Coffee Facts

There is so much that goes into each cup of coffee you enjoy!  Consider a few facts about coffee as you hold the warm cup to your mouth…

• Coffee originated in the mountains of Ethiopia, in eastern Africa.
• Traders spread the plants throughout the world.
• Once the drink only of royalty, coffee is now the second most popular beverage in the world.
• Coffee is grown on trees that only thrive in the sub-tropics, the “belt” of the equator.
• Each tree grows for roughly four years before it begins bearing fruit.
• Each bean takes about nine months to ripen and, at Javaloha, is only picked by hand.
• It takes well over six pounds of coffee fruit (cherries) to make one pound of roasted coffee.

• US law allows up to 30% “other” per pound of ground coffee.  So ALWAYS buy whole beans!
• Store your beans in an airtight container, away from light and heat.
• You don’t need to freeze coffee beans – but if you must, bring them to room temperature before use.  Grind them as needed.  Freeze grounds, if you need to.

• Every manufacturer gives directions for a “cup” of coffee, but their “cup” varies from 4-8oz.  Use these general rules as a guide and adjust to your taste.  There is no one way.
• Grind your coffee as the manufacturer of your machine recommends first, then adjust as needed.
• Always clean your machine between uses, as old residues can ruin a fresh pot of coffee.
• Use approximately 1/2 tablespoon ground coffee per 6oz. of cool water, filtered if possible.
• If you follow these directions and you feel the coffee is too “weak”, try grinding it a bit finer the next time, rather than adding more coffee.  If it is still too weak, begin adding 1 teaspoon additonal grounds per cup until the desired strength is achieved.  If it seems too “strong”  try diluting it with hot water to reach the perfect cup for you.

Return to this page often, as we will add more information as time permits, including pictures of growing, flowering, harvesting and processing our beans.  If you have any questions or suggestions of what you would like to see on this page, please drop us a line and we will try and include it in future updates.