Why it matters in the cup.

Coffee glossary

Coffee Cherry

The fruit of the coffee tree, inside which the seeds we later process, roast, grind, and brew develop.

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The fruit behind the bean

The fruit behind the bean

What it means

The fruit of the coffee tree, inside which the seeds we later process, roast, grind, and brew develop. Thinking of coffee as a fruit helps make sense of ripeness, processing, and why handling at harvest matters so much. When the fruit itself is used as an ingredient, it is often called cascara.

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Where this leads

Each one pushes this into the cup, compares it, or helps you act on it.