'Soldiers' Aka Coffee Cherries

I never realized how much effort went into producing coffee, I hope you enjoy learning along with me!

From the very beginning, farmers face uncertainty with these finicky crops. Coffee seeds take an average of two and a half months to sprout, earning them the nickname 'soldiers.' IF they sprout at all. Multiple seeds are planted for every one seed that succeeds.

Then, after about 6 months of babysitting in a nursery, it's a waiting game - three to four years for the coffee tree to bear fruit, known as 'coffee cherries.' Growing coffee is an immense investment of both time and money.

This is especially true of Arabica, a more delicate species, susceptible to pests and diseases. The variety within the Arabica family brings diverse flavors but also added complications.

Coffee farmers face tough choices between pursuing a better livelihood and maintaining the quality of coffee they're passionate about producing. It's a challenging balancing act to be both a coffee farmer and a coffee connoisseur. But my taste buds say, "worth it!" 🤤☕