Coffee tips
Where Do Coffee Beans Come From?
May
Many people that like coffee fancy themselves a bit of an expert (especially if they’re getting their coffee from Mr Beans…). However, you may be wondering where do coffee beans come from in the first place? Read on for our handy guide on the history and origins of coffee.
Mr Beans
Where Do Coffee Beans Come From?
Coffee beans come from the Coffea plant. There are over 120 individual species of the Coffea plant and these plants are native to Southern Africa and tropical Asia. The two most common subspecies of this plant are the Coffea Arabica (usually just referred to as “Arabica”) and the Coffea Canephora (also known as “Robusta”). Arabacia is famed for its slightly sweeter taste, whereas Robusta typically has a stronger caffeine content.
These plants produce edible red or purple fruits, known as coffee cherries, which contain two beans. These are your coffee beans.
Once ready, the coffee beans are harvested, washed, roasted and ultimately ground up into the powder that you find inside your Mr Beans coffee pouch.
The History of Coffee
Coffee has been around for quite a while. The earliest evidence we have of humans cultivating coffee plants, harvesting the beans, preparing them and then drinking the result is in the middle of the 15th century. In Yemen, Southern Arabia evidence has been found of coffee being prepared and consumed at religious shrines where it was used to keep worshippers alert during their nighttime devotions.
History of coffee in the UK
In the early 17th century coffee began to spread around the world. The Dutch East India Company were the first to start importing coffee on a large scale and eventually the British East India Company began coffee imports to the UK. The first known instance of a coffeehouse – an early version of the cafes we know and love today – was opened in Cornhill, London with coffee likely imported via Turkey.
Where we come in
Read the story of Bertie Timlins, the original Mr Beans, here. We’ve been operating as a business since early 2021 and are committed to providing top quality coffee for you to enjoy at home.
