What are coffee beans actually?

Coffee beans are the seeds found inside coffee cherries, which are the fruit of the coffee plant. This process starts with coffee plants producing flowers, which, once pollinated, develop into cherries. Inside each cherry, typically two seeds are found, which are processed and roasted to become the coffee beans we use to brew coffee.

Understanding this helps clarify the biological development of coffee from plant to drink, emphasizing that coffee beans are not just seeds or extracts, but specifically the seeds of the coffee cherries. This distinction is important as it connects various events in the growth and harvesting process of coffee, highlighting factors like cultivation and processing that significantly affect the flavor profile of the coffee.