Every living thing on earth has its own anatomical structure in which every part is interconnected and complements each other. The same goes to the Coffee plant, with its unique anatomy it will be worth for the coffee lover out there to know more about their favorite drink. Let’s look at the anatomy of the Coffee fruit:
A coffee cherry has two parts which consist of the skin and the seed. The first part is the skin called Pericarp which contains the flesh. Pericarp comprises of three layers namely Exocarp, Mesocarp, and Endocarp. Exocarp is commonly known as the skin of the fruit. This layer is situated at the outermost area of ​​the coffee cherry which has different colours according to its growth phase and species.
The second layer, Mesocarp, is commonly referred as the pulp or flesh. This layer contains the highest amount of liquid and has a sweet taste when ripen. The third layer is called Endocarp or parchment which is thicker and harder than the pulp. Each layer has its own role and benefits to the beans.
Next is the second part of the fruit which are the seeds. This part is very important in the coffee cultivation industry and needs to be carefully maintained to ensure the quality of the coffee beans produced is of high quality. A coffee seed consists of three main layers namely Spermoderm, Endosperm, and Embryo.
Passing further the outer skin and flesh of the cherries, there is a thin membrane layer that shades the coffee bean called Spermoderm. Also known as ‘silver skin’, this layer serves to protect the beans after the Endocarp layer. While the second layer of the seeds is called Endosperm which contains oils and chemical compounds that give ‘coffee’ flavour. The last layer is called the embryo, which is crucial for reproduction.
Have you ever wondered why these sweet cherries are not sold commercially like its beans? Find out the answer in the next article which will delve further into the first part of these remarkable beans.
Reference:
1. https://coffeeland.co.id/struktur-anatomi-buah-kopi-dalam-buah-ceri/
2. https://ottencoffee.co.id/majalah/anatomi-buah-ceri-kopi
3. https://www.aklcoffee.com/anatomi-buah-biji-kopi-ceri/
4. https://magys.home.blog/2019/09/30/anatomi-buah-kopi/
5. https://www.basnulcoffee.com/bagian-bagian-pada-buah-ceri-kopi/
