(The quality journey that creates your cup every day)
In this week's video, Ahmed Al-Hani will tell you about the journey of coffee beans, from seed to cup, explaining each stage in detail. As promised, we will continue to bring you new videos weekly with Ahmed Al-Hani so you can delve deeper into the world of specialty coffee .
Every detail — from the tiny seed inside the coffee fruit, to roasting, to extraction — has a direct impact on the quality of coffee you serve to your customers.
At Coffee Giant, we live every day the details of the "coffee journey," and we treat each station as an essential step to maintain quality and consistency.
Let's take you on a tour of three key stages in the coffee journey from farm to cafe, explaining how we select, sample, and fine-tune each stage.
Table of Contents
First stop: From the tree – the beginning of the coffee journey
Every journey begins on the farm , where the coffee bean is just a seed inside a fruit.
This is where our role comes in, in choosing the country, region, and type of tree , because the flavor of coffee depends greatly on the type of soil, climate, and type of tree grown.
As with dates, when you mention Al-Ahsa Khalas or Al-Qassim Sukari, a distinctive taste comes to mind.
The same is true for coffee; each region and tree species adds its own unique touch to the flavor.
For example:
Panama coffee (Geisha): One of the finest types of coffee in the world, characterized by sophisticated floral flavors.
-
Colombian coffee (Bourbon): Its flavor is balanced with a pronounced sweetness and a less floral character.
This understanding helps us choose coffee according to the character we wish to present in the cup.
Processing – The Key to Flavor
After selecting the source, we move on to the processing stage, in which the coffee beans are separated from the fruit.
The processing method is the primary factor in determining the final flavor of coffee, and there are three main methods:
Washed: Offers a clean and distinct flavor, suitable for cafes looking for a balance in taste.
Honey: It combines sweetness and purity, with a medium character that suits most tastes.
-
Dried (Natural): Characterized by fruity flavors, sweetness and a strong aroma.
There are also less common methods such as:
Anaerobic
Fruit fermentation
These methods produce limited quantities and are often more expensive, targeting cafes that offer unique experiences for specialty coffee lovers.
After selecting the type and processing method, we request samples , and if the flavor and quality match what is required, we begin the formal order.
Trip video
In this video, Ahmed Al-Hani takes us on a detailed visual journey through the production of specialty coffee, from planting the seed to preparing the final cup in the café. The video is rich with practical information and real-life experiences that help coffee enthusiasts understand the importance of each step in the process and its impact on coffee quality. Watching this video gives you a clear and comprehensive view of how coffee beans are transformed into a unique and worthwhile tasting experience.
Second stop: The roastery – from green to gold
After the green beans arrive at the roaster, the roasting stage begins — and here we cannot change the quality of the coffee, but we can bring out the best in it.
We conduct multiple experiments with different routes known as roasting routes , at varying temperatures and timings.
Then we conduct Cupping (professional tasting) — a comparison session between different roasts with the same variables (same grind, water level, and tasting time) — in order to choose the best roasting path that gives the perfect balance in flavor.
The roasting stage is one of the most important in determining the final character of coffee beans, as the green beans transform into a golden or dark brown color depending on the roast level. During this process, chemical compounds within the beans react, releasing distinctive flavors and aromas that vary according to the degree of roasting. Light roasting preserves the coffee's original flavors and highlights acidity and fruitiness, while dark roasting increases body and brings out smoky and caramel notes.
In roasteries, temperature and time are meticulously monitored to ensure the ideal roasting process for each type of bean. Advanced equipment is also used to measure color and moisture content, allowing for precise control over roasting quality. This attention to detail guarantees that every batch of coffee retains its distinctive flavor and consistent quality, enhancing the coffee experience for the end consumer.
Types of coffee beans in roasting
In the world of coffee, there are two main types:
Single Origin (crop from a single source):
This type focuses on highlighting the characteristics of the farm and the country it comes from. For example, Ethiopian dried coffee is characterized by its aromatic flavor and pronounced sweetness, but this can be affected by changing seasons and farm conditions.
-
Blend (mixture):
It is a blend of grains from multiple sources with the aim of achieving consistency in flavor and balance in texture.
At Mard Coffee, we have a Mard blend whose ingredients we have been carefully selecting for many years, and it consists of:
⅓ Ethiopia for Perfume.
⅓ Columbia for sweets.
⅓ Brazilian or Indian build.
This formula ensures consistent taste throughout the year, despite seasonal and crop fluctuations.
Types of roasting paths
In the roastery, we usually work on three main tracks:
Espresso roast:
A deeper roast gives a strong flavor that is well suited to coffee with milk, remaining consistent and rich even after mixing.Filter or omni roaster:
A lighter roast brings out the fruity and acidic flavors, ideal for distillation methods such as V60 or Chemex.-
Chickpeas of the Baland:
Designed for mixing, and comes in two types:-
Pre-Blend Roast: In this method, green coffee beans from different sources or varieties are blended together before roasting, and then the blended beans are roasted together in a single batch. This method helps to blend the flavors seamlessly during roasting, resulting in a balanced and consistent flavor profile. Mard Roastery primarily uses this method to ensure flavor balance and consistent quality in every batch. Beans are carefully selected from various sources and then blended before roasting to produce a homogeneous product that reflects the roastery's expertise in specialty coffee roasting.
-
Post-Blend Roast: In this method, each type of coffee bean is roasted separately according to its optimal roasting process, and then the roasted beans are blended together to create the final blend. This method allows for precise control over highlighting the characteristics of each bean type before blending.
-
What factors affect the consistency of coffee flavor?
Consistency in flavor is one of the key factors for the success of any coffee shop or brand in the world of coffee.
To ensure this goal is achieved, several important factors must be considered during the roasting process, including:
The moisture level in green coffee beans before roasting begins.
-
Weight before and after roasting.
The roasting curve is the gradual change in temperature over time.
The color of the grains after roasting is measured using precise and advanced measuring devices.
Final taste . If the above steps are followed precisely and the measurements are accurate, the taste will be consistent and ideal. However, if there is any discrepancy or problem with the measurements, a tasting session (cupping) should be conducted to select the correct flavor and adjust the final taste to meet the required quality standards.
Third stop: The café – a moment of detachment
The final stage in the coffee journey is at the coffee shop , where the barista transforms all the efforts made in the previous stages into a perfect cup of coffee.
At this stage, extraction is the decisive factor.
Even with the best quality coffee and perfect roasting, any error in extraction can greatly affect the taste.
Therefore, the barista must have precise control over:
Quantity of ground coffee.
Water content.
temperature.
Extraction time.
All these factors combine to produce the "perfect cup" that keeps the customer coming back.
Coffee is not just a drink, it's a story of a journey.
From the farm to the roastery and finally to the cafe — each stage reflects a passion, expertise, and a unique experience.
Every little detail makes the difference between an ordinary cup and a special, unforgettable one.
Don't miss following Ahmed Al-Hani on the Coffee Giant YouTube channel to watch the full episode about the coffee journey with detailed video experiences:
🔗 Follow Marid Coffee on YouTube
Discover the world of specialty coffee with Mard Coffee — passion, quality, and mastery in every cup.
