Money may not grow on trees - but coffee does
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Thousands
of carefully selected beans are planted close together in the nursery
and covered with rich soil.
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After
eight weeks the seeds sprout and roots develop. The best plants are selected,
transplanted and looked after for six months.
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When
the plants are two feet tall they are planted out in the coffee plantation.
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It
takes three to four years for a coffee tree to grow to full size. The
first fruit appears six months later.
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When
the fruits are a rich red colour they are ready for harvesting and are
picked by hand.
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The
fruits are out into bags, loaded onto mules or donkeys and taken to the
de-pulping machine. |
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The
machine removes the pulp from the two seeds (or beans) that are inside
the fruit.
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The
beans soak in tanks of cold mountain water for 24 hours and are then carefully
washed in fresh water.
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The
beans are scooped up into straw baskets and then spread out to dry on
open-air terraces.
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When
dry the beans are taken to the mill where machines remove the husk and
skin.
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The
olive green beans are tested for quality.
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The
beans are packed for the journey to factories in other countries where
they will be roasted,ground and packed for sale.
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