Honest Truth

Most of us can’t start our day without a strong cup of the good stuff – but did you know six in 10 of the world’s wild coffee species are under threat? Here, Nespresso’s coffee expert Marcelo Zanetti tells Alice Hinds the Honest Truth about our morning cup of Joe Is it true that coffee beans are actually seeds?

Yes. Coffee beans are the seeds of the coffee cherry. Each cherry produces two seeds, one facing the other, hence the half-spherical shape of coffee beans.

How many species of coffee bean are there?

There are more than 100 coffee species in the wild, but we almost exclusively use either Arabica or Canephora – commonly called Robusta – for commerce. The other names we see associated to coffee (Mundo novo, Bourbon, Catuai) are usually sub-species of the Arabica branch.

Is there a science to brewing the perfect cup?

There are no absolutes when it comes to coffee brewing. The methods of preparation are closely associated to cultural conventions and vary drastically around the world. Besides, with different brewing methods come different parameters for water temperature, pressure (or lack of ), grinding levels, etc. The best way to serve a great cup of coffee is to understand the brewing method you are utilising and follow the specific guidelines of the individual system.

How did you come to work with coffee?

I was born in a family of coffee producers and grew up