Coffee is one of the world’s most popular drinks, enjoyed by millions of people every day. At its heart, coffee is a brewed beverage made from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant. These seeds, which we know as coffee beans, are found inside the fruit of the coffee tree, known as a coffee cherry.

Although we often call them beans, coffee beans aren’t actually beans at all—they’re the seeds of the coffee cherry. Once harvested, the fruit is removed, the seeds are processed and dried, before being roasted to develop the rich aromas and flavours that make coffee so distinctive.

Today, coffee is grown in more than 70 countries around the world, with each region producing beans that have their own unique flavour characteristics. Factors such as altitude, climate, soil and processing methods all influence the final taste in your cup, which is why no two coffees are exactly the same.

At Acorns Coffee, we source high-quality single origin coffees from around the world before roasting them in small batches in Hampshire. Roasting allows us to bring out each coffee’s natural character, whether that’s rich chocolate notes, bright citrus flavours or delicate floral aromas.

Whether you enjoy a smooth espresso, a cafetière at breakfast or a carefully brewed V60, every cup begins its journey as a small seed growing on a coffee tree.

Key Facts

• Coffee comes from the seeds of the coffee cherry.
• Coffee trees grow in tropical regions around the world.
• Every coffee bean is roasted before it can be brewed.
• Flavour is influenced by where the coffee is grown, how it’s processed and how it’s roasted.
• The two most common coffee species are Arabica and Robusta.

Did You Know?

A coffee tree can take three to four years before producing its first harvest, and a healthy tree can continue producing coffee cherries for more than 20 years.

Related questions

• Where does coffee come from?
• What is a coffee cherry?
• What is the Coffee Belt?
• What is Arabica coffee?
• What is Robusta coffee?
• How is coffee grown?

Coffee grows in some of the world’s most beautiful tropical regions, where warm temperatures, rich soils and regular rainfall create the ideal conditions for coffee trees to thrive. Today, coffee is produced in more than 70 countries, but the vast majority is grown within a narrow band around the Equator known as the Coffee Belt.

Some of the world’s most famous coffee-producing countries include Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Kenya, Peru, Indonesia, Mexico and Rwanda. Each country, and often each individual farm, produces coffee with its own distinctive flavour profile.

The taste of coffee is influenced by many factors, including altitude, rainfall, soil composition, climate and the way the coffee is processed after harvest. That’s why a naturally processed Ethiopian coffee can taste bright and fruity, while a Brazilian coffee is often known for its smooth chocolate and nut flavours.

At Acorns Coffee, we source carefully selected single origin coffees from across the Coffee Belt, allowing you to explore the unique flavours each growing region has to offer.

Key Facts

• Coffee is grown in over 70 countries.
• Most coffee grows between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
• Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer.
• Every coffee-growing region produces its own distinctive flavours.
• Climate, altitude and soil all influence the taste of coffee.

Despite what many people think, coffee doesn’t begin life as a bean—it begins as a fruit.

A coffee cherry is the fruit that grows on the coffee tree. As it ripens, it changes from green to bright red, although some varieties can ripen to yellow or even orange. Farmers carefully harvest these ripe cherries by hand or machine, depending on the farm and terrain.

Inside each coffee cherry are usually two seeds. These seeds are what we know as coffee beans. Before they can be roasted, the beans must first be removed from the fruit, cleaned and dried using one of several processing methods.

The quality of the coffee cherry is incredibly important. Healthy trees, ideal growing conditions and harvesting only fully ripe cherries all contribute to producing exceptional coffee. Picking cherries too early or too late can have a noticeable impact on the flavour of the finished cup.

Interestingly, not every cherry contains two beans. Occasionally, a cherry develops just one rounded bean, known as a Peaberry. These are relatively rare and are often separated during processing because they roast slightly differently.

At Acorns Coffee, every coffee we roast started life as a carefully grown coffee cherry on a farm somewhere within the Coffee Belt, before beginning its journey through processing, roasting and finally into your cup.

Key Facts

• Coffee cherries are the fruit of the coffee tree.
• Most ripe cherries are deep red when ready to harvest.
• Each cherry usually contains two coffee beans.
• The fruit is removed before the beans are dried and roasted.
• Around 5–10% of coffee cherries produce a single Peaberry instead of two beans.

Did You Know?

Unlike many crops, coffee cherries don’t all ripen at the same time. On many specialty coffee farms, pickers return to the same trees several times during the harvest season, selecting only the ripest cherries each time. This careful hand-picking is one reason why high-quality specialty coffee takes so much time and skill to produce.

Growing coffee is a slow process that requires patience, expertise and the right environment. Coffee trees thrive in warm tropical climates, where they receive plenty of rainfall, fertile soil and consistent temperatures throughout the year. These ideal conditions are found within the Coffee Belt, which stretches around the Equator.

Most coffee begins life in a nursery, where young seedlings are carefully nurtured before being transplanted into coffee plantations. Depending on the variety, it can take three to four years before a coffee tree produces its first harvest of cherries.

Once mature, the trees burst into life with delicate white flowers, often described as smelling similar to jasmine. These blossoms last only a few days before developing into small green cherries, which slowly ripen over the following months. As they mature, the cherries turn bright red, signalling they’re ready to be harvested.

Unlike many crops, coffee cherries rarely ripen all at once. On specialty coffee farms, skilled pickers often return to the same trees several times during the harvest season, selecting only the ripest cherries by hand. This careful harvesting helps ensure only the highest quality fruit continues its journey towards becoming great coffee.

A healthy coffee tree can continue producing cherries for 20 to 30 years, although many are capable of producing for much longer when well cared for. Throughout its life, the tree requires ongoing pruning, fertilisation and protection from pests and changing weather conditions.

At Acorns Coffee, every coffee we roast starts with the dedication and expertise of farmers who spend years caring for their trees before the beans ever reach our roastery.

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Key Facts

• Coffee trees take 3–4 years to produce their first harvest.
• Coffee plants grow best in tropical climates with consistent rainfall and temperatures.
• White coffee blossoms appear before cherries develop.
• Cherries often ripen at different times, making multiple harvests necessary.
• A healthy coffee tree can produce coffee for 20–30 years or more.

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Did You Know?

Each coffee tree produces only a relatively small amount of coffee each year. On average, a single mature tree yields enough cherries to produce around 0.5–1 kg of roasted coffee, depending on the variety, growing conditions and processing methods. That’s why every bag of specialty coffee represents months of careful work by farmers long before it reaches the roastery.