coffee in Kuching, sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

Coffee Plant
The original home of the coffee plant is Africa. To be exact, there are three different coffee plants, all related:
Coffea Arabica from Ethiopia, known from prehistoric times. Coffea Robusta from Congo, discovered in 1898. Coffea Liberica (Coffea Canephora) from Western Africa The first coffee plant of economic importance was Coffea Arabica. It grows to the height of 7-8 meters but the cultivated plants are cut to the height of 2-4 meters to get more width. The leaves of the coffee are 10-15 cm long ellipsoids, lustrous dark green with lighter underside. The flowers emerge from the branches together with the leaves. The white coffee flower has five petals and a scent resembling that of jasmine. The flowers last only 2-3 days. The coffee berries are cherry-sized and green at first, turning dark red later on. The ripening takes eight months. The coffee tree starts flowering at 2-4 years old and it can simultaneously have flowers and berries in all stages of development.
The coffee tree requires a mean temperature of 66-77 degrees farenheit (19-25 degrees celsius). Thus, the coffee tree is a tropical plant. It is not a coincidence that coffee and humans thrive in the same temperatures. Our original home is the same - Africa. It is quite possible that Eve and her contemporaries (about 2.8 million years ago) munched coffee beans for pleasure The coffee plant cannot stand frost but does not die from an occasional cold night. It needs lots of water requiring annual rainfall of 59 inches (1500 millimeters). Coffee plantations are normally situated in the altitude range of 984-6562 feet (300-2000 meters) around the Equator.
A coffee tree can be harvested from the 5th year and harvesting can occur many times throughout the year. At 25 the tree becomes old but it may live to be a wiry centenarian The coffee 'tree' is actually a variety of tropical evergreen shrub. The coffee tree does not begin to produce its full yield until its sixth year and will continue prime production for about ten years, however Coffee plants may live on for 60 years. The tree, if left alone will grow to a height of between 16 and 40 feet. In most coffee plantations the trees are kept at a manageable six feet to get the best yield and to make it easier to harvest.The best growing conditions are in a temperature range of 65 degrees Fahrenheit to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainfall should be plentiful and the weather should switch between heavy rainfall and sunshine to bring the berries to full maturity. The type of soil is not too important but good drainage is a must. It is possible to roast your own beans in the oven. This method will tend to smoke up the house a bit, and the smell of the burned off chaff will tend to linger in the house for quite some time. The amount and size of beans, as well as your altitude will make a difference in the roasting process, so this is a 'live and learn process.The beans should be placed in some form of perforated container, such as a steel strainer or vegetable steamer. Place them in a pre-heated, 250 degree F(110 degrees C). oven for about seven minutes. Then increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F( 220 degrees C. ). In about ten minutes the beans should begin to crackle. (This timing will depend on the temperature, heat capacity of the oven, and the beans; so keep an eye on them.) When the beans start crackling, mix them up, to promote an even roast. Check their color every two minutes until they have achieved a color slightly lighter than the end color which you desire. (As the beans cool, they will continue roasting). When they have completely cooled, store them in an air tight container in the refrigerator...... or grind the coffee, brew it and drink it up!