How many people does it take to make a cup of coffee? For many, it seems as simple as a short walk and a quick pour. However, this everyday staple is the result of a complex, globe-spanning process that involves far more effort and cost than one might imagine.
The journey of coffee begins in remote regions like Pitalito, Colombia. Here, family farms have cleared local forests to plant rows of Coffea trees, originally domesticated in Ethiopia and now cultivated across equatorial regions. These shrub-like plants produce small berries known as “coffee cherries.”
Since cherries on the same branch can ripen at different times, they are best picked by hand. In Pitalito, harvesters work tirelessly from dawn to dusk at high altitudes, often picking over 25 kilograms per shift for minimal wages. Once picked, the cherries are taken to a wet mill where the seeds are separated from the fruit and sorted by density. The heaviest, most flavorful seeds are collected for fermentation in water for one or two days. After fermentation, workers wash off the remaining fruit and dry the seeds on large mesh racks, a process that can take up to three weeks.
Once dried, the coffee beans are transported to a nearby mill equipped with specialized machines. An air blower re-sorts the seeds by density, sieves filter them by size, and an optical scanner sorts them by color. At this stage, professionals known as Q-graders sample the beans to evaluate their taste, aroma, and mouthfeel through a process called “cupping.” These experts assign a grade to the beans, preparing them for shipment.
The beans are then packed into burlap sacks, each holding up to 70 kilograms, and loaded onto steel shipping containers capable of carrying up to 21 metric tons of coffee. From tropical ports, cargo ships with crews of over 25 people transport the coffee worldwide. The United States is the largest importer, with New York City alone consuming millions of cups daily.
After a long journey from Colombia to New Jersey, the coffee beans pass through customs. Dockworkers unload the containers, and a fleet of eighteen-wheelers transports the coffee to a nearby warehouse and then to a roastery. Here, the beans are roasted in a machine, stirred by a metallic arm, and heated by a gas-powered fire. Sensors monitor the coffee’s moisture level, chemical stability, and temperature, while trained coffee engineers manually adjust these levels throughout the twelve-minute roasting cycle. This process releases oil within the seed, transforming them into grindable, brewable beans with a rich aroma and dark brown color.
Post-roasting, workers pack the beans into five-pound bags, which are delivered by vans to cafes and stores across the city. The coffee is now tantalizingly close, but it requires more effort for the final stretch. Each coffee company has a head buyer who carefully selects beans from around the world. Logistics teams manage delivery routes, and dedicated baristas serve this caffeinated elixir to hurried customers.
In total, it takes hundreds of people to bring coffee to its intended destination, not to mention those maintaining the infrastructure that makes this journey possible. Many of these individuals work for low pay in challenging conditions, and some aren’t compensated at all. While we may marvel at the global network behind this beloved commodity, it’s crucial to value the people who make it possible as much as the final product itself.
Use an interactive world map to trace the journey of coffee from Colombia to your cup. Mark key locations such as the coffee farms in Pitalito, Colombia, the shipping ports, and the roasteries in New Jersey. Write a short description for each location explaining its role in the coffee production process.
Participate in a role-playing game where each student takes on a different role in the coffee supply chain, such as a coffee farmer, a Q-grader, a dockworker, or a barista. Act out the responsibilities and challenges of each role to understand the human effort involved in bringing coffee to consumers.
Conduct a science experiment to understand the roasting process. Use green coffee beans and a small home roaster or oven. Observe the changes in color, aroma, and texture as the beans roast. Record your observations and discuss how roasting affects the flavor and quality of coffee.
Engage in a math challenge to calculate the costs involved in producing a cup of coffee. Consider factors such as wages for farmers, transportation costs, and roasting expenses. Create a budget breakdown and discuss how these costs impact the final price of coffee in cafes and stores.
Write a creative story from the perspective of someone involved in the coffee supply chain. Choose a character such as a coffee farmer, a dockworker, or a barista. Describe their daily routine, the challenges they face, and their feelings about their work. Share your story with the class to highlight the human aspect of coffee production.
Coffee – A popular drink made from roasted and ground seeds of a tropical plant. – Coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the world, impacting the economies of many countries.
Cultivation – The process of preparing and using land for growing crops. – The cultivation of coffee plants requires specific climate conditions found in tropical regions.
Transport – The act of moving goods or people from one place to another. – Efficient transport systems are crucial for delivering coffee from farms to markets around the world.
Beans – The seeds of certain plants, such as coffee, that are used for food or drink. – Coffee beans are harvested, processed, and then roasted to create the coffee we drink.
Roasting – The process of cooking something, especially coffee beans, with dry heat. – Roasting coffee beans changes their color and flavor, making them ready for brewing.
Distribution – The action of sharing something out among a number of recipients. – The distribution of coffee involves getting the product from the producers to the consumers efficiently.
Workers – People who are employed to perform tasks, especially in agriculture or industry. – Coffee workers often face challenging conditions during the harvest season.
Import – To bring goods or services into a country from abroad for sale. – Many countries import coffee to meet the demand of their coffee-loving populations.
Economy – The system of production, consumption, and trade of goods and services in a country or region. – Coffee plays a significant role in the economy of countries like Brazil and Colombia.
Agriculture – The practice of farming, including growing crops and raising animals for food, fiber, and other products. – Coffee farming is a vital part of the agriculture sector in many tropical countries.
