Exposure to warm, humid climate can lead to absorption of moisture, deteriorating the taste of coffee. On the other hand, moving coffee beans from warm to cooler climates can cause condensation, making the coffee stale.
Using vacuum containers which do not allow the exchange of air or moisture can help protect the coffee beans during transport.
Poor Storage Conditions
After having sustained the quality of coffee through the many stages, it would be disappointing if it gets spoilt at the storage stage.
Traditionally, farmers use jute bags to store coffee. But these bags are still vulnerable to exchange of water vapor and gases, and hence insect infestation and fungal growth can occur. In addition, coffee may also absorb the foul odors trapped in these bags, which can be off-putting.
This is why it is critical to store coffee beans in appropriate storage conditions to maximize their quality, aroma and flavour post harvest and processing.
Hermetic bags are the perfect solution to the problem of improper storage. They provide an air-tight and moisture-tight barrier, protecting coffee beans from insects, fungi, and unfavourable climatic conditions. Moreover, they prevent the evaporation of aromatic oils which lend coffee its unique aroma, and preserve its rich flavour.
Save Grain Bags offers hermetic storage bags to ensure that coffee reaches its connoisseurs in the purest form.
