One cup = 70 beans. But the hidden supply chain is far more complex—discover the 10 steps
Coffee is one of the world’s most consumed drinks and also one of the most traded commodities.
Globally, consumption exceeds 2.25 billion cups every single day.
But before it reaches your cup, coffee travels through a long and structured 10-step global supply chain:
From Plant to Factory
1. Growing – Coffee plants takes 2-3 years from some origins and 4 to 7 years in other origins to produce their first harvest and bear fruit for around 25 years.
2. Picking – Ripe coffee berries are harvested by hand or machine.
3. Processing – Berries are processed using either the “dry” (sun) or “wet” (water and machinery) method to extract green beans.
4. Milling – Beans are hulled, cleaned, sorted, and graded.
From Factory to Transport
5. Exporting – Green beans are shipped worldwide. In 2018 alone, 7.2 million tonnes were exported, valued at $19.2 billion.
6. Roasting – Beans are roasted to develop flavour, from light to dark.
7. Packaging – Imperfect beans are discarded; the rest are packed for sale.
8. Shipping – Roasted beans are distributed to retailers, cafés, or directly to consumers.
Straight to the Cup
9. Grinding – Roasted beans are ground to suit the brewing method.
10. Brewing and Drinking – Coffee is prepared through espresso, drip, French press, or other methods. One average cup requires about 70 roasted beans.
Coffee Knowledge:
Arabica beans contain about 60% more lipids and nearly twice the sugar of Robusta.
This is why Arabica is smoother and more aromatic, while Robusta is stronger, more bitter, and richer in caffeine.
Coffee is not just a beverage—it is a global business powered by farmers, exporters, roasters, and consumers, all connected through a complex supply chain.
@MauriceMugisha@AaronKaviiri@DickensOkello99@AAgather@bgumisiriza 😊🤝
Processing is interesting,we have about 60 guys at the farm picking coffee,6 pulping,10 drying.They are all new to this,so we seat down every other day to fix a few mistakes and we move in.
It’s a weekend,we have to keep the machines running coz coffee won’t wait!
🚨🔴⚪️ BREAKING: Arsenal agree deal to sign Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa, here we go!
Fee agreed at £50m plus add-ons and long term deal in place with English defender.
Konsa will undergo his medical in next 48h then signing in at #AFC — follows @TheAthleticFC.
For those who like to talk about “value addition” in coffee, this is what it means in real life. Meet my friend @ibrahimsamande1 of Mayi Shai coffee in Nigeria. This is how authentic investors arrive in the ready to drink consumer market
🚨🔴⚪️ Christos Tzolis to Arsenal, here we go! Deal signed between the two clubs for €40m fee, Club Brugge authorize Christos for medical.
New winger for Arteta as Tzolis only wanted Arsenal, saying no to other clubs. Deal done, as @dimitrismanakos reported.
👀 #AFC also working hard on Morgan Rogers behind scenes.
Dairies of a farmer 👩🌾
Last couple of weeks have been intense at the farm, only 6ml of rain with expectations of rains in the next couple of days.The existing irrigation hasn’t been efficient .Went up on a survey with my engineer and we have to tap water 5kms away from the farm
From selling sugarcane to pay school fees and nearly giving up on life after missing out on university, Ojok Alfred’s story is a powerful reminder that resilience can turn setbacks into extraordinary success. Today, the Nwoya District farmer has transformed a single acre of coffee into a thriving 25-acre commercial farm, earns over UGX 100 million annually, has travelled to Germany, the Netherlands, and South Africa in search of better markets, and founded Hasting Coffee Centre to empower fellow farmers through training, quality processing, and market access. His journey proves that agriculture is not a last resort but a pathway to wealth creation, job creation, and community transformation when driven by determination, innovation and hard work .
I can authoritatively confirm that all former back bench commissioners of parliament will follow the Chris Obote route!
I know many will doubt this until that minute!
QUOTE: “We shouldn’t allow our country to go down the wrong path. We grew up being told to be truthful. Our country is heading in the wrong direction, but people are silent, including religious leaders. They wonder whether they will be given cars by the government if they speak against human rights violations. Let’s speak truth to power, for our rewards are in heaven"- Kalangala Woman MP Helen Nakimuli on April 13, 2026.
https://t.co/NzACx9uUgv
#MonitorUpdates
Very unfortunate! I had texted Mr Rubongoya for her number, to thank her for her recent bold speech that I had just watched, only to be told that she’s dead!
A few days ago when I attended the Alternative Budget reading function at Parliament, I sat behind (as I often prefer). She came to me, greeted me very respectfully in Luganda on bended knee, and asked to take me to sit in front. I politely chose to stay at the back. A few minutes later, she came back and urged me again. I reluctantly accepted this stranger’s request. I later noticed that she was the MC. She returned the third time where I was seated in front and asked me to speak, which I turned down. She returned…
That was the first time I got to know her, and was so impressed by her humility - especially when I later learnt that she was an MP. Go well Hon. Helen Nakimuli. At 40 years you were just beginning! Some things about life we might never understand, we simply carry and move on as we wait for our own hour.
Terrible, shocking news! Hon. Hellen Nakimuli, Woman MP, Kalangala District just passed on after an unsuccessful surgery! May God strengthen all of us in this very tough time.