Chapter 1
The secret life of the coffee bush
Chapter 2
Bizarre bans and historical hysterics
Chapter 3
Animal assistants and ecological allies
Chapter 4
From bean to brain
Ch 3 · Animal assistants and ecological allies
futura Natural digestive enzymes break down bitter proteins inside the seeds, which workers collect from the forest floor and wash thoroughly
futura Coffee Berry Borer Gut Bacteria
Borer drills the bean, microbes in its gut, clear the caffeine.
futura Coffee plants lure honeybees with caffeinated nectar to secure loyal, repeat pollinators
Fun Fact
Elephant coffee: In Thailand, Black Ivory coffee is processed by rescued elephants, whose slow digestion creates a naturally sweet, chocolatey flavor.
Glossary
civet (noun)
A small, slender nocturnal carnivorous mammal native to the tropical forests of Asia and Africa. In colonial Indonesia, Dutch farmers harvested coffee beans digested by wild civets to bypass strict crop laws.
A small, slender nocturnal carnivorous mammal native to the tropical forests of Asia and Africa. In colonial Indonesia, Dutch farmers harvested coffee beans digested by wild civets to bypass strict crop laws.
Quiz
Why does passing through a civet's digestive tract chemically alter the flavor of coffee beans?
Quiz
Which animal's digestive system is used to process the expensive Indonesian coffee known as Kopi Luwak?
Quiz
What evolutionary benefit does the coffee plant get from putting caffeine in its flower nectar?
Quiz
Where does the female coffee berry borer lay her eggs, causing massive damage to coffee crops?