The coffee export process has its own stages and methods of transport. The most common way to ship our product to another part of the world is to ship it with green coffee. This means that the coffee has been dried to around 11% moisture content and is ready for storage. This process is done before the beans are roasted, and therefore, there is a high likelihood of contamination if not properly protected. That's why it's important to understand the processes and how to prevent this from happening to our product.
What is contamination in coffee?
When we talk about contamination in coffee, we are referring to All external factors that negatively influence the grain and the process , such as mold, humidity, bad smells or aromas, and I say bad, because we know that coffee can gain properties from contact with fruits and natural aromas.
But how does this contamination of green coffee occur?
Coffee is a product very prone to absorbing what is in the air, mainly humidity. , which harbors contaminants ranging from unpleasant odors to chemical residue particles. Therefore, if coffee is not packaged correctly, it can be affected by these contaminants. If this happens, the coffee will absorb unpleasant odors and flavors from the environment through humidity, making them part of the coffee itself and causing a decrease in the quality of the cup, or even making the beans unfit for consumption. Another consequence of poor packaging is the appearance of mold, due to humidity. This is caused by two fungi and occurs naturally when food is improperly stored in humid environments. Mold on coffee is easy to detect with the eye, and its scent is also evident and contrasts with the natural aroma of the beans.
Other polluting factors
Animal contamination is a major problem when storing green coffee. While there's always a risk from large animals, the greatest risk posed by stored beans is from rodents. Mice urine and droppings can be absorbed if the product is poorly packaged. Another major contaminant is oil or fuel derivatives. When stored with these products, coffee can dangerously absorb its aroma through the gases and smoke emitted by their combustion.
Chemical contamination is also a risk. , which, as with oils, occurs when these products are shared in storage spaces. This is due to the bad habit of storing pesticides and other ingredients next to the coffee, believing that since they are not in direct contact, the beans will not be affected. It is important to create barriers between these elements and the green beans to prevent them from absorbing chemicals harmful to human consumption when roasting and preparing the beans with which they came into contact. There are also other chemicals that can contaminate coffee , such as hydrocarbons, which are usually caused by jute bags, due to the oil used to create this type of fiber.
Can coffee contamination be avoided?
Of course it can be avoided, The important thing is to comply with the basic processes for the care and protection of the grain at all points in the process. Some of these include: ensuring storage in a dry and clean place, using pallets, avoiding chemicals in coffee areas, among others.
But the most important thing is the use of quality packaging, such as Ecotact bags , which feature a 9-layer airtight barrier that protects the product from any external influence, maintaining the natural characteristics of the grain intact. These types of bags maintain the freshness of the packaged product for up to a year, guaranteeing its natural flavor.
Basically, coffee is a sponge, that's why It is important to protect it in each of its processes And thus, we guarantee that the final experience will be full of aromas, flavors, and an experience as if the coffee were freshly picked. Because caring for the green bean means caring for the quality and recognition of our coffee. It means bringing the best of Colombia to the world, ensuring that wherever our bean goes, you can enjoy a coffee as if you were deep in our mountains.