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The life cycle of a cup of coffee - A.J. Jacobs
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The life cycle of a cup of coffee - A.J. Jacobs

The Coffee-Making Process

This section provides an overview of the coffee-making process, highlighting the complexity and global nature of its production.

Coffee Cultivation in Pitalito, Colombia

  • Family farms in Pitalito, Colombia clear cut local forests to make room for Coffea trees.
  • Coffea trees are shrub-like plants that produce small berries called "coffee cherries."
  • Coffee cherries are best picked by hand due to varying ripening times.
  • Harvesters in Pitalito work long hours at high altitudes, picking over 25 kilograms per shift for low wages.

Processing the Coffee Cherries

  • Picked coffee cherries are delivered to a wet mill where they are separated from the seeds.
  • The seeds are sorted by density, with the heaviest sinking to the bottom for collection.
  • Collected seeds are fermented in water for one or two days before being washed and dried.
  • In Pitalito, drying is done by spreading the seeds onto large mesh racks and regularly raking them for three weeks.

Sorting and Grading

  • Dried coffee beans are taken to a nearby mill with specialized machines for further processing.
  • Machines re-sort the seeds by density, filter them by size using sieves, and sort them by color using an optical scanner.
  • Q-graders, professionals trained in evaluating coffee quality, select samples of beans for cupping.
  • Cupping involves assessing taste, aroma, and mouthfeel to determine the quality grade of the beans.

Shipping and Importing

  • Dried and sorted coffee beans are packed into burlap sacks weighing up to 70 kilograms each.
  • Steel shipping containers transport these sacks via cargo ships around the world.
  • The United States imports more coffee than any other country, with New York City being a major consumer.

Roasting and Distribution

  • Coffee beans arrive in New Jersey and pass through customs before being transported to a nearby warehouse and then a roastery.
  • Roasting machines stir the beans with a metallic arm and heat them with gas-powered fire, releasing oils and transforming them into brewable beans.
  • After roasting, the beans are packed into bags and delivered to cafes and stores across the city.
  • Coffee companies have head buyers who select beans from around the world, while logistics teams manage delivery routes.

The Journey of Coffee

  • It takes hundreds of people to get coffee to its intended destination, including those maintaining the infrastructure for its production and transportation.

The Role of Q-graders in Evaluating Coffee Quality

This section focuses on the role of Q-graders in evaluating coffee quality through cupping.

Cupping Process

  • Q-graders select samples of coffee beans for cupping, which involves evaluating taste, aroma, and mouthfeel.
  • Cupping helps determine the quality grade of the coffee beans.

Importance of Q-graders

  • Q-graders play a crucial role in ensuring consistent quality standards for coffee.
  • Their expertise helps identify exceptional coffees that can command higher prices in the market.

The Journey of Coffee from Colombia to New Jersey

This section highlights the journey of coffee from Colombia to New Jersey, focusing on transportation and processing steps.

Transportation by Cargo Ship

  • Cargo ships crewed by over 25 people transport coffee from tropical ports around the world.
  • The United States, particularly New York City, imports significant amounts of coffee.

Arrival at Port and Customs Clearance

  • Coffee beans arrive in New Jersey after their long journey from Colombia.
  • Dockworkers unload containers containing coffee beans that have passed through customs clearance.

Transport to Warehouse and Roastery

  • A fleet of eighteen-wheelers transports the coffee beans from the port to a nearby warehouse.
  • From the warehouse, the beans are further transported to a roastery for processing.

Roasting Process

  • Coffee beans go through a roasting machine in the roastery.
  • The roasting process involves monitoring moisture level, chemical stability, and temperature.
  • Roasting releases oils within the seeds, transforming them into grindable and brewable beans with a dark brown color and rich aroma.

Packaging and Distribution

  • After roasting, workers pack the coffee beans into five-pound bags.
  • Vans deliver these bags to cafes and stores across the city for distribution.

The Final Steps: Bean Selection and Serving Customers

This section focuses on bean selection by head buyers and serving customers in cafes.

Bean Selection by Head Buyers

  • Each coffee company has a head buyer responsible for carefully selecting beans from various sources worldwide.
  • Head buyers play a crucial role in ensuring high-quality coffee offerings.

Logistics of Bean Delivery

  • Logistics teams manage bean delivery routes to ensure timely supply to cafes and stores.

Serving Customers in Cafes

  • Baristas across the city serve coffee to numerous customers daily, catering to their preferences and providing quick service.

Collaboration of Many People

  • The entire process of getting coffee to its intended destination involves hundreds of people working together.
  • Beyond those directly involved in production, there are individuals maintaining infrastructure that supports this journey.
Video description

Trace the globe-spanning journey of coffee as it goes from plant to brew, and the complex infrastructure that makes it possible. -- How many people does it take to make a cup of coffee? For many of us, all it takes is a short walk and a quick pour. But this simple staple is the result of a globe-spanning process whose cost and complexity are far greater than you might imagine. AJ Jacobs traces the journey of this caffeinated elixir from seed to cup. Lesson by A.J. Jacobs, directed by Biljana Labovic. Animation by Daniella Schnitzer Support Our Non-Profit Mission ---------------------------------------------- Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreon Check out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop ---------------------------------------------- Connect With Us ---------------------------------------------- Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletter Follow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebook Find us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitter Peep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram ---------------------------------------------- Keep Learning ---------------------------------------------- View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-life-cycle-of-a-cup-of-coffee-a-j-jacobs Dig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-life-cycle-of-a-cup-of-coffee-a-j-jacobs#digdeeper Animator's website: https://www.daniellaschnitzer.com/ Check out our full book recommendation here: https://shop.ed.ted.com/collections/ted-ed-book-recommendations/products/thanks-a-thousand-a-gratitude-journey ---------------------------------------------- Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Ken, zjweele13, Jurjen Geleijn, Anna-Pitschna Kunz, Edla Paniguel, Thomas Mungavan, Jaron Blackburn, Venkat Venkatakrishnan, ReuniteKorea, John Saveland, Aaron Henson, Cailin Ramsey, Begum Tutuncu, Ever Granada, Brian Richards, Divina Grace Dar Santos, Cindy O., Jørgen Østerpart, Tyron Jung, Carolyn Corwin, Charlene You, Carsten Tobehn, Katie Dean, Ezgi Yersu, Gerald Onyango, alessandra tasso, Alan Froese, Côme Vincent, Doreen Reynolds-Consolati, Manognya Chakrapani, Ayala Ron, Samantha Chow, Eunsun Kim, Phyllis Dubrow, Ophelia Gibson Best, Paul Schneider, Joichiro Yamada, Henrique 'Sorín' Cassús, Lyn-z Schulte, Elaine Fitzpatrick, Karthik Cherala, Joshua Merchant, Clarence E. Harper Jr., Clarissa Bartolini-Toro, Exal Enrique Cisneros Tuch, Srikote Naewchampa, Tejas Dc, Khalifa Alhulail, Martin Stephen and Dan Paterniti.