What is coffee fruit and why are they important?
Coffee is a very popular drink, we all know that. We’re all lovers of this black gold and want more of it each day! But what about the coffee fruit?
Are you in search of something else, that also has a bit of coffee taste?
It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a delicious alternative to your morning cup or something to add some extra flavor to your favorite recipes, this natural ingredient will make all of your dreams come true! You can even use our product in cold brews and iced coffees too! And best of all – it’s cheaper than regular beans!
What is the coffee cherry?
Coffee fruit, also known as coffee cherry, is a small round berry that grows on the coffee shrub and contains the seeds that will grow into the next generation of coffee plants. In other words, it’s important for harvesting and replanting the crop!
The fruit that grows on the coffee tree before it ripens into a red berry, and contains seeds for growing new plants. It’s known as a “coffee cherry” or “coffee fruit.”
This process takes about 5 years to complete and delivers about 2.5 kg of raw beans and gives us about 500 grams of roasted beans and about 50 cups of our coffee, our black gold!
Types of coffee plants?
There are about 60 types of coffee plants. They’re spread across the countries of the so-called Coffee Belt, located between the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn. Of all these types, there are 2 that are decisive in the global consumption of coffee.
There are two main types of coffee plants: Arabica and Robusta. Depending on which type of plant you’ll use, you will get a completely different flavor from your coffee.
Arabica coffee beans are typically grown higher up in the mountains and provide a smoother taste to the drinker. They’re grown at higher altitudes (about 1.200 meters). The rule of thumb is the higher the location of the coffee plant, the higher quality of the coffee bean!
The Arabica is more located in mountain areas, Central and South America (Brazil the biggest one), and the African countries of Kenya and Tanzania.
Robusta coffee beans can be grown anywhere, but they are slightly harsher for drinkers because they contain more caffeine than Arabica beans. They’re grown in places where the Arabica doesn’t seem to grow well. Therefore, the Robusta beans are known for their resistance to the changing weather conditions and don’t have any “wishes” about soil and place to grow.
They’re grown in African and Asian countries, like Vietnam. This bean contains about 2x – 3x more caffeine when compared to Arabica beans and is less expensive.
The lower price and higher amount of caffeine make it a great fit for instant coffees, Italian espressos, and lower-priced blends.
You won’t see a lot of specialty coffees that will contain these blends, if not!
Can you eat the coffee cherry?
The coffee fruit, coffee cherry, from the coffee shrub contains coffee seeds for growing new plants! The fruit is encased in a layer of skin (the parchment) and then extracted from coffee beans through various methods.
This coffee cherry or fruit can be eaten, but it’s not very tasty. They don’t contain a lot of sugar, so this product will be less sweet. That’s why you should add a sweetener to your cup.
Pros and cons about eating the coffee cherry?
There are a few pros and cons of eating the coffee cherry. The pros include providing nutrients for the body, including antioxidants and fiber. The cons are that it’s bitter tasting, contains seeds, and is hard to chew.
Antioxidants are known to reduce cell damage, fiber helps out with digestion. They’re also known for increasing immunity, lower blood pressure, anti-aging, and anti-cancer capabilities.
Besides these benefits, there are also possibilities to give as a gift and can be used in some dishes.
Be aware though, there haven’t been done a lot of studies on humans. There were already made a few studies on animals. An important thing to remember is that also animals had some tolerance. Don’t overdo it with this cascara, as with most things in life!
What about the amount of caffeine in coffee fruit?
A lot of people drink coffee for the caffeine it provides, but what about the amount of caffeine in coffee fruit? Coffee fruit comes with natural caffeine, though it’s not a lot.
A single cup of brewed coffee typically has more than 30 milligrams (mg) of caffeine, but a single cup of brewed coffee fruit only has around 18 mg of caffeine. This is still considered to be a significant amount and can give you the same effects as drinking a cup or two cups of brewed coffee.
It should be noted that the caffeine content in coffee fruit can vary from one type of coffee plant to another.
Talking about cascara, coffee cherry tea
Cascara is a dark brown sticky syrup that comes from the coffee cherry. It’s sometimes also called “coffee cherry tea” or “the coffee fruit tea”. The taste of cascara is slightly more bitter than coffee, and it has a sweetness to it as well. It’s something in the middle between coffee and tea.
It’s a good idea to drink it with milk or sugar, as this will help you to tolerate the taste better.
Coffee fruit tea is usually used for medicinal purposes and treatments. Research has shown that cascara can treat stomach problems, including bloating, constipation, and indigestion. It also helps in the detoxification of the body.
The color of cascara varies depending on the type, but a common description is that it’s halfway between dark brown and maroon. The taste can be somewhere between tea and coffee (what this means we don’t know). It usually has a bitter or sour taste to it, though there are some sweeter types of cascara.
The cascara doesn’t contain a lot of caffeine like coffee or tea. It can contain about 4 times less caffeine.
F.A.Q.
Is coffee a fruit?
No, coffee is not a fruit. Coffee fruits are the small round berries that grow on the coffee trees. The cherry-like fruit grows from the plant’s red flowers and produces seeds that will mostly be used to grow new coffee plants.
Can you eat coffee fruit raw?
Yes, you can eat the coffee fruit raw. Not many people know this! The flavor is sour and a little more bitter than eating an apple. Similar to the taste of elderberries, but not as sweet.
Can you eat coffee fruits?
Coffee fruits can be eaten raw or cooked. They can also be fermented to make coffee syrup and vinegar, with the zest of ripe oranges added to give them a slightly less sour taste.
Can you eat coffee fruit raw?
Yes! Some people like to eat them and this comes with health benefits but also some bad effects. It can upset your stomach and cause heartburn. If you’re sensitive to this, you’d try some low acid coffee!
Some people say coffee fruit tastes like coffee, but this may be because their taste buds need to adjust!
Is coffee fruit extract the same as caffeine?
No. Coffee fruit extract and caffeine are not the same! Coffee fruit extract comes from drying the cascara (coffee cherry skin) – made by extracting it with boiling water or ethanol then discarding the solids.
Though coffee fruit has natural amounts of caffeine, they are usually quite a bit less than coffee since it’s not isolated like that of brewed espresso beans or tea leaves.
Coffee fruit also contains flavor compounds and minerals that add to its unique taste – while many people find this type of flavor enjoyable, others prefer their brewed coffee with more acidic flavors such as vinegar to create acidity which may be absent in the brown sugar-like sweetness of coffee fruits.
Conclusion
coffee fruit is an important coffee plant component that produces coffee beans. It’s also the source of caffeine, and cascara is a dark brown syrup made from coffee cherry juice or extract. Coffee berries are edible raw but can be cooked to make coffee berry tea too. The taste may vary depending on what type you’re eating as well! Now go out there and enjoy some coffee fruits or cascara!
Enjoy your coffee!